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

Sec. ii] LIST OF PAINTINGS, TEXTILES

stole and on ankle-guards. Scale-armour yellow and red, lace-holes marked in brown ; hair, hip-belt, and sleeves (?) on upper arm, black.

Flesh is shaded light red on brownish-white of silk; iris of eyes yellow. Halo brown tinged with green, and on R. part of cloud is green and red. Yellow cartouche for inscr. to R. of head, blank.

Painting I' roll" X qâ , length of whole 5' ro". Pl.

LXXXIV.

Ch. Iv. 0021. Painted silk banner; all accessories lost, and painting considerably worn and broken. Companion banner to Ch. Iv. 0022.

Subject : Scenes from Life of Buddha; Chinese in style; parts of four preserved. Painting bordered at sides by r" band of buff decorated at regular intervals with curved lines of orange-red and black and bands of orange-red, green, and blue, suggesting ornamental rings on turned wooden baluster transversely divided into three sq. panels by straight bands, r â" wide ; the two upper orn. with waved band of shaded green, blue, orange, and black with half-rosettes in hollows; the lowest with half of large repeating rosette pattern in same colours on an orange-red ground.

Scene I. Identification uncertain. In foreground, rising from ground appears white elephant-head, seen directly in face and cut off by lower edge of panel at about base of trunk. On top of it a yellow double lotus supporting slate-blue jewel, from which vague flickering lines seem to be drawn upwards (in the tracing), perhaps representing flame. On R., behind, a white lion seated on rock under tree. On L. under another tree stands a man in long red-sleeved coat bordered with blue. He holds up his hands before him, open; his hair is done in three-pointed top-knot on the top. In background appears high-walled enclosure, with gateway

in front, of same type as in Ch. lv. 0016, etc.   Within,
red, blue, and green elliptical spots are ranged along horizontal lines of orange-red and black ; their meaning doubtful. [The scene may possibly represent in some form the Triratna : Buddha, the Law, and the Community of Monks. The white lion in any case is an accepted symbol of the Teaching of Buddha (Dharma), while the fig. on L. might represent the Community, as a disciple.]

Scene 2. Unidentified. L. side • and foreground lost. There remains on R. a fig. in same blue-edged coat and with same coiffure as in scene above, seated on verandah of a pavilion. His hands are raised as if in blessing, and his gaze fixed on L. bottom corner, where traces remain of fig. in brown robe with uplifted hand. Outside verandah stands also a man in red belted coat, turning in same way towards brown-robed fig., and stretching out both arms to him with hands drooping.

Scene 3. Unidentified. Most of foreground lost. The corner of an open pavilion fills greater part of scene. Within it, on sitting-platform kneel two figs. dressed as in preceding scenes. Their hands joined as in adoration ; between them in background stands servant in green coat holding fan (?) in folded arms. Before verandah stand two smaller figs. One in R. corner, in blue-edged red coat, with his hands joined in

, ETC., FROM CH`IEN-FO-TUNG 1067

adoration, is merely an attendant, his attention like that of kneeling figs. turned to other who seems centre of interest of scene. This last is dressed in belted red coat and black boots, and stands with head bent down and hands apparently held out before him at breast ; but the painting is smudged, and details indistinguishable. Between him and attendant in R. corner, m midst of green grôund, a sq. patch of light brown with black marking, having a red wooden railing on either side of it ; and on this his attention seems to be bent. The object intended is not clear. All figs. have their hair done in triple top-knot referred to in scene (z), etc.

Scene 4. Unidentified. This seems to be in two parts. It shows angle of a courtyard wall, with verandahed building inside, and high gateway on R. (of same type as in Ch. 0039 ; lv. 001 6, etc.). Within verandah sits the Bodhisattva, as naked infant on lotus, but he is almost effaced. Whole R. upper half of scene lost, but traces remain of fig. in blue-edged red coat standing before him. Outside courtyard wall, the infant Bodhisattva, without halo, is again seen riding on white elephant. He is seated cross-legged on red lotus with hands joined ; and behind him walk two attendants, one holding over him a canopy. On his L. ride two more figs., on white horses with red manes and tails. (The horses are badly drawn, and have only four legs between them.) The foremost rider, like attendants behind, is in familiar blue-edged red coat and with his hair done in the triple topknot ; the other is prob. a woman. She rides astride, but wears green robe with red stole or shawl, and her hair clusters about her head.

Drawing bad and careless throughout, and the workmanship_generally on a level with that of Ch. xxv. oor, which prob. belongs to same series, from similarity of such details as decorative bands between panels and double cartouches. Double cartouche (blank) in orange-red, for inscr., lines each scene, placed alternately on R. and L.

2' r "X 7' (pi" when complete).

Ch. lv. 0022. Fr. of painted silk banner ; all accessories lost, and great part of painting ; remainder worn. Companion to Ch. Iv. 002 5, and with similar painted borders and bands between scenes.

Subject : Scenes from Life of Buddha. Two preserved (incomplete) and border only of third.

Scene I. Unidentified. Upper part lost. In middle sits Buddha on lotus pedestal, legs crossed, R. hand in vitarkamudrà, L. lying over knee. R. shoulder, arm, and breast bare, flesh yellow; circular orange halo behind head, and elliptical green vesica behind fig. from which undulate red and blue rays. On either side kneel two disciples on blue lotuses, their hands joined in adoration. They are without haloes, have wide-sleeved red coats with blue borders, and triple top-knot coiffure common in Ch. lv. 0021 ; xxv. 001.

Scene 2. Unidentified. On L. Bodhisattva sits on lotus pedestal under canopy. His dress, ornaments, and coiffure àre of 'Indian' type, simplified (see *Ch. Iv. 0054). Flesh pink, pointed orange halo behind head, and elliptical green vesica behind fig. Before him on ground, but turned with R. side to him, kneels or squats small fig. in red-sleeved coat,

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