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0469 Serindia : vol.2
Serindia : vol.2 / Page 469 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000183
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Sec. ii] LIST OF PAINTINGS, TEXTILES,

direction of scenes or writing (i. e. as regards top and bottom of paper) is not uniform on either side. Scenes are as follows, from R. to L. :

Obv. (j) Haloed divinities within walled city, perhaps representing a Paradise, having two-storied gate-tower with double door, and watch-tower at corner. Outside on R., soldiers ; and in front advancing to soldiers, string of civilians with hands in adoration.

  1. Bodhisattva on sitting platform, R. hand in vitarkanudra, L. holding sceptre, with host of seated Bodhisattvas behind and altars in front. Beyond altar a demon, brandishing bow or other weapon.

  2. Upside down in relation to preceding. On R. man with sword, and small tower, outside which stands another man apparently in altercation with him. On L. personage in official or magisterial robes advancing towards tower, while man with stick grasps him from behind, and another threatens him with his fists in front. He appears to deprecate their interference.

Rev. On R. (4) Medley of small scenes or groups, prob. practice-sketches for side-scenes of paintings. Many represent a woman kneeling in worship before shrine ; an infant rising in lotus bud ; three-tiered umbrella ; tank ; Buddha ; Bodhisattva ; tank with lotus, cloud, etc. Cf. Queen Vaidehi in side-scenes of *Ch. 005r, etc. In middle an altar supporting three circular objects perhaps representing Three Jewels. Other groups include man seated by hut and man on horseback with hawk on wrist pursuing hare (cf. Ajâtaatru legend in L. side-scenes of Ch. 00216) ; also two men haling off third by hair with his hands tied behind him (cf. scenes of judgement in Ch. cii. 001, etc.), and other groups of disputing or worshipping figs.

  1. Sheet of Chin. manuscript, 19 II., partly obliterated at foot by dirt.

  2. On L. bearded dignitary, unhaloed, seated on canopied throne, behind altar bearing offerings, L. hand uplifted as in blessing. Beyond him priest and Bodhisattva also unhaloed, and in sky swarm of small divinities on cloud. On R., priest and Bodhisattvas approaching altar with offerings, etc. Fore- most Bodhisattva kneels clasping bowl of small round objects, perhaps rice, and Bodhisattva behind empties out bowl of similar contents in high pile. For last fig. in particular, also for bearded dignitary under canopy in this scene, and for scenes (i) and (2) on obv., cf. similar groups in large silk painting Ch. 00350.

Drawing of roughest throughout. i' x 4' 2". Pls. XCV, XCVII.

Ch. 00145. Drawing on paper of monk seated in meditation on mat. In front lie his shoes, with upcurled toes. In background on L. stands stoppered vase with ovoid body, narrow neck, spreading mouth and foot, and appliqué handle or ear on shoulder; on R. thorn tree on which hang his wallet and rosary. The former resembles felt pouch, M. 1. xiii. oo1. a. Monk wears under-robe and mantle, covering both shoulders and arms, has shaven héad, rather long from crown to chin, with large somewhat straight features, and firm expression. Drawing fine ; in good condition. 1' 6k" X t I4". PI. XCVII. Thousand Buddhas, PI. XXXII.

ETC., FROM CHIEN-FO-TUNG 967

Ch. 0046. Drawing on paper showing rough studies

for hands of Avalokileivara in various poses or holding emblems. Cf. Ch. lvi. 0014, etc. Few drawn on rev., on which also three disconnected lines of Chin. chars., almost effaced. Sketches on obv. show pair of hands in vilarkamudrà side by side ; pair in adoration ; pair facing each other, but turned downwards with thumb and second finger in each joined, third finger bent, first and fourth extended ; and single hands holding flask (2), dagger or sword (2), halberd, skull-headed mace, conch-shell, beggar's staff, seated Buddha, buckler, Pbthl, diamond club, divining arrow (?), noose, fly-whisk, Sti-tpa, mirror (?), Vajra, Ghantâ. or Vajra-topped bell, bunch of grapes, sacred book (roll), sq. emblem engraved with Svastika, sacred grass (see Waddell, Buddhism of Tibet, P. 394), Chin. coin, set square, bow, rice (?) falling from an open hand, elliptical loop-shaped object passed over forefinger, and bowl.

On rev. pair of hands holding up empty discs (of Sun and Moon) and single hands holding cloud, flaming jewel, lotus bud, and miniature canopy on point of forefinger. Drawing rough and uneven ; condition good. 1' 6" X I Iâ". Pl. XCVII ; Thousand Buddhas, Pl. XXXII.

Ch. 00147. Drawing on paper of lion in Chinese style. Stands striding, â L., mouth open roaring. Scroll-like orn. on back-legs and tail, like outline of leaf orn. in Ch. 00163. Vigorous work drawn with heavy brush. Good condition. r' 48" X I 1 ÿ". PI. XCVII.

Ch. 00148. Paper picture of shrines cut out in open work in buff paper, and pasted on another blackened sheet. Large hexagonal shrine stands in middle in front and three smaller ones above. All have stepped or sloping bases, and concave roofs with upturned eaves, and a crescent on top with short ringed pinnacle rising between its horns. From base of pinnacle eaves are stretched chains hung with bells. On roof of large shrine are represented two monkeys(?) joining hands. Towards it leaps up a unicorn (?), the long mane (?) curling over its back ; another on R. is lost except for head. In front of this shrine again stand a pair of confronting phoenixes, with pigeon behind each. Birds and animals cut out in buff paper and pasted on like shrines. For other picture of the kind, see Ch. 00423, and cf. Ch. 00425. I' 4-A" X I Ir. Pl. XCVII.

Ch. 00149. a-f. Six artificial paper flowers ; (a-e) cut out and pasted together as Ch. 0077 ; (f) on single sq. of paper. (c-e) elaborate. Diam. 3i" to 5'. a, b. Pl. XCIi.

Ch. ooi5o. Paper painting, over which Ch. 00150. a, b were pasted. Subject non-Buddhist, perhaps giving of first written characters by the horse-dragon to Fu-hsi (see W. F. Mayers, Chinese Reader's Manual, p. 48). The horse-dragon kneels â to R. with open jaws; before him stands bearded man, smiling, with tablet in L. hand and brush in R., in act of writing. He wears white-sleeved under-robe, long pink mantle, and sq. black head-dress with projecting sq. orn. (?) in front. Back of his fig. has been cut off in adaptation of painting as a mount for woodcuts. A branching column of flame rises from tablet, and others