book; sutra (?); painting; 書籍 (Chinese); 佛經 (Chinese); 繪畫 (Chinese)

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book; sutra(?); painting; 書籍(Chinese); 佛經(Chinese); 繪畫(Chinese)

Object Type: book; sutra (?); painting; 書籍 (Chinese); 佛經 (Chinese); 繪畫 (Chinese)
Museum number: 1919,0101,0.207
Description: Inscribed cover of booklet, possibly a sutra, with painting on the sole surviving loose page. Marici, Goddess of Light, descends on a purple cloud with her attendants. Sun disc radiates light from the top left. A male and a female donor kneel on the bottom right. Painted in ink and colours on paper.
Cultures/periods: Tang dynasty (late); Five Dynasties (early); 唐代 (Chinese); 五代 (Chinese)
Production date: 851-950 (circa)
Excavator/field collector: Field Collection by: Sir Marc Aurel Stein
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot: Cave 17, Ch.00211 (from Cave 17 at Ch’ien Fo Tung (pinyin: Qian Fo Dong)); Excavated/Findspot: 第17窟 (Chinese)
Materials: paper; 紙 (Chinese)
Technique: painted
Dimensions: Height: 14.30 centimetres (of painting); Width: 10 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Bibliographic references: Stein 1921a / Serindia: detailed report of archaeological explorations in Central Asia and Westernmost China (p.976-977); Whitfield 1983 / Paintings from Dunhuang (pl. 68); Whitfield & Farrer 1990 / Caves of the Thousand Buddhas. Chinese Art from the Silk Route (cat.no.78)
Location: Not on display
Subjects: deity; sun/moon; 神 (Chinese); 隨侍 (Chinese); 供養人 (Chinese); 日/月 (Chinese); attendant
Associated names: Representation of: Mārīcī; Representation of: 摩利支天
Acquisition date: 1919
Acquisition notes: For full acquisition history, see 1919,0101,0.1.
Department: Asia
Registration number: 1919,0101,0.207
Additional IDs: Miscellaneous number: Ch.00211 (Stein no.)

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