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

The figures seem to be taking part in some devotional ceremony such as a

presentation to a saintly person or shrine.

Toy. VI. 073, &c.

This is probably part of the same, or of a similar picture, as the last. There are

two adult standing figures, turned towards the left, each holding a long-stemmed

branch or flower, supported by both hands. The figure to the left is badly dis-

coloured, and the details are difficult to make out. He wears a blue robe figured

with brown flying ducks and red flame-like clouds again, a motive frequently

found on actual textiles from Lou-lan and Astána. Next is a white-robed figure

with blue girdle to which are attached, on the left side, a pouch and probably cases

for writing implements and eating-sticks. Against the skirts of this figure is a

group of five children, in two rows, all white, contoured with black. There are

faint traces of pink on the cheeks of the tallest. Two are readily recognizable and

the remains of the other three it is hoped to rescue from the murk of discolora-

tion by the aid of the clues here given. They all appear to be dressed in simple

smocks but the hair of each child is differently shaven and dressed; and it is this

last condition that provides the means of identification. The tallest child has a tall

top-knot placed at a rather rakish angle. The next wears a fringe over the forehead

and a thin tail behind. In the front row, the child to the right has two leaf-shaped

locks curving right and left. The middle child has a single love-lock' in front,

curving to the right. The figure to the left has a fringe over the forehead and a long

leaf-shaped lock at the side. The two at the back have their hands folded in an

attitude of devotion.

Toy. VI. 0144

Two slim, youthful adorants stand facing to the left. The taller of the two, a

woman (head missing), has her hands folded at her breast. The long simple lines

of her white robe are very graceful, and the figure in pose and treatment reminds

one of similar figures in Gothic sculpture. There are traces of pale green on the

robe. The child by her side is dressed in a simple white robe with a loose girdle

round the middle, his hands tucked into opposite cuffs of his long sleeves, as in a

muff. The head of the woman is broken away, as is the top of the boy's head; and

the lower part of each is missing.

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