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

> > > >
カラー New!IIIFカラー高解像度 白黒高解像度 PDF   日本語 English
0548 Serindia : vol.1
セリンディア : vol.1
Serindia : vol.1 / 548 ページ(白黒高解像度画像)

New!引用情報

doi: 10.20676/00000183
引用形式選択: Chicago | APA | Harvard | IEEE

OCR読み取り結果

 

464   RETURN TO -rHE MIRAN SITE   [Chap. XII

003 (three pieces) ; iv. ooi I ; vi. ooI ; ix. 002 (twenty pieces), ooa (twenty-four pieces), 004 ; X. oo6 ; xiii. oo 1. c. ; xiv. 0074 ; xv—xvi. 004 ; xxiv. 0040 (eleven pieces). I t is, therefore, all the more noteworthy that among all these scales there is not one which, in shape or method of lacing, agrees with the type represented by the Niya Site specimen of mail. Whereas in this type the scales have a rounded upper end and are laced through three holes on each of the longer sides and one at the top end, the scales of the Mirän fort are all of oblong shape and have different and, in some ways, more complicated systems of lacing. Fortunately, these can be studied in some sets where the scales are still joined to their neighbours by the original fastening of narrow leather thongs, as seen in the reproductions of Plate L (M. I. ix. 003 ; xxiv. 0040).

That the scales belonged to a number of different suits of armour and varied in size as well as in ornamentation will be clearly seen on reference to the details recorded in the several entries of the Descriptive List. Yet, at the same time, we note a certain uniformity in style and technical make as well as in the methods of lacing. The pieces of hard green' leather, perhaps of camel skin, vary considerably in size, from an average of 2" X 2" to about 44" x 216" (cf. M. I. ix. 002, 003), but are always oblong with a slight outward curving. Originally all of them bore thick lustrous lacquer on both sides, generally applied in successive coats, the number of which varies up to seven (M.1. xxiv. 0040). Among the colours used, a brilliant red and black are by far the most prevalent, but a dark red-brown and yellow (see e.g. M.1. xiv. 0074, Plate L) are also met with. Ornamentation of individual scales was effected by scraping small designs such as concentric rings, ellipses, figures resembling commas or an inverted S, etc., through successive overlying coats of lacquer, after the fashion of sgraffiio work. In some sets of scales (e. g. M.I. ix. 003, Plate L) bronze rivets are found, intended for ornamentation only.

That the methods of fastening the scales must have varied in detail in different suits is shown by the diverse number and position of the holes to be found in certain sets of scales. Yet a comparison of those sets which still retain a number of scales as originally laced together (M.1. ix. 002, 003 ; xxiv. 0040, Plate L) shows that the system was similar in essential points. For the purpose of lateral fastening the longer sides of the scales were placed so as to overlap, and were then laced closely together by means of thongs passed through sets of holes near the edges. The exact fashion of this lacing has been explained in the descriptive notes of the List below. The vertical attachment was effected in a cleverly-designed way by two thongs running parallel through pairs of holes and round a thong which passed horizontally behind the rows of scales without ever appearing in front.

It is certain that the rows of scales overlapped, and there is a probability that this overlapping was arranged upwards, in a fashion which differs from the classical and mediaeval examples of Europe but is illustrated by specimens of scale armour reproduced in Central-Asian and GraecoBuddhist art, as well as by the Niya Site scales and the old Tibetan suit of mail already referred to.' It is true that the scales to which I refer in these specimens, excepting the last named, are not oblong but of the round-headed type, and that where the lower or skirt portion of the same armour has oblong scales, these are represented without any overlap, whether upwards or downwards. But it should be noted that in the Tibetan suit of mail from Lhassa the scales are oblong throughout, overlapping upwards, and further that wherever we meet with scale armour in the Buddhist paintings from the Thousand Buddhas ', usually in figures representing the Guardian Kings of the quarters or Lokapâlas, the portion of the mail below the waist is made up of oblong scales always arranged

s See above, p. 463 ; Ancien! Kholan, i. p. 252 ; ii.   known relievo of the Lahore Museum, representing Mârâ s

Pl. II. For the scale armour worn by two figures in a well-   army, see Foucher, L'art du Gandhdra, i. p. 405, fig. 202.

Lacquer and ornamentation of scales.

Fastening of leather scales.

Overlapping of scales.