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

Sec. y] ANTIQUES FROM KHARA-KHOTO AND NEIGHBOURING SITES 497

K.K. II. 0285. b. xii. Fr. of silk, plain buff ; unevenly woven, giving effect of alternate bands of fine and coarser texture, perhaps not intentional. 4" X 31".

K.K. n. 0285. b. xiii. Two frs. of silk, one blue of similar weave to K.K. u. 0285. b. xii ; the other dirty grey of coarser texture. Gr. fr. 2" x 3".

K.K. n. 0292. i. Two block-printed paper leaves, with Hsi-hsia text. One leaf with row of four seated Buddha figures at top of each column of characters, each in a different pose. Figures rather long in body, large head, small legs. Head has pointed Usnisa and narrow, straight-edged ear-like projection at each side of face reaching to shoulder. Drapery on body indicated by festoon-folds. Legs covered with drapery.

Padmâsana has two rows of petals, one growing upward and the other downward. Halo round body and nimbus to head. Lines radiate from nimbus to edge of rectangular line framing each figure. Poses from L. are first Dhyâna, second R. hand level with shoulder palm up and fingers pointing outwards, third Bhûmispar.a, fourth Dharma-. cakra (?).

Work poor. Four columns of characters. Other leaf has six columns of characters. Paper buff ; slightly torn but fairly strong. Larger page (without Buddhas) 6e" x 4"; other 6f" x 3". Pasted together with strengthening strip at back.

K.K. u. 0293. a. Block printed paper leaf, with Hsi-hsia text, decorated along top with row of six seated Buddha figs. ; the six columns of text below separated from each other by ` baluster ' ornament, a variation of K.K. u. 0253. b. Base of each baluster is an inverted Tri ûla, and immediately above it is a vase-shaped section ; ball omitted.

Between the bases and forming a base to columns of text is a kind of PadmAsana of three petals with stylized seed-table above, showing four seeds on a black ground. Figs. are of same type as K.K. u. 0281. a. xxxviii ; but background of halo rayed and no bird on angular projection. Over R. shoulder of each fig. is a kind of Upavita. Paper buff and well preserved. Separate strip forms extreme R. edge. 7f" x 7k". Pl. LXV.

K.K. u. 0294. b-d. Three block-printed paper leaves, with Hsi-hsia text, each leaf decorated with same Buddha figures as K.K. u. 0227. b (Pl. LXV). First two and last characters the same in every column. Paper buff, thin and becoming woolly and abraded. C. 7" X 3/".

K.K. II. 0294. e-h. Frs. of paper ; several thicknesses matted together, painted roughly in tempera. Gr. fr. (e)

5" 4".

K.K. II. 0295. cc. Two paper leaves, with Hsi hsia text, one page decorated along L. half of top edge with row of three seated Buddha figures. The figs. appear to be nude except for a kind of Upavita passing over L. shoulder and under R. arm. Poses are from L. .to R., Afijali, Bhimaspar§a and Dhyana-mudràs.

Bodies and limbs well proportioned and legs of all figs. in Svastikâsana pose. Ears long, hair black and rising

in high narrow point as Usnisa. Halo nearly circular, nimbus upright oval ; both plain. Each has separate well-drawn Padmâsana of two rows of petals, one growing upward and the other down.

Below each Padmâsana is a well-drawn palmette of three leaves ; the centre one three-pointed, the side ones the same in profile, the tip curled down and voluted. The stem of each side leaf is carried down and with that adjacent to it forms an inverted closed palmette, enclosing a vertical Vajra which occurs opposite the interval between Padm.sanas. Above in space between adjacent haloes an inverted palmette. Background limited by straight edge along top and inverted palmettes below, black, with the various details of ornament reserved in ` white '. Good drawing and engraving. Paper buff. 6" x 3}". Pl. LXV.

K.K. II. 0297. bb. Fr. of paper, with impression from coarsely cut block of kneeling figure, as to R., dressed in full robes and in Afijali pose. Label in front of head. Paper buff and ragged. 4" x Ir.

K.K. II. 0304. s. Fr. of silk, finely but unevenly woven, with printed spot pattern of finely designed three-toed dragon and flames. Pattern pear-shaped, about 51" x31". Silk discoloured to dark buff. Impressions of spot distinguishable, one complete, the others partly missing. Ragged. 8f" x

K.K. II. 0304. t. Fr. of plain buff silk. 9f" x 3r.

K.K. II. 0304. u, v. Two frs. of silk, both plain. u blue, 7r x 3" ; V dull russet, ragged, 7i" x 3/".

K.K. II.0304. w, x. Two frs. of coarse canvas. Blue. Gr. fr. 171" x 4".

K.K. II. 0304. y. Fr. of canvas, evenly woven ; probably hemp. Painted on one side a fine blue with traces of outline in grey and further painting in pink and yellow. Probably part of banner. Very ragged and brittle. 7rx9".

K.K. u. 0304. z. Fr. of paper, with coarse painting. Two black lines crossing at right angles, and a patch of red in one angle. 2f" x 2".

K.K. II. 0313. a. Fr. of drawing on paper. To L. a muscular figure rides to R. on yak which turns its head f to L. and expresses fear. Figure clad in thin tunic reaching nearly to knee and has bare leg and arm. L. fist grasps reins, R. arm missing.

A second figure on farther side of yak and slightly in advance rides horse with erect streaming mane and ears cocked forward. This figure has a tight-fitting embroidered tunic (or decorated leather armour), loose apron-like drapery round middle, long thin stole blown into large waving loops, loose trousers gartered below knee or tucked into lower leg covering ; soft boot. L. hand grasps reins, R. arm curves outward from body, the hand placed lightly on R. thigh and holding a flower delicately between thumb and forefinger.

Body is turned to front while horse is in profile, as though figure were looking back towards rider on yak ; but head is missing. Horse is galloping and has high-pommelled

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