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

and 2; plate 27, figs. 1–3; plate 28, fig. 2; plate 29, figs. 1–4; plate 30, figs. 1–3;
plate 31, figs. 1 and 2).

*Technique of the painting.*—The colors were laid upon either a clay ground,
more or less well-treated, or upon a thin color-slip. The coloring is, perhaps, still
more varied than in group *a*. Here, too, black predominates, and with it occurs
brown in different shades—light brown, black-brown, red-brown, and violet-brown.
The manipulation of the brush was for the most part rapid, especially as large
surfaces were often to be painted. Nevertheless, the lines are drawn appro-
priately and accurately.

THE DECORATION OF BOTH GROUPS *a* AND *b*.

The patterns used by the painters of the vessels may be divided into two
classes, according to the arrangement on the surface of the vessels; horizontal,
linearly arranged patterns (Rei-
henmuster), *i. e.*, patterns of which
the separate motives are arranged
in rows, and in oblique band-
patterns (Bandmuster), patterns
in which the parts become effect-
ive only when arranged in bands.
Each starts from a ground form—
the first from an erect triangle,
with the point at the top, the
other from a group of oblique
parallel lines.

(1) The triangles are grouped
in horizontal rows, either placed
close together (fig. 67) or stand-
ing farther apart (fig. 68). A
peculiar motif is formed when
the top points are forked (fig. 69).
This last variation recalls the com-
mon pole-tent, and the ground motif controls the whole decoration to such an
extent that we may speak of a tent-ornamentation, merely for the purpose of iden-
tification, without any reference to the origin of the pattern.

The ground pattern occurs, however, in many variations. It is halved and
placed obliquely, or directed upwards (figs. 70, 71). The whole triangle or half-
triangle is drawn only in contour (figs. 72, 72*a*). Moreover, the triangular field is
filled in in different ways—with a trellis pattern (fig. 73), or with parallel lines (fig.
74), or several lines may start simultaneously from the basal angles upwards,
crossing each other at the apex (fig. 75). Again, the triangles are so shoved into
each other that the sides cross each other at the bottom (fig. 76), or at the apex
(fig. 77), as in the ground pattern (fig. 79). A pattern which is not infrequently
used is shown in fig. 78 in which the somewhat curved apices of the triangles are
ranged like the prows of ships (see plate 24, fig. 2).