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

roofs in blue, green, or black. (See for fuller description
Ch. 0039; iv. 009, etc.) Terraces have here a black, but
often an ornamental lozenge-tiled, floor; railings of terraces
and gangways always of crimson woodwork. Terraces rise
on piles, dark crimson or brown, or are built up with blocks
of stone orn. with rosettes, etc.

(ix) Haloes and vesicas are circular: the Buddhas' made of
waving rays of orange, blue, green, and purple; the Bodhi-
sattvas' of plain discs of colour with darker borders, varie-
gated concentric rings of colour, or plain discs covered with
an orn. prob. originally representing an open flower. Elon-
gated haloes of Indian type found only in few instances,
specially noted.

Both the Bodhisattvas here remaining from some bottom
scene have the Dhyāni-buddha on their tiaras. Bodhisattva
on L. balances on L. thumb covered metal dish; his attendant
plays on lute. That on R. carries on L. hand vase with
purple lotus, and with R. hand (lost) trident, while his
attendant holds burning lamp on scarlet lotus.

The colouring consists chiefly of soft reds, blues, and
greens skilfully balanced and blended so that neither pre-
dominates, and held together by black of terrace floor and
pavilion roofs; but whole now considerably dimmed. The
work throughout is of most highly finished style, the draw-
ing extremely delicate and clear, the pose of many of figs.
very graceful.

The side-scene, representing the Eight Calamities (R. side),
and on L. side Prayers of Mañjuśrī (?), were to be described
and identified by MM. Petrucci and Chavannes in Mémoires
concernant l'Asie Orientale; cf. Appendix E, III. vi.

For another Paradise of Bhaiṣajyaguru with the same
side-scenes, see Ch. liii. 002.
6′ 9″ × 5′ 2″. Pl. LVII; Thousand Buddhas, Pls. I, II.

Ch. lii. 004. Large silk painting with Chin. inscr.;
upper half representing Amitābha and attendants; lower,
scenes of parental affection and donors. Of lower half L.
side and middle are lost, but part of L. side is supplied by
Ch. lxi. 008. Sides of main picture, prob. containing legend
scenes, also lost. Remainder in excellent condition.

Upper half resembles main group of a Paradise picture,
and shows Amitābha seated behind altar, with Avalokiteśvara
and Mahāsthāma on either side, four minor Bodhisattvas in
front, and at back two monkish disciples and two of armed
Kings. Above is a canopy hanging on two star-leaved trees,
and a line of pine-clad hills with scarlet clouds clinging to
them. Amitābha sits with legs interlocked, R. hand in
vitarka-mudrā, L. hand at breast holding stemless pink and
white lotus bud. Two chief Bodhisattvas hold in their hands
nearest him purple lotus flowers in small transparent jars;
their other hands are at their breasts.

The lesser Bodhisattvas hold scarlet lotuses, and in dress,
orns., and physical type are all of *Ch. 002 type. The
monkish disciples haloed; one of mild aspect with white
complexion and plump features; the other of red complexion,
with semi-grotesque features, emaciated neck, and down of
moustache and beard on lip and chin. The Kings also
are of red complexion; one with sword, ferocious aspect,

perhaps Virūpākṣa; the other without attribute, perhaps
Virūḍhaka. Trees treated as in Ch. liii. 001, with whorls of
narrow leaves surrounding pyramidal points. Altar shows
good example of valance, like Ch. 00278.

Central triad all have small wisp-like beards and mous-
taches; Buddha's flesh yellow shaded with orange, and his
hair grey-blue; flesh of all Bodhisattvas white shaded with
salmon-colour, and their hair black. The eyes of the
Buddha and all Bodhisattvas white with black pupils and
red irises. Colour of robes and accessories consists chiefly
of crimson, slate-colour, bright green, yellow, and white, and
is exceptionally brilliant and fresh, but harsh in tone; drawing
mechanically skilful, but lifeless.

Lower half subdivided horizontally by bend of lozenge
orn., and resulting space subdivided again into five (?)
vertical panels by long cartouches bearing Chin. inscr.; but
large middle panel in each case completely gone.

In upper panels there remain on R.:
(i) Father on sitting-platform instructing his son; and a
mother with baby in her arms, accompanied by a nurse (?).
(ii) Part of middle scene (?) now lost. Below, two men,
above, three monks, kneeling side by side on mats, with
hands in adoration and looking towards middle of picture.
A Buddha seated on lotus, with hands in same pose, at end
of row of monks. Three inscrs. by these scenes.

On L.: (iii) Pendant to ii. Below, two women, above,
three nuns, in adoration; male fig. in official dress (like
magistrates in *Ch. 0021, etc.) kneeling at end of nuns' row.
Below, also, man and woman walking away, but with
backward look.

(iv) A father choosing a wife for his son; and a mother
sitting with her daughters (?). Three inscrs. by these scenes.
Of donors only parts of two (kneeling) women remain on
R., head of one man on L., and parts of four inscrs. Dress
of same tenth-century type as in Ch. 00102; liii. 003, but, as
shown in only complete woman's fig., peculiarly ornate. Her
black mantle powdered with four-petalled red rosettes and
triple yellow tendrils; her broad scarf of printed material
vermilion, white, and yellow, stamped with scroll and plant
motifs in grey and brown. She has a flowered under-robe
showing at edge jacket, on neck elaborate necklace of netted
red, white, and brown beads. Her head-dress, in addition to
long white pins and heavy-metal floral orn. in front, has
metal phoenixes flying out on either side and dangling triple
chains from their beaks. Her complexion white, with red
lips and cheeks; on latter two small patches in shape of
birds, while on forehead are painted red flower and butterfly
orn.

Dress of figs. in small scenes above is of same contemporary
type; nuns' and monks' dress and coiffure of small boy as in
Ch. liv. 006. 4′ 2″ × 3′ 3″. Pl. LXI.

Ch. liii. 001. Large silk painting representing prob.
Amitābha and attendants, with donors. Complete except
for corners and border, and in good condition. Simple in
design, containing only thirteen figs. besides donors:
Amitābha, Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāma, six shaven disciples,
two smaller Bodhisattvas, and two nymphs. Cf. *Ch. 0051, etc.