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

Sec. ii] LIST OF PAINTINGS, TEXTILES,

From K.'s person emanate on each side three clouds, on which stand figs. emblematic of Six Worlds as follows : on R. above (i) Bodhisattva for World of Gods, (ii) horse for World of Animals, (iii) demon stirring caldron for World of Demons ; on L. above (iv) four-armed deity holding up discs (of Sun and Moon ?) for World of Giants (?), (v) a man (in Chin. dress) for World of Men, (vi) a prela for World of Tormented Spirits. The meaning of all except (iv) and (vi) is established by small inscr. placed beside each fig., the cartouche of (vi) having been lost with L. edge of painting, while fig. (iv) is redrawn without inscr. on paper patch.

Lines drawn for dedication panel on lower edge of painting, but inscr. not filled in.

Painting mediocre as work of art. 4' x 1' 9'.

Ch. lvi. oo18. Large silk painting representing Paradise of Amilàyus, with side-scenes showing legend of Ajàtasatru and meditations of Queen Vaidehi, as in *Ch. 0051. In general conception and treatment similar to *Ch. lii. 003, but Indian ' style more apparent in certain figs. Complete at top and sides except for border ; incomplete at bottom, and most of middle of picture lost except immediately round central Buddha. Remainder in good condition.

The pose of presiding Buddha is the same as in Ch. v. 001. The two chief Bodhisattvas sit European fashion, leaning their bodies forward ; both wear ' Indian ' type of Bodhisattva dress, orns., and coiffure, descr. under *Ch. Iv. 0014 ; their flesh painted bright flesh-pink shaded with salmon. Their eyes, however, are oblique ; their hair black, and their haloes and vesicas circular. The one on L. holds Vajra upright on his L. hand, and is obviously Vajrapàni; the other prob. Maiijusri, the second Bva. associated in triad strictly with Amitàyus ; see Ch. lvi. 0034. He holds the ghavlâ, or Vajra-topped bell.

Attendant Bodhisattvas mostly hold scarlet lotus buds, but in Mafijusri group one shown with fly-whisk and another with Pôthi. At M.'s shoulder sits youthful male fig. with Bodhisattva dress and necklace, but with black hair curling closely over his head and no top-knot or tiara.

Celestial mansions built in form of rectang. courtyard with high-roofed gateways at middle of sides, and at back corners two high towers, rowned by small shrines containing Stûpas. Two Garudas playing on pipe and lute stand in court, with duck and phoenix painted conventionally scarlet and light blue. Small Buddhas and Bodhisattvas rise on clouds into sky, in which float beribboned musical instruments, while precipitous mountains are shown at the sides.

Below the dancer is lost, but orchestra of four remains, playing on flute, mouth-organ (or syrinx), lute, and pipe. On gangways going down into water stand a crane and a Garuda carrying purple lotus at his breast and red lotus bud in his

• mouth. The bottom corners, with subsidiary Buddhas and their attendants, are also partially preserved. Very little of lake is seen, no infants appearing in it nor trees.

Workmanship and drawing in style of *Ch. lii. 003, but not on quite so high a level or so well preserved. Colouring gay, enlivened by plentiful blue and copper-green on ornamental lotuses, haloes, canopies, and trees in addition to

ETC., FROM CHIEN-FO-TUNG to77

fundamental colouring of crimson, dull green, white, and black. As in Ch. lii. 003, the last used only for hair of all secondary figs., pavilion roofs, and floor of main terrace. Flesh of all Bodhisattvas in main group white shaded with pink ; that of Garutlas and musicians flesh-colour. The four varieties of tree descr. in Ch. lii. 003 also found here.

The side-scenes (see *Ch. 005 i ) are in usual secular Chinese style, and exceptionally numerous. They represent on R.:

(i) Former incarnation of Ajàtasatru, as a hermit, being beaten outside his hut by dismounted horseman with stick ; (ii) former incarnation of gàkyamuni, as white rabbit, pursued by huntsman who shoots arrow at him ; (iii) Bimbisàra and Vaidehi kneeling before g., who appears seated on a Padmàsana; (iv) Bimbisàra kneeling, Vaidehi throwing herself on her face, before standing Buddha (Amitàbha), from whose head stream rays of light ; (v) Ajàtaiatru pursuing Vaidehi with sword ; Candraprabha and Jiva, with swords, in foreground, ready to intervene ; (vi) Ajàtasatru receiving minister who remonstrates with him on his treatment of his mother (?) ; cf. Ch. lv. 0033. iv, etc. ; (vii) Vaidehi visiting Bimbisàra in prison, and Maudgalyàyana descending on cloud in shape of monk ; (viii) Vaidehi between two warders, sentenced to imprisonment by Ajàtasatru (2); (ix) Vaidehi led away by two warders.

On L., meditations of Queen Vaidehi on Sukhâvar, as follows : (x) on Sun ; lost, but its rays fall upon her ;

11. on Water ; a green enclosure within chequered border;

12. on Water as ice (?) ; white enclosure with black marks as in liii. 003. x, etc.; ()ciii) ? white disc within green enclosure like xi ; cf. Moon (2) in Ch. xxxiii. 003. viii, and 1v. 0033. vi ; (xiv) on Ground of Sukhavali (?); a sq. green enclosure divided into four; (xv) on jewelled canopy, three-tiered ; (xvi) on Rebirth in Sukhâvali; her own soul in guise of Chinese woman rising from lotus; cf. also Ch. xxxiii. 003. xvi ; lv. 0033. xix ; (xvii) on Jewel-tree;

18. on Mansions of Sukhiivali, represented by a pavilion ;

19. on Avalokitesvara or Mahàsthàma; (xx) on Buddha Amitàbha or Amitiayus, standing ; (xxi) on same, seated on Padmàsana; (xxii) on Mahàsthàma or Avalokitesvara; (xxiii) on Rebirth in Sukhâvali ; a naked infant within pointed nimbus rising from lotus ; (xxiv) on same, mostly destroyed.

The Queen's hair on R. is done in high loops as in *Ch. 0051, on L. in plain top-knot. Blank cartouches for inscriptions, terra-cotta, yellow, and white, are placed by each scene. 5 X3' 10'.

Ch. lvi. ooig. Large silk painting with Chin. inscr., representing Thousand-armed and Eleven-headed Avalokilesvara with attendant divinities. Most elaborate representation of this subject in Collection ; complete (except along bottom), with orig. border of fawn silk, colour finely preserved.

For general design, list of similar paintings, and treatment of central fig., cf. *Ch. 00223, and especially Ch. lvi. 0014. But attendant deities are here more numerous, and can mostly be identified with certainty owing to inscriptions. They are as follows :

(i) In upper corners on each side group of five small

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