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0533 Serindia : vol.2
Serindia : vol.2 / Page 533 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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

higher level than R. Pose and dress generally are like those of ' Indian ' type of Lokapâla, Ch. xxvi. a. oo6. (see also *Ch, ooro, General Note); but fig. on larger scale and drawing neater and more mannered. •

The dress also shows minor variations from Ch. xxvi. a. oo6 type. There is no corslet, and no protective leather band over hips. In their place a breastplate like that of Ch. 0085, and apparently a draped girdle, green and greenish brown. The latter seems to be gathered round hips and knotted in front, but much of it is lost. Breastplate green with red border, and covered by scrolled ornamentation in gold. Body and skirts of coat of mail are of scale-armour, and an apron of it appears under slit of skirts in front. It is very conventionally treated—on skirts by a network of black lines forming diaper of hexagons or lozenges on yellow ground; on body by a network of yellow three-pointed stars, perhaps representing the lacing, on red ground. Shape of scales therefore cannot be recognized ; on arms the coat painted plain red. A narrow belt girds it round waist, and a stole of dark brown and olive hangs about arms.

Arm-guards are plain red ; skirt (dull red with green border, and white and red on inner'side) falls between legs and on either side in symmetrical folds with artificially scrolled edge. White leg-covering tucked into greaves ; these also are of scale-armour, round-edged, divided by metal (?) framework into three horizontal bands, olive, red, and blue. Feet shod with close-fitting black shoes elegantly orn. with gold.

Face is long, with sq. jaws and close mouth, and is human except for distended round eyes. Flesh painted light glowing red ; iris of eyes light yellow instead of black. Ears elongated and pierced ; lobes apparently distended by large rings fixed in them ; but drawing is conventionalized. The small imperial, upcurled moustache, twisted eyebrows, topknot, and hair on shoulders are light brown, not black.

The three-leaved crown has heavy red draperies flying up stiffly at ears, and on central leaf small Stiipa on blue field. Halo light blue with flame border ; tasselled canopy behind, and above a draped valance of the kind found with Bodhisattvas of type *Ch. 002 ; but upper end here broken in pieces.

Demon is of monster type, and half sits, half reclines, in contorted position. He is painted dark red, with dark green dhôti, shock of dark green hair, round white eyes, and upper row of white projecting teeth. Yellow cartouche for inscr. to L. of head, blank.

Workmanship careful, neat, but absolutely lifeless throughout.

Painting 2' 2*" X 7r, length with streamers 5' 9r.

Ch. xxvi. a. 002. Painted silk banner, retaining four bottom streamers of plain olive-green silk, with leaf and insect designs, as in *Ch. xvii. oox, etc. Other accessories and upper end of painting lost. Remainder in good condition. Work on obv. unfinished, outlines hastily sketched in, and only in few places, while it is carefully finished on rev. But as position of hands is correct on unfinished side, the banner is descr. and reproduced from it.

Subject : Dhrlarâstra, Guardian of the East. Stands L. on ,.thigh and hand of crouching demon; L, hand hanging

, ETC., FROM CHIEN-FO-TUNG 1031

by side holds bow ; R. raised, arrow. Dress and general style of fig. as in *Ch.0035; see also *Ch. ooro, General Note. There is, however, no mantle, and a sausage-shaped collar, white spotted with black, is clasped round neck.

Head encased in close-fitting helmet of scale-armour, strengthened at sides by triple roll of red leather (?) which passes apparently from cheek to cheek round back of head. Coat of mail ends in short flaps over shoulders, and upper arm protected only by full sleeves. Round scales of armour on lower part of body here overlap upwards, the only instance of their so doing in these banners (but cf. Ch. 00106) ; on shoulders they overlap downwards. White breeches tucked inside greaves, and feet shod with sandals. Face is entirely human ; round, sturdy, and shaven except for a small tuft on chin and a long slight moustache. Eyes are small, oblique, looking intently in iront. Flesh shaded with reddish pink on natural grey of silk.

Top jewel of helmet, upper edge of circular green halo, and all above, lost ; but remains of purple cloud seen on L. Bow recurved at ends ; arrow apparently ' feathered ' with leaf-shaped metal plate like M. Tagh. b. 007, barbed end being lost. The demon, who is particularly misshapen, lies on his ribs, R. hand supporting chin, which presses against his nose.

Colouring of main fig. is sombre but well preserved. It consists chiefly of very dark greenish brown (on stole, borders of skirt and coat, ground of corslet, greaves, and arm-guards), and crimson (on skirt, sleeves, and appliqué discs of corslet, arm-guards, and greaves); scale-armour is painted in yellow and red.

Painting r' 7" x 7', length with streamers 4' r 0'. Pl. LXXXV.

Ch. xxvi. a. 003. Painted silk banner, retaining three bottom streamers of bluish-green silk ; other accessories and upper end and middle of painting lost. Bottom streamers have broken off main ,painting and been rudely sewn oh again with grass. Remains of painting dim, but scenes fairly intact.

Subject : Scenes from . the Life of Buddha.

Scene r. Perhaps King Suddhodhana sending out messengers in pursuit of his son (incomplete). §. sits on dais in raised open pavilion to L., his arms outstretched as if in urgent dismissal ; low table stands before him. On R. stand four courtiers bowing with their hands on their breasts and gazing aside at three messengers, who gallop down a winding way between rocks in foreground, with pennons in their hands. Or the upper group may represent King questioning courtiers as to disappearance of his son ; and the messengers' ride be a separate scene.

Scene 2. The Farewell of Chandaka and Kanthaka. Of this scene only heads of Prince and Chandaka remain, and the fig. of horse, white with red mane and tail, kneeling on fore-knees. Gautama represented as Chinese dignitary, with short black hair, serious elderly face, and slight moustache and imperial ; he wears tall sq. cap (unpainted) and sleeved jacket, incomplete. Chandaka wears smaller cap of same kind ; only top of his head preserved.