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

figures, animals and geometrical signs executed in a true primitive way (Cf. Ben-
veniste Pl. V). It is not possible to determine in all cases whether the various types
of figures are contemporary or whether they are the results of successive use of
the spots as sacred places. In many instances the Buddhist stupa carvings seem to
form the primary element of the compositions which has attracted people and in-
spired them to make additions. These carvings are often labelled as pilgrims'
pictures. On the other hand there are also rock pictures in Western Tibet lacking
the Buddhist elements (e. g. Tucci, Fig. 21) which are of the same type as the older
parts of the Quruq-tagh petroglyph.

Francke gives an explanation of the meaning of recent rock pictures in Kash-
mir-Ladakh which totally differs from the generally accepted interpretations of at
least old rock carvings. The many bucks, e. g. on a rock surface at the village Donga
near Shimsha Kharbu about midway between Srinagar and Leh, are said to be
offerings to the mythical pre-Buddhistic King Kesar, made in gratitude for the
birth of children (Francke Pl. 9).

Through the good offices of Mr. Henning Haslund-Christensen I have come
into possession of a photo of this rock carving. On the left-hand part of the large
boulder the photo clearly shows two more bucks than appear in Francke's re-
production. (The figures are not filled in with white colour on either picture). This
proves that the people still embellish this rock with carvings of the same kind as
those already existing. On this petroglyph only the Buddhistic stupa symbols may be
of some age. The present inhabitants of the Donga village are Mohammedans and
have nothing to do with the carvings.

In another case Francke calls an ibex representation "the old big stone-buck,
personification of the rock".

According to my belief not all of Francke's buck figures must necessarily be
connected with human fecundity. When two goats are depicted, one of them with
a small goat within, denoting pregnancy, this is better explained as a prayer for in-
crease in the stock of goats.

A carved hand Francke calls a sign of Wednesday.

As is evident from the description given above, our Quruq-tagh engravings come
down to modern times, maybe the present century. The "stratigraphy" shows that
the highest level must be of a certain antiquity. The origin of the art is no doubt
very old, but in our case the earliest part must have been made by a people well
aquainted with the use of metal tools. To give any more precise date would be
hazardous. One could, of course venture the guess that the carving was started by
some Huns coming from Northern Mongolia, where they probably practised this
kind of art, and that it was continued by some people associated with the south-
west, e.g. the Tibetans, and also by the Mongols.

It is still too early to base any conclusions on the distribution of rock-carvings in

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