National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

and finger can still be made out. The left hand supports a fold of his robe. Jewelled

garlands, more profuse than in the last, are looped about shoulders and arms. The

plum-colour under-garment, reaching to the feet, is figured with repeating floral

sprays—an unorthodox enrichment difficult to account for in one who has all the

attributes of the Buddha. Nimbus and petal-shaped vesica are different in detail

from the last, but express the same idea of flames and prismatic light. On the

right is a queer little dwarf, who might be a child but for his dainty moustache.

His little jewelled cap is childish and, as a child might, he seems to advance doubt-

fully, turning his head as though for encouragement from the person behind, upon

whose right foot one of his is resting. This other person, if not a devatá, might be a

queenly mother, and the small figure her princely son. Above is an adoring monk

with fancifully trimmed short hair. In the top corner a moustached devatá carries

a dish of flowers, and raises high the right hand with fingers posed in imitation of

those of the Buddha.

On the other side, below, is a small Buddha, in devout pose, kneeling on one

knee and gazing up at the great Buddha. His hair, which rises into the regulation

usnisa, is blue and trimmed at the edges like that of the monk. Above is a Bodhi-

sattva, indistinct and extensively defaced, with the left hand in front of the body

and turned sharply downwards, showing the palm. Next above is a very emaciated

bhíkkhu, reproduced with the mansion, to a larger scale, in monotone, on plate

XXVIII.

Small flowers float about the background, and simple decorative bands border

the panels. Part of the vaulted ceiling shows rows of seated Buddhas.

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