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| CHAPTER 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 10.01 fHelios enclosed in cloud-pearl roundel 10.01 f(c. 6th-7th century) |
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| 1:1 warp-faced compound tabby Dimension: warp 45cm, weft 12cm Excavated from Reshui, Dulan, Qinghai Qinghai Institute of Archaeology, Xining (DRM1P2: S41) |
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| THE BOOK | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| This item has a structure of 1:1 warp-faced compound tabby in traditional Chinese style, with yellow design on red ground. The basic grid is formed by groups of four pearl roundels aligned tangentially. The interstices are filled with cloud scrolls, confronted animals and the Chinese character ji, meaning auspicious. The pearl border encloses a scene of Helios the sun god in procession. Winged horses pull his chariot across the sky while Helios sits in the centre, on a lotus pedestal, with a canopy decorated with dragons. Four armed attendants flank the two sides. The canopy sways in the wind to indicate the speed of the chariot. This piece of textile is an interesting example of cultural confluence. Helios the sun god originates from Greek mythology, and it was introduced to Central Asia with the military expeditions of Alexander the Great. Images of Helios are found in wall paintings in northern India and at Bamiyan, Afghanistan. The canopy and the lotus pedestal are derived from Buddhism. The composition is Central Asian in style. The representation of the figure and the character ji are Chinese in tradition. This item is found on a banner. On the same banner, there is another fragment showing a hunting scene in pearl roundel, with identical weave structure and colour scheme, probably from the same piece of fabric. Found in the same tomb is another piece of silk with the motif of Helios, with identical composition, but on yellow ground. Similar examples have been found in tombs of the Northern Dynasties in Turfan. There is also a piece of textile with Helios in pearl roundel in a simpler style, found in this same tomb. It has a structure of 1:1 warp-faced compound tabby in yellow and green. Note: Zhao, Wei Tang 1995 |
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