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

Sec. ii]

ANTIQUES EXCAVATED AT KHADALIK   165

reproduction or occasional repair of such frequently recurring details as lotus-petal borders or

flame-patterns edging vesicas. In Kha. ii. N. 0014 (Plate Xvi) we have actually a mould for a small

appliqué Buddha resembling Kha. 05. That the same method was also used for the reproduction

of curls, locks, hands, and drapery details in larger images worked in the round, is proved by the

moulds Kha. i. 0016, ii. 0076, 0077 ; ii. N. 0013 (Plate xvI).

The two main shrines must once have contained many statues in stucco, life-size or over, for Remains of

we found numerous pieces of fingers and hands (Kha. i. 0029 i. C. 00 6 ; i. W. 0014 stucco

p   g   (   9~   4   4~ ;mages.

ii. 0033-0037 ; ii. N. col), and fragments from heads (Kha. i. oo5 ; ii. 0020, 0021, 0063) or drapery

(Kha. i. E. 0040 ; ii. 0031, 0032). The complete decay of all larger remains of this statuary

must be attributed in the first place to the friable nature of the material, left exposed in all

probability for a long time without an adequate cover of sand, and then to the destructive effect

of the early quarrying operations. The existence here, too, of the practice of gilding is proved

by an abundance of fragments still retaining their gilt (see Kha. i. 16, 29 ; 005, 0023, 0024, 0033,

etc.). It is noteworthy that these fragments seem often to have owed their survival to the sup-

port given by a strong backing fabric. In the case of the small appliqué relievos, preservation

was obviously due mainly to the hardness of the fine plaster of Paris of which they were made ;

for of a general conflagration, which could have hardened small relievos, even if made of mere

friable clay, through a process of accidental firing, as observed at the Ak-terek ruin, no trace

could be found. This is fully confirmed by the analysis furnished in Appendix D by Sir

Arthur Church, who found in the specimen v from Khâdalik ordinary plaster of Paris without

any trace of the effects of a reducing process due to accidental burning such as the pieces of

plaster of Paris found at Kighillik near Ak-sipil exhibit.5

Positive evidence on this point is afforded by the many pieces of painted woodwork which Painted

were found in and near the main shrines. Unfortunately most of these, as already stated, con- woodwork.

sisted of mere parings purposely split off from the quarried posts and other architectural timber.

As a result of this treatment sometimes fragments fitting each other turned up in different places

(see Kha. i. N. of C. 007 in List). Figures of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas appear to have been the

prevalent subjects for this ornamentation (see e. g.. Kha. 005, oo6 ; i. 211. a, 311 (Plate XIv) ; ii. E.

005, 0013, etc.). The style shows closest approach to the painted work of this class which

has survived at Dandân-oilik (cf. Ancient Khotan, ii. Plate LXV, D. I. 04).

The same observation holds good of the numerous painted panels of wood found which, Painted

no doubt, had once served as votive gifts. In view of the number of these panels it is a matter panels.

of special regret that, owing probably to long exposure without a protecting cover of sand or

else to moisture reaching the floor on which they lay, the colours have faded so badly as to make

reproduction impossible. Many of them were painted on both sides. A reference to the detailed

descriptions given in the List from Mr. F. H. Andrews's pen will show how closely the subjects

represented and their pictorial treatment correspond to those in the series of painted panels which

more favourable conditions have fortunately preserved for us at the shrines of Dandân-oilik. Apart

from figures of Buddha and Bodhisattva, represented singly or in groups (e. g. Kha. ooi6 ; i. 18, 3o,

51, 194 ; i. N. of C. col, 004 ; ii. E. 004, 0013), we meet also with those legendary subjects, like the

rat-headed deity (Kha. i. C. 0o15), the horseman and bird ' (Kha. i. E. 0034 ; i. C. 0027), and the

` princess with the cocoons' (Kha. ii. N. 0015), which among the Dandân-oilik finds claimed such

special interest as illustrations of ancient Khotan folklore.6

Here I may conveniently find room also for a brief reference to the remains of artistic wood-

carving which survived among the débris of the main shrines. Apart from balusters such as

5 Cf. Ancient Kholan, i. pp. 477, 587.

° Cf. ibid., i. pp. 259 sq., 264 sq., 278 sq. ; ii. PI. LIX, LXIII.