国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

the only surface ornamentation, are at the paws and eyes. The coiled animal,
this particular invention of the Steppes and only indigenous there, follows the
whole development of art in the east, but numerous examples are found only
of its last phase.
i) Human representations.
It has always been claimed that human figuration played but a minor role
in the circle of the Steppes. However it is never entirely missing, not even
among the Scythians. In the western group there are appliques in the shape
of heads, beardless and with hair brushed back (56). We must add to this type
the much more naturalistic representation of Plate XVI no. 1. The coarse hair
and slanting eyes remind one of a Mongol. Altogether it gives the impression
of a portrait. We place it at about the middle of the I millennium. This
motive reaches the end after 1000, once as a pendant, once as an applique, as
is shown by Plate XVI nos. 2 & 3. That is to say it has become ill proportioned
and of a primitiveness where its charm is not due to artistic skill but to the en-
tirely accidental expression. Variations of this type are extremely numerous.
Side by side with the masque, purely of the Steppes, is another of Chinese
influence (Pl. XVI no. 4), where we find a demon derived from Han and T'ang
ornaments (57), complete with heavy moustache and hair dressed in three curls,
and with a wrinkled forehead that, like the muscles of Buddhist temple
guardians is an uncomprehended ornamentation. The lower lip is now a loop
with the remains of a hook at the centre. This piece would seem to be of about
the end of the T'ang period.
The man on horseback, usually a very small applique, is popular in the Minus-
sinsk region (58). There, at the earliest, it is of the second half of the I mil-
lennium (Pl. IV, line VII, 2 no. 57), so that the repliqua from the Chinese
frontier cannot be pre-T'ang. Examples from the two regions are often
identical. Sometimes we find a naturalism due to Chinese influence that gives a
certain modeling to the man and that provides some realistic details to the
general composition which otherwise is carelessly drawn (Pl. XVI no. 5).
It seems possible, therefore, to place this figure towards the end of the T'ang
period. But we are past the millennium as soon as we find a completely pri-
mitive style (Pl. XVI no. 6). The horse is now only a fabulous creature, super-
ficially drawn, with fantastically shaped tail and mane. There is no modeling
and the surface is covered with incised lines that are nearly meaningless.
k) Bridle ornaments.
This group differs from the last particularly by its elementary form. Objects
of this type are either S-shaped or rectangular, and instead of being round
or horizontal as were the preceding appliques, they are narrow and usually
made to be placed upright. They must have served to decorate bridles.
Purely ornamental S-shaped forms are frequent at Minussinsk (59). Once