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

my account of those shown in our Plate may be restricted to individual points deserving
of notice.

In the banner on the left (Ch. lv. 0020), which is well preserved except at the top
where the painting has broken and been attached to the head-piece (not shown) by a patch
of purple silk, we see a good example of the Lokapāla type designated above as 'Chinese'.
Virūpākṣa stands with his feet planted on the back and head of his crouching demon
cognizance and holding the drawn sword upright in his left hand.⁹⁸ His face is middle-aged
and serious, the oblique eyes slightly enlarged, and the iris painted a dark yellow. His
coat of mail shows oblong scales all through from the shoulders to the skirt portion. The
flesh is shaded light pink over the brownish white of the silk. The corslet is secured by
broad shoulder-straps, probably of lacquer, here clearly marked. Beneath the hip-belt
appear an apron and hip-flaps of shaped leather, providing additional protection. Round
the lower edge of the belt hang loose rings, probably meant for the attachment of the
scabbard and other equipment. The breeches are tucked into greaves, and the feet shod
with plain sandals. The general colour effect is subdued owing to the prevalence of light
brown and pale red tints.

The painting in the middle (Ch. lv. 0046) is broken at the top and has lost its banner
accessories, but retains its colours in remarkable freshness. Virūpākṣa, turning slightly
to the left, stands with his feet on the shoulder and knee of a squatting demon. He holds
before him with both hands a long sword in a lacquered scabbard, whose point rests on
the demon's head. His face, large-cheeked and with strong chin, bears a pleasant expres-
sion. The oblique eyes with light iris gaze upwards.

The coat of mail painted yellow and red shows round-edged scales overlapping down-
wards as far as the hip-belt, while the skirt portion has oblong scales apparently overlapping
upwards. Trefoil-shaped flaps of green leather give additional protection to the hips and
abdomen. A sausage-shaped collar is fastened round the neck and over a brown mantle.
Solid guards of lacquered leather protect both upper and fore arms. The legs are clad
only in breeches tied below the knees and hanging loose to the ankles. The shoes of woven
string are of some interest, as their make exactly corresponds to that of shoes brought to
light by me from ruins of Han and later times.⁹⁹ The elaborately jewelled head-dress is
fitted with a red 'cock's crest' at the back, and the halo behind is flame-edged.

The Chinese inscription describes the Lokapāla correctly as Virūpākṣa, 'celestial king
of the Western Region'. The work is carefully finished throughout, and the colours
harmonious, though more opaque than usual in these banners.

The banner (Ch. 0010), of which the painted portion is reproduced on the right, is
complete and excellently preserved. Virūpākṣa's figure combines here characteristics of
that Lokapāla type which may conveniently be called 'Central-Asian' with a treatment
and certain details not unlike those in the 'Chinese' type.

The Lokapāla stands facing the spectator on the head and knee of a contorted demon.
His right foot is placed on a higher level than the other, and the weight of the body thrown
on the left hip. The right hand holds the naked sword aslant across the body and the left
supports it at the breast. The face is heavy and with the frowning forehead, the snarling
mouth, and glaring eyes bears a fiercer expression than usual. The large round eyes are
level and the iris green. The hair, shown light blue, is bunched back behind the ears.
The flesh is painted a pinkish red with but little shading.

The coat of mail from shoulders to skirt is uniformly made up of round-edged scales
overlapping downwards; but their colouring varies in different parts. A jerkin of blue
leather elaborately ornamented with metal-work appears above and below the mail corslet.
The forearms are swathed in red draperies, which also show above the knees. The
white leg-coverings are tucked into greaves which display elaborately scrolled metal-work,
manifestly painted in with an eye mainly to decorative effect. Similar metal-work is shown