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

972 CAVE-TEMPLES & ANTIQUES OF THE THOUSAND BUDDHAS [Ch. XXV

flowers occur, but consists of three unrelated layers of threads, and the surface especially, therefore, much broken and worn. The white and yellow rings on brown bands formed in same way. Another example of same method seen in figured silk 3 of patchwork Ch. lv. 0028. See also other true brocades under Ch. 0065. Except in ornamental bands where these extra yarns occur, the fabric is a single cloth. Somewhat worn, but colours well preserved. 10"x 21". PI. LV.

Ch. 00171. Two strips of figured silk, woven in satin twill of close fine texture, with stiffened warp. Pattern : repeating ' spots ' of conventional floral design, circular and lozenge-shaped in alternate rows, woven in white, warm brown, green, and dark blue on putty-grey ground. Circular spot formed of an octagon, containing at centre six-petalled rosette, and breaking at points into eight pairs of volutes, which support trilobate flower-shapes alternately green and dark blue. This spot is c. I~" in diam., and set out in rows

C. -" apart horizontally. Vertical spacing cannot be seen from this fr. The four-armed spots in interspaces were apparently of like floral design, but only partly preserved here. Worn in places, but condition generally good.

A similar design, and more completely preserved, is found in the following : Ch. 00181 ; liv. 005 (bands), and figured silk ï and printed silk r5 of patchwork Ch. lv. 0028.

It is also exceedingly common in the Shbsôin, both in silver-work and weaving, though there it is found in more elaborate forms. See Shôsôin Calalogue, i. Pls. 16 (hexagonal mirror), 3! (box for octagonal mirror), 35 (figured silk on mirror case) ; ii. Pls. 89 and 91 (silk covering arm-rest), 109 and 110 (silk of screen border). From the frequency of pattern in silver-work of undoubtedly Chinese workmanship, it is safe to infer that in woven examples also it is of Chinese manufacture.

A link with the West, geographically, is found at Khâdalik, where, on two fresco fragments, Kha. i. C. 00107, 00119 (Pl. fxvi. a), remains of same eight-pointed star are found. Rosette at centre is here four-petalled, and buds alternate with pairs of volutes at tips of octagon ; cf. above, p. 906.

00171. Lengths r' 5' and 11 ", width Ir. Pl. CXI.

Ch. 00172. Triangular fr. of figured silk (three pieces joined), prob. from head-piece of banner. Woven in

satin twill with fine warp and broad untwisted weft. Ground deep salmon-red ; pattern dark blue (indigo) outlined with white, and yellow outlined with dark blue. Design composed of repeating groups of bird and flower forms, arranged on principle of repeating circles and lozenges, but with no formal boundary line for 'spots', so that they are transformed into an all-over pattern. For similar motifs, cf. above, p. 906, note 13.

Circular groups consist of four yellow ducks with outstretched necks, purely Chinese in character, flying inwtirds to common centre—a small blue ring. Lozenge groups formed of four round buds with trefoil heads radiating from common centre and separated from each other by (alternately) a leaf-like or stalk-like form also ending in trefoil. Leaves form the long diagonal, stalks the short diagonal of lozenge ;

whole in indigo outlined with white. Third fr. in corner is of same silk and weave, and similar but larger pattern. There remain only head and neck of duck in white, and leaf scrolls in green, all outlined with dark blue. H. 4", base of triangle 9". PI. CXI.

Ch. 00178. Two strips of figured silk, with remains of paper backing, prob. from border of manuscript-roll cover like Ch. xlviii. oo1. Weave, loose satin twill, with fine stiffened warp and broad untwisted weft. Pattern : rows of six-petalled rosettes, c. I8" in diam. and -fig" apart, so set out that the spaces in one row correspond with rosette centre in the next. Rosettes in alternate rows of slightly different design,

1. having six narrow petals radiating from centre, with larger petals showing between their tips ; (b) having large circular centre divided in four, and an outer ray of six short wide petals. Woven in light green, bright red-brown, bright blue, and putty-colour on cream ground, colours not forming individual petals but passing in straight stripes across flowers. No green in rows (b). Surface considerably dirtied and faded, reverse very fresh. 1' 3i" and 9i" x 2*". Pl. CXI (reverse of fabric).

Ch. 00174. a. Small triangular fr. of fine figured silk. Weave, satin twill; fine warp, weft broader, untwisted ; firm texture. Pattern : apparently an intricate conventionalized design ; carried out in white with touches of powder blue, golden yellow, and green on Indian red ground. Gr. M. 21". Pl. CXI.

Ch. 00175. Four frs. of figured silk, like Ch. 0076 in weave, but firmer. Covered apparently with large naturalistic floral and bird pattern in leaf green, Indian red, old-rose, and deep yellow outlined with indigo on pure white ground, but no complete form preserved. Widest strip, however, shows section of well-drawn bird (duck ?) in profile, with head turned over back, and spread wing. Head indigo outlined red, eye green outlined white ; back green, wing red and pink, outlined indigo. Colours absolutely fresh. Gr. frs. 1' 1"x Ii", and 1'6"x;a". Pl. CXI.

Ch. 00176. a-b. Two strips of figured silk. Weave, satin twill ; fine stiffened warp, broad untwisted weft. Ground scarlet ; pattern woven in indigo, light blue, pale pink, green, bright yellow, and white, but design irrecoverable. (a) shows section of lozenge Q) in indigo with yellow birds (?) outlined with red in field, small white discs outlined with red on border, and green leaves with white stems and outlines growing from angles (?) ; (b), perhaps from different fig. silk, shows part of repeating spots in same colours. Silk soft and lustrous, and colours perfectly fresh. (a) 88" x ig",

2. 8" X -g". Pl. CXI.

Ch. 00177. a-b. Frs. of figured silk. Weave, satin twill ; fine stiffened warp, broad untwisted weft ; thick soft texture. Ground in both scarlet, and pattern fragmentary, especially in (b), but apparently woven chiefly in light green, lemon yellow, white, light blue, pale pink, and in (a) also in dark blue. Largest part of design visible in (a), where are shown eight leaf points converging towards common centre