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1076 CAVE-TEMPLES & ANTIQUES OF THE THOUSAND BUDDHAS [Ch. XXV

hang small groups of attendant Buddhas on clouds, white, green, and red, and jewelled crimson canopy of central fig.

Inscriptions in upper half are mostly legible, and allow the following figs. to be identified : (i, ii) in upper corners, R. and L. resp., small Bodhisailvas of Sun and Moon. Horses and geese do not appear, deities being seated on lotuses ; but their distinctively coloured haloes remain—Sun's orange-red, Moon's white.

(iii, iv) Buddhas of Ten Quarlers of Three Worlds (past, present, and future), a group of five seated on each side of Avalok.'s canopy.

Below comes main group of attendants, standing, four armed Kings on each side, and beneath each quartet a dignified fig. in Chinese official dress but haloed, holding long-handled fan and attended by two boys. The inscrs. show these to be: Kings in upper row, on R. (v) Virzipaksa and (vi) Viriidhaka; on L. (vii) Vaisravana and (viii) Dhrlaraslra ; armed figs. below, on R. (ix) gods of earth (?), on L. (x) gods of fire (?); personages in official dress, on R. (xi) Brahma, on L. (xii) Indra.

Inscriptions in two latter cases at least were added after painting was finished. Brahma has sq. black head-dress like magistrates' of *Ch. oo2I, and typically long narrow Chinese beard, moustache, and whiskers; Indra has coiffure and tiara of Bodhisattva. Boys wear long white under-robes and wide-sleeved crimson jackets ; hair tied in two bunches on top of head.

In centre foreground a. large draped altar, with sacred bronze vessels. In lake behind it stand two small Nagas (xiii, xiv), supporting each with upraised hand purple cloud on which rises white disc enveloping central fig. Nagas here are in armour like Lokapalas of banners (see Ch. 00107), and bear no emblems of their serpent origin.

On either side of altar stand with hands in adoration : on R. (xv) white-bearded Sage, on L. (xvi) 1Vymph of ` Shining Virtue' (see *Ch. 00223). Nymph wears Chinese women's dress and coif-like head-dress as in Ch. 00105.

Lower corners arc filled by usual demonic ` fire-headed' Vajrapa;ais (xvii, xviii), brandishing customary emblems, against background of flame; but that on L. is almost entirely destroyed.

Inscriptions relating to last six figs. are almost illegible, but identity of deities can be fixed by comparison with other paintings of the series, especially Ch. lvi. 00x9.

As regards workmanship, painting is not absolutely of finest quality, but with its still vivid pink, blue, and deep purple, and luminous white disc enclosing central fig., forms striking piece of colour design.

5' Ix" X 4' 3". (Inscriptions read by Mr. Yabuki.)

Ch. lvi. 0015. Silk painting representing Avalokilesvara (Kuan-yin) seated on island under willows, with donors. Complete except for border, and well preserved.

Avalok. sits upright / R. on edge of flat rock rising on many-petalled base from lake. R. foot pendent rests on lotus rising from water; L. doubled up and thrust under R. thigh; R. hand holds upright flask, L. willow branch; both arms held stiffly forward from elbows. Dhyani-buddha in trilobate setting on front of tiara.

Flesh white with red outlines, hair and eyes black, fig. rounded in outlines. Circular halo and vesica enclosing fig. to knees. From water grow other lotuses pink and white ; low banks of lake are represented by zigzag bands of white and black to R. and L. In background are conventional willows, and overhead a conventional flower spray making canopy. Indian tradition is preserved in Avalok.'s accessories (dress, jewellery, and coiffure ; see *Ch. lv. 0014); but general treatment and style of drawing are Chinese.

Donors below consist of man seated cross-legged on L., holding lotus-blossom, with small boy standing behind ; and monk in same attitude on R., holding censer, with acolyte standing at back. Dress of man as in *Ch. 00102, of monk as in xlvi. 0013, etc.; little boy in tunic and long trousers with hair in two bunches at sides of head as in Ch. liv. oo6 ; monk and acolyte with close-cut hair painted black on head, and monk even with tufts of beard and moustache.

Blank panel and cartouches for inscr. between donors and in R. top corner. Colouring scarlet, white, black, and a little yellow, with olive-green scenery and background. Workmanship mediocre.

For only simijar representation of Avalok. see Ch. i. 009.

2I 38" X I' 7g

Ch. lvi. ooi6. Large silk painting representing Avalokileévara (Kuan-yin), standing, without attendants. Both ends of painting, with upper half of head and whole of fig. below knees, lost ; remainder fairly preserved. Fig. stands â L., both arms raised from elbows; R. hand holding flask, L. the spray of weeping willow. Workmanship clean and sure, and painting, so far as preserved, very good example of finished ` Chinese ' style of Bodhisattva. Dress, ornaments, and hair of *Ch. 002 type ; face and arms delicately drawn, with rounded contours. Flesh white, shaded with pink ; dhôli or skirt orange-red, under-robe crimson, stole olive-green, metal-work red-brown outlined with black and yellow. Round neck, in addition to necklace, is small string of beads worn by the Six-armed Avalokitesvara; see *Ch. 00102. On L. upper edge blank yellow cartouche for inscr.

3' 6" x 1' 9r. Thousand Buddhas, Pl. XIX.

Ch. lvi. ooiq. Large silk painting with Chin. inscr., representing Ksilagarbha in guise of monk, as Lord of the Six Gati. Upper L. quarter lost, and replaced by painted paper ; condition otherwise fair. Cf. other representations under *Ch. 0021.

K. sits on lotus, / L., cross-legged and feet hidden ; R. hand lying open on knee, L. held horizontally before breast, fingers extended and palm down. Dress : green under-robe, necklace, and crimson mantle lined blue and barred with yellow arranged as in *Ch. 002 I, etc. Flesh white, shaded and outlined with red; eyes quite straight but long and narrow, with heavily marked black eyebrows; car normal ; shaven head painted dull blue ; small moustache and wisp of beard; outlined in black ; on forehead, lilaka from which rises cloud of vapour. Circular halo and vesica of plain olive-green and red ; clumsy conical canopy above, from which hangs deep draped shade.