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

480 THE ETSIN-GOL DELTA AND THE RUINS OF KHARA-KHOTO [Chap. XIII

In foreground to L. a squatting elephant with hind legs like those of a lion, ears bovine, small curved trunk, tusks growing upward from lower jaw, eye surrounded by radiating lines.

To R. two seated figures, nimbate, in full robes and graceful head-dress, hands folded, looking to centre. Farther to R. a square altar covered with a cloth figured with double circle paterae, with pleated valance near top edge, falling below a border of chevron pattern. On centre of top of altar, a lotus pattern bowl containing indefinite objects from which proceed waving rays.

At L. corner of altar a kneeling figure in robe, across which run broad black bands. To R. a shaven monk approaches altar in deferential attitude, hands folded. A halo surrounds his head and lotuses support his feet, which are covered with thick-soled Chinese shoes. Beyond the altar a portion of an architectural scheme appears which may be the lower part of the central throne. The extreme foreground is occupied by cloud.

The description is compiled from three frs., all from the same original though probably not from the same printing-block. K.K. u. 0227 shows part of the L. and lower border lines, elephant, part of the two figures just above and part of the two seated in foreground. Paper very woolly at torn edges. 5" x 4}". K.K. u. 0253 shows the whole of foreground with border lines, from elephant to monk and part of kneeling figure above elephant, part of two seated figures to R. of elephant, the altar and the two figures addressing it. Paper yellow and fairly firm. 8i" x 3e". K.K. II. or7. s. iv. shows the ` Bodhisattva', the six figures behind, the kneeling and seated figures above elephant, part of elephant's head, top of nimbus of seated figure to R. of elephant and on a detached fr. part of altar and upper half of monk. Paper soft, woolly

and tattered. 7 g" x 4". Pl. LXII.   .

K.K. II. 0227. b. Two block-printed paper leaves, with Hsi-hsia text. One leaf decorated with two rows each of six seated Buddha figures, one row at top of page, the other at centre. Very crude and stylized. Below each figure five or six written characters, of which the first two and the last in each row are identical in all. The other leaf has text without figures. Paper buff and good. c. 7}" x 3r. Pl. LXV.

K.K. Ii. 0227. v. Fr. of paper leaf, with impression in dark buff of wooden block. Design bizarre and difficult to make out. The centre is occupied by an outlined figure combining a flattened Stûpa raised on a base with an extension above vaguely resembling the outline of a man with arms composed of undulating banners. Below base is a supporting PadmAsana. This central form extends almost the whole height of the picture.

Within the form, against base and Stûpa is a seated Buddha figure with halo and nimbus. The rest of the form is filled with an inscription in Tibetan characters. On the ` field ' to R. and L. of ` head ' is a pair of seated figures on clouds, with umbrella canopy over the head of each.

Symbols and floral forms fill all spaces, and a double line borders the whole. Lower L. corner torn away. Paper thin and buff. 61" x 3g".

K.K. II.0228. q. Fr. of two block-printed paper leaves, with Hsi-hsia text, decorated at top with row of six seated Buddha figures on each, exactly similar to K.K. u. 0295.

cc (Pl. LXV).   One leaf torn in half and lower part
missing. The other torn. Top edge ragged. Buff. 6" x 3i".

K.K. II. 0228. t. Fr. of paper, with drawing in line of eyes and L. ear of life-size head of elderly man of Chinese type. Paper thin and dark buff. Torn on all sides.

3 "x5 ".

K.K. II.0228. u. Two frs. of coarse canvas, with traces of paleblue pigment (tempera ?) and paper backing. Gr. fr. 3}" x 4".

K.K. II. 0229. a., 023g. c. Six frs. of block-printed paper leaf. The scene appears to be the adoration of a serpent or of a central figure (missing) in which the serpent takes a prominent part. The scene is laid on a richly tiled terrace or court of a palace of which one column and part of a complicated architrave are shown to the L. (fr. 0229. a) with valance' and rolled chicks' below the architrave.

On the same fr., which is in two pieces, are also seen within the colonnade :—to L. of column two clean shaven attendants wearing cassocks and black hats which have an erect portion at back rising above the low flat crown and perhaps club-shaped ribbons each side. The near figure with R. hand clasped by the L. is in a sort of pose of peaceful resignation, and the other bearing a censer (?). Lower parts of figs. hidden by ornamental balustrades in front of column, End of balustrade is just to R. of column and stops against a post surmounted by an open lotus finial.

To R. of column a female fig. with rippling hair dressed' close to head curtain-wise over each temple. Mukuta, a jewel-like flower. She wears a full robe crossed over breast and carries in R. hand a sceptre or wand resting against her R. shoulder and terminating at the level of her head in a Madonna lily. She stands behind another robed fig. with elaborate head-dress and apparently seated on, or standing in front of, a high-backed carved chair. The whole of front of fig. missing:

Below in L. corner of picture a group of persons of which four are traceable. Two immediately below balustrade are dressed as the two above, the stiffened club-shaped tabs (or ribbons) shown clearly projecting at each side of lower part of back of hat. One has a long beard and the other a short goatee' and moustache. The other two figs., below, have deep fringes or pleats round lower edge of gown and hats of a generally similar shape to those above but more ornate in outline. All four hold in front of their faces a billet-like object. Part of pavement shows in foreground. A fine scroll border, white on black, runs round the three intact edges of picture.

0239. c is in four ragged pieces, three of which join and these together join to 0229. a. The tiled pavement is