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Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

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

on a lotus. Corners of rectangular part have antefixae ornaments. Within arch a nimbus with rayed border. Behind chair-back' and forming background to it is a rayed halo with plain border.

Figure is very stiff, has three heads, the centre turned slightly to R. Each face has three eyes. High crown in which the chief jewels are shaped as tall triangles. Narrow waist, high circular breasts, right arms, of which five are present, The four on L. beginning above, hold (I) fire, (2) wheel, (3) sword ; the fourth lowered in varada pose. The lowest to R. is in front of abdomen, palm up, supporting a cup in which is a tiny human figure standing or sitting. At pit of elbow of the lower R. p. arm is a flame-shaped jewel resting against biceps.

Across breasts and shoulders a broad ornamented band. Round neck a jewelled wreath and hanging in front of body a long jewelled cord. Each wrist has a bracelet with flame-shaped jewel. Round abdomen a jewelled girdle from which depend loops of jewels and bells. A richly figured garment covers legs, and anklets encircle ankles. Round top of halo is a tree with bunches of long narrow leaves, and above are waving rays interrupted in centre by a label containing Hsi-hsia characters.

Down whole of L. side are nimbate female figures, ten in number, dressed in a similar manner but with more simple ornaments, all with hands in adoring pose,. Five have low Mukutas and five high ones.

Clouds fill foreground and encircle top figure ; decorated architectural mouldings extend from L. of seat to side figures. Picture is bordered on the three intact sides by rather crude five-pronged Vajras in white on a black band. Paper buff, good condition and cut along R. edge. Ion" x 4k". PI. LXII.

K.K. II. 0238. b. One block-printed . paper leaf, with Hsi-hsia text and two rows of Buddha figures similar to K.K. II. 0227. b (Pl. LXV), but figures better drawn and engraved. Head-dress three-cornered, one corner rising above centre and other two projecting at sides above ears. From these lateral corners a line drops to each shoulder the equivalent of the ear-like projections of K.K. u. 0292. i. Pose in all Dhyana-mudra. Probably belongs to K.K. u. 0265. f. Paper buff and strong. 8" x 3f". PI. LXV.

K.K. II. 0239. a. Fr. of block-printed paper leaf, decorated with row of seated Buddha figures and trees. Two figures are nearly complete. A third to R. shows little more than the head, and a fourth to L. part of haloes. Each fig. is seated on a lotus of two rows of petals with double outlines,

Second fig. from L. is in single robe covering both shoulders, in Dhyâna-mudra. Face well formed, eyes cast down, forehead broad, hair black coming down in peak at centre, below which Tilaka. Low flat Ugnisa with diamond white spot in front, long ears.

Halo to body filled with upward curving rays. Nimbus circular and plain. Third fig. has same robe which would leave R. p. shoulder bare but for small piece just falling

over shoulder. R. hand in Tarjuna-mudrà. Pose and robe of other two not visible.

Between figures is a well-designed Bodhi tree growing from a cloud (?) supported by a peony (?). Below third figure from L. is part of a Hsi-hsia (?) character. Along top is a black border with a line or two above, and below it and on black in white outline are alternate double-ended Vajras placed horizontally and double circles. Design and engraving good. Paper buff, tender and much torn. Cf. K.K. u. 0279. uuu. ii. 5 " x 8h". Pl. LXV.

K.K. II. 0239. b. Fr. of paper leaf, in two pieces originally pasted together. A group of adoring figures standing on a figured pavement of a design similar to that of K.K. II. 0229. a, 0239. c, of which it may be portion of another rendering.

The two nearest figures are to L. a nimbate female (?) in full black-bordered robe and a band of scroll ornament, white on black, on hem. To R. an elderly shaven monk in robes crossed with black bars, both in adoring pose. The other figures are incomplete. Paper buff and torn away on all sides, but portion of scroll border, as in example quoted, is present. 5 " x 3f". PI. LXIV.

K.K. II. 0239. d. Fr. of paper, with drawing of seated Buddha roughly executed. Figure is seated on heavily draped Asana. He is turned to L. in teaching pose, R. hand slightly raised with two first fingers extended. L. hand rests palm up in lap. Voluminous robe leaving only chest bare to waist ; on breast a Svastika. A badly shaped halo behind body to level of shoulders and a nimbus at head. No features are indicated on face, but a few small written characters are there. The Usn4a is a gradual swelling and unlike the usual form.

In front of figure a draped altar bearing five sacrificial vessels. Proportions good and drapery carefully studied, especially that on L. shoulder. Paper thin, buff and torn at edges. 5}" x4". Pl. LXIII.

K.K. II. 0239. ww. Block-printed paper leaf, in two halves pasted together, with Hsi-hsia text and decorated across top and centre with rows of six seated Buddha figures similar to K.K. u. 0257. o; but haloes and Padmàsana painted pink. Paper buff, torn at lower edge and L. corner, but otherwise in good condition. 6" x 3/".

K.K. II. 0239. www. Fr. of silk muslin, with part of rough painting. Too fragmentary to make out. Colours red, blue, yellow and pink. Traces of gold. 5" x 2f".

K.K. II.0239. xx. Fr. of block-printed paper leaf, with Hsi-hsia text, ornamented across centre by row of seated Buddha figures. Part of two only are preserved. These show a clean-cut block, clearly printed. Type is similar to K.K. II.0276. t ; but Padmasana more carelessly drawn, and there are no angles at junction of haloes. Lines running from sides of hair to root of neck suggest long ears. No drapery lines excepting two lines at neck and two at R. ankle. Feet clumsily drawn with toes defined. Rays on body halo. Figure to L. in Dhyana-mudrà. Fig. next to R. part of head only remains. Usual final characters