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

against a red nimbus, surrounded by grey-green. The vesica is green with red and

mauve-grey borders and above it is visible the top of a stylized Bodhi-tree in

black and white. Before the throne is a tessellated pavement crossed with white

lines, and a step or foot-stool of the same style. The front of the foot-stool is

mauve and the panel on each side green. Below the throne are two narrow bands

mauve and red suggesting a step or the curb of a pool of green water on which

float a red and yellow duck and three red balls (jewels).

The devotee on the Buddha's right, large portions of whom are missing, seems

to wear a simple mauve-grey tunic bordered with buff, reaching to the knees, and

he kneels on a green mat. The figure at the Buddha's left, whose face is discoloured

and hair white (or it may be discoloured), is clad in a dark red monk's robe, edged

with buff. He kneels on a mauve mat.

At the top of the picture sits a grey vulture whose presence indicates that this or

the adjoining mountain is the Grdhrakúta hill. In the lower green lozenge the

badly damaged figure of the seated Buddha has the same colouring as the upper

Buddha. On his right is a devotional monk with tanned flesh, grey hair, and a red

robe with grey overlap at the breast.

To the left, in the red lozenge, appears the side of a throne, similar to that

already described, but with latticed panels of mauve, red, and green. A figure kneels

beside it with arms outstretched, probably presenting an offering. He wears a

green mantle edged with buff, a red tunic, and a mauve skirt. Behind him grows

a mauve pine-tree contoured with white.

The figure in the white lozenge to right seems to be a person of some conse-

quence. Seated at his ease on a stool, his right foot lightly touches a green mat on

the ground and the left leg is drawn up in squatting pose, bringing the foot against

his lap. He wears a sort of kilt, green edged with white; and a grey stole floats

behind his shoulder. Behind him rises a green pine-tree.

The figures are of the tall, long-limbed, narrow-waisted type, with disk-like

faces and scratchily drawn features. It is peculiar to this type that the eyebrows

meet at an acute angle, giving a disagreeable expression.

The whole is an interesting composition, and although very fragmentary and

faded, is still a charming piece of colour.

The imbrication scheme of diaper decoration used here and elsewhere in

Turfán mural decoration is a brilliant variation of the monotonous repetition of

squares containing seated Buddha figures commonly used in Buddhist shrines all

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