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

1038 CAVE-TEMPLES & ANTIQUES OF THE THOUSAND BUDDHAS [Ch. XXV

Vaidehi, as in *Ch. 0051. General composition and style of work the same. Broken and much faded, especially in upper half ; extreme top and bottom lost ; side-scenes bordered on outside by band of dull purple, painted in white with repeating rosette pattern in imitation of brocade.

The central Buddha much destroyed; blue-haired, and seems to have R. hand in vitarka-mudrà, and L. open below it. His two chief Bodhisattvas sit in European fashion holding resp. in their hands nearest him a scarlet and a light blue and purple lotus bud in blue glass bowls ; their other hands in vitarka-mudrà. Attendant Bodhisattvas also for most part hold scarlet and purple lotus buds, or have their hands in pose of adoration.

The dancer before altar is played to by six musicians, on clappers, flute, harp, mouth-organ, and lute—all of the same type as in *Ch. lii. 003, except mouth-organ, which shows straight pattern of instrument seen in Ch. liii. 002. .In bottom corners, on separate terraces, are black-haired Buddhas with attendant Bodhisattvas, seated behind small altars before which kneel nymphs offering flowers. They are seated cross-legged like him, but with their feet concealed, and have their outer hands respectively in abhaya- and vilarkamudrà, their inner hands held out with palm up and fingers open.

Infant souls kneel on steps sloping from these corner terraces into lake, or sit at their head at feet of Bodhisattvas. On raft or platform over lake in middle foreground are grouped two confronting peacocks and pair of confronting parrots, with a Garuda in middle playing on lute. 'Purple and scarlet lotuses rise from water, but there are no trees except behind canopies of three chief figs.; behind the Buddha, red-flowering trees descr. in *Ch. lii. 003 ; behind Bodhisattvas, long curling leaves of Sâl (1) trees.

Colouring light, background being light green over most of picture, while light blue is largely used in decorative parts, and light green, grey, and orange for Bodhisattvas' robes. Their flesh and that of nymphs painted white with red outlines, that of musicians flesh-pink, and jewellery and altar-vessels `bronze' colour. Black used only for hair of secondary figs. and for small visible portions of floor of main terrace.

Drawing and treatmént generally resemble those of *Ch. lii. 003, but are not so good. Upper half of picture, showing pavilions and long roofs and galleries of the celestial mansions, is unusually bare of decoration and small figs. and balances badly the crowded lower half.

The side-scenes (see *Ch. 005 r) are exceptionally numerous, and represent :-

On R. (i) S~âkyamuni on Mount Grdhrakûta: grassy hill-slopes under precipitous cliffs, and g. rising behind one, visible to waist ; (ü) gâkyamuni (1), seated on cloud, floating down to neck of flat ground between two waters ; (iii) Queen Vaidehi worshipping Buddha ; Bimbisâra also kneels in foreground ; (iv) Ajâtagatru pursuing Vaidehi with sword ; the two ministers in profile in foreground ; (v) Vaidehi visiting Bimbisâra in prison, and Mahâmaudgalyâyana and Ananda, in form of two men in secular Chinese dress, approaching them ; (vi) Buddha, in guise of

a Chinese dignitary, attended by M. and A. in secular Chinese dress, approaching Vaidehi (1) in prison. In foreground the courtyard gate, closed, and Ajataatru, within, walking towards it but not perceiving them.

On L., Queen Vaidehi meditating on Sukhàvali as follows;:—(vii) On Sun, a red disc, beside mountains ; (viii) on Moon (?), a white disc outlined with red ; (ix) on Ground of Sukhàvali (?) a green square within a coping ; (x) on Water (?), a white square within a coping ; (xi) on the Lake of Eight Virtues, or the Flowery Throne, a tank from which grows a scarlet lotus ; (xü) on the Mansions of Sukhàvali, represented by a pavilion ; (xüi) on the Jewel-trees, a row of five, red-flowering ; (xiv) on a chased gold treasure chest (?), perhaps representing the Jewels of the Paradise ; (xv) on jewelled canopy, raised upon platform or base of throne ; (xvi) on rebirth in Sukhàvali : her own soul, in garb of Chinese woman enclosed in pointed light blue halo, rising from scarlet lotus ; (xvii) on Avalokitebvar`a; (xvi) on Mahâsthâma; (xix) on Buddha Amitâbha; (xx) on same, similarly represented.

All side-scenes in purely Chinese style, as in *Ch. oo51, etc. Blank cartouche, yellow or mauve, for inscription, placed by each scene. 5' 5" x 3' I I".

Ch. xxxiii. oori. Silk painting with Chin. inscr., representing I3odhisalva, seated, with attendants (mostly destroyed). Incomplete all edges, but central fig. whole and in good condition.

The Bodhisattva is seated with legs interlocked on scarlet lotus, R. hand on thigh holding eject flaming sword, L. Vajra ; Dhydni-buddha on front of massive conical gold tiara covered with scarlet lotus orns. Dress, coiffure, and fig. generally as in *Ch. 00102 ; hair grey-brown ; flesh white shaded with pink and outlined with red ; circular halo and vesica, flame-edged ; and outer nimbus of white with red border enclosing whole fig. and Padmàsana. Canopy of conventional flower-spray.

Attendants consisted of two figs. seated or kneeling in bottom corners, and two others above ; but of former only extreme edges of dress remain, and of latter only knee and hand. Hand of fig. in R. corner holds bow. On inner side of these two figs. are two infants seated or kneeling on scarlet lotuses, clad only in scarlet boots, and holding up scarlet lotus buds to central Bodhisattva. Two others (one mostly destroyed) float down on clouds beside canopy.

Chin. inscr. in each of upper corners, that in L. only partially preserved. Colouring chiefly scarlet, green, yellow, and slate-blue on light fawn background ; clean workmanship of conventional type. r' 5A" x 1' 31"

Ch. xxxiv. oor. Painted silk banner ; broken at ends and edges, all accessories lost.

Subject : Avalokilesvara (Kuan-yin). Stands facing spectator ; L. hand by side ; R. hand carrying at shoulder round-bodied vase of red and blue porcelain with metal base and neck, in which are red lotus bud and leaves. In front of tiara, in place of Dhyâni-buddha, is similar miniature vase with two scarlet lotuses. Fig of slender feminine type, with mild