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

Ioi6 CAVE-TEMPLES & ANTIQUES OF THE THOUSAND BUDDHAS [Ch. XXV

ing of under-robe and large mantle like Ksitigarbha's in *Ch. i. 003, etc. Bodhisattva coiffure and all Bodhisattva jewellery are here, however, retained. Face carefully drawn ; with minute curling moustache and imperial in black, firva in red, and inside of ears (pierced but hardly elongated) in same. Under-robe falls in loose folds about ankles ; jewellery comparatively simple, tiara consisting only of white fillet with branch orn. in centre supporting two crimson lotuses with blue centres ; and tasselled orns. at ears.

Colouring very bright and exceptionally fresh ; mantle brilliant crimson, barred with black as in *Ch. i. 003, and lined with ultramarine blue; under-robe pea-green bordered with dark pink and lined with scarlet ; and same colours repeated in halo, canopy, and jewels. Lotus under R. foot has double row of petals, shaded and outlined with dark pink ; that under L. has single whorl of curling petals, coloured light green or blue on outer edge, dark pink or orange within, and light blue or green in centre ; bands of colour divided by narrow black and white lines ; upper-side of one petal corresponding to upcurled under-side of next. Yellow cartouche for inscr. to L. of head, blank. Workmanship carefully finished throughout.

For similar Bodhisattvas, see Ch. 00142 ; Iv. oo6 ; and cf. also *Ch. i. 003.

Painting 2' I"X 6$", length with streamers 5' I'. Pl. LXXX.

Ch. xvii. 002. Paper painting fiom same series as Ch. 00162, etc., showing divinity unhaloed, perhaps Tantric form of Avalokilefvara, standing on yak. Fig. six-armed, with distended eyes and frowning brows ; upper hands hold up discs of Sun and Moon (containing no figs.) ; its middle pair of hands are in front of body, R. in vilarka-mudrâ,

L. holding flask ; its lower hands hang by its sides, R. with forefinger only extended, L. carrying noose. Fig.'s hair and head-dress same as in companion picture ; dress that of 'Indian' Bodhisattva, but with skirt reaching only to knees, and legs below bare except for anklets. Style and colouring as in Ch. oo162. ' In L. top corner is blank cartouche for

inscr. Pin-hole in corners. Good condition.   1' 6" x
r' or.

Ch. xvii. 003. Paper painting, from same series as Ch. 00162, etc., showing Virirdhaka. Stands astride, head turned over L. shoulder ; R. hand at breast with thumb, second and third finger joined, L. arm thrust out holding head of club, which rests upon ground. Dress that of the more Indian' type of Lokapala (see *Ch. oo 1 o, General Note), but without corslet.. Coat of mail painted plain on body, and in horizontal stripes on skirts ; but scales not shown. Features large and coarse, with prominent cheek-bones and round staring eyes. General style and colour as in Ch. 00162. Good condition. 1' 6*' x

Ch. xviii. 002. Part of illustrated and dated Chin. MS.. book, containing representations of Four Lokapalas, cf. Ch. xxii. 0026. Date given in text, A. D. 89o. Only five leaves are preserved : last two of text, single, written on each side, and containing respectively 9, 9, 5, and 8 I1. of Chin. chars.; a single leaf, blank on one side, and show

ing on other painting of a Lokapala ; a leaf(double, i. e. two pasted back to back) showing a Lokapala upon either side ; and a fifth leaf (double) with Lokapala painted on inner side, the outer being pasted over with remains of purple silk damask and forming the cover.

The text contains passages from various Buddhist Sutras and a colophon by scribe who transcribed them and made the illustrations.

The latter are finely drawn and coloured, and each bears Chin. inscr. identifying the Lokapala in question. Each is seated on two crouching demons, one leg pendent, other bent across at knee. 'Their dress consists of coats of mail, corslets, breeches, greaves, shoes, arm-guards, and tiaras or helmets, like the Lokapalas of the silk banners : see *Ch. 0010, General Note. Details of dress are elaborately orn., the centres or lacing holes of scales picked out in green, corslets decorated with scroll orn., upper girdle and border of coat of mail sprinkled with wheel orn., and collars and breeches over knees with rosettes. Each has a flame-edged halo, and an attendant demon standing behind. The latter have distended muscles and monstrous heads, while faces of Kings are human and non-grotesque. In detail the chief characteristics of the figs. are as follows, in order from R. to L. :

1. Virralleaka, Guardian of South. R. hand raised and held out empty, L. holding upright club. Tiara with red streamers. Armour-scales round-edged, overlapping downwards, on shoulders and body; oblong, overlapping downwards (?), on skirts. Attendant holds up snake by throat, in R. hand ; club in L.

2. Dhrlaräslra, Guardian of East. R. hand raised holding arrow, L. holding bow. Helmet as in Ch. 0040 ; armour-scales round-edged, overlapping downwards, on shoulders ; oblong, overlapping downwards (?), on skirts ; represented on body by star-shaped conventional diaper, as in Ch. xxvi. a. oor. Attendant holds arrow-.head(?).

3. Viriipaksa, Guardian of West. R. hand on thigh, L. holding naked sword upright. Long white beard and white top-knot ; tiara with streamers. Scales of armour oblong on skirts, apparently overlapping downwards; round-edged, overlapping downwards, on body and shoulders.

4. Vaiiravana, Guardian of North. R. hand holds halberd, L. miniature shrine. On head three-leaved crown. Wears no corslet, but tight-fitting coat of mail as in Ch. 0087 ; scales shown on body and skirts by star-shaped conventional diaper, on shoulders oblong. Attendant carries indistinguishable bottle-shaped object in R. hand (cf. Ch. 00158, 00217), and has head enveloped in wild beast skin, mouth and paws framing face.

Colours chiefly red, green, slate-grey, yellow, and brown ; torn at edges of leaf, but condition otherwise good. Size of leaf 5 g" x 5 ". Pl. XC.

Ch. xviii. 003. Silk painting with Chinese inscription representing Avalokileivara (Kuan-yin), standing, without attendants. Complete, with no border, but finished round edge with painted band of red. Painting in ' Indian ' style of great delicacy and refinement, and without a pendant in Collection. Bare upper part of fig. with dull red outline and