国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

PLATE XXX

PAINTINGS FROM BEZEKLIK

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Bez. xiii. Ceiling

ArFRAGMENT from the vaulted ceiling of the shrine; probably one of many repetitions forming a diaper. It represents the Buddha seated on a lotus throne with polygonal base, with his right hand raised in vitarka-mudrá and the left resting on his lap. The robe is very stylized. To his right a man or Bodhi-

sattva, and to his left a monk, kneel in devotion. Above and behind, on his right, is

a kneeling, Buddha-like figure, perhaps Avalokitesvara, carrying a long-handled

fan in the right hand and a flask in the left. Above, on the left of the Buddha, is a

kneeling Vajrapáni with round, staring eyes and pointed ears. On top of his mass

of black hair is a curious head-dress, shaped like two crescents laid on their backs,

joined end to end, and at their junction a bunch of red flowers or berries, with a

double cincture at its base. It seems to be a badly drawn attempt to represent a

helmet with wide upturned brim. Two white bands rising from the shoulders to

the ears may be intended for the edges of a high collar. As usual, he carries a yak-

tail fly-whisk in the right hand and the vajra in the left. All four attendant figures

are on lotus thrones.

Below is a fragment of two lines of well-written Bráhmi, in dense black on a

hard, polished yellow-brown band, evidently prepared to bear the pressure of a

qalam, with which the writing was done.

The background is bright red, with floating lotuses.

On the right is part of a similar subject. The Avalokitesvara in this case carries

flask and fan in the reverse hands. All the work is very roughly done by an un-

skilled hand; and the original drawing has probably deteriorated through frequent

repetition.

Bez. xiii. D. 2

There is evidently a legend illustrated here. It may be that of the white dog of

Súkd. In a former birth the dog, twice represented, was Súká's father, who, before

his decease, concealed his treasure by secretly burying it under a divan. The dog

shown above is barking at the Buddha (?); below he lies on the divan, while

Bodhisattvas try to coax him with dainty food to reveal the secret.

The figure dressed as a devatá, or Bodhisattva, kneels at the divan and offers, with

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