Indian Antiquary Vol 62

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 270

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ DECEMBER, 1933
M. Hackin gives a brief summary (with references probably mark the situation of this town; but the to the detailed reports hitherto published) of the reasons given do not appear to be convincing. results achieved by the French Archeologicnl Dele.
C.E.A.W.O. gation at various sites in Afghanistan. The volume is illustrated by a number of excellently reproduced BULLETIN DE L'ECOLE VRANÇA 18 D'EXTRÊM plates. These researches were initiated under the ORIENT, Tome XXXI, Nos. 3 & 4. Pp. 355+ 709; expert guidance of M. Alfred Foucher, and continued 83 plates and 40 illustrations in text. Hanoi, by MM. Godard, Hackin, Barthoux and others. 1932. Interest will centre chiefly perhaps round the dis- The perusal of an issue of this fine publication coveries at Bâmiyân and the quantity and character always afforda both pleasure and instruction. of the finds at Hadda (the Hi-lo of Hsuan-tsang) Among the contents of the present number is a paper, some 5 miles south of Jalálkbid (the ancient Nagara- lavishly illustrated by good plates and drawings, by hâra), specimens of which are now on view in the M. J. Y. Claeys on "The Archæology of Siam". Musée Guimet, Paris. It may be said that the which will be of special interest to our readers in stuccos recovered from the latter site have revealed view of the references to Indian influences. The & development of 'Greco-Buddhist ' art of which difficulty of presenting a comprehensive account of the sculptures of GandhAra and Udy na previously the evolution of architectural design in Siam in known to us give no conception. Here we have not enhanced by the invasions of different race to which the traditional, almost stereotyped figures of Gan. the country has been subject. M. Claeys gives dhara, but figures evidently of actual living types- brief historie survey of the varieties of art that are of local rulers perhaps, of the uncultured inhabitants represented in the extant remains. The implementa of the surrounding regions, of 'Scythians' that of neolithic age resemble those found throughout the may have followed . Kadphises or Kanishka, and Indo-Chinose peninsula. The early colonists from possibly of Hunas and even Mongols. Attention is India, who carried with them their religion and cul. drawn to the affinities of certain figures with ture, probably met with aborigines of Indonesian examples of Grecian sculpture in the museums of type, such as are found in modern Cambodia and Europe, and some of the work reminds us forcibly S. Annam. These colonists seem to have come from of Gothic and medieval art. One is tempted indeed the east conet of India, judging from the type of to speculato as to what artistic developments might characters weed in the early inscriptions. From have been achieved in this region had they not been Chinese sources we first hear of the extensive king. suppressed by the inroads and devastations of the dom of Fou-nan; and some idea of its art is probably Húņas, and later of the armies of Islam. Short to be had from certain statues found at Sri T'ep, accounts are given of the excavations at Paitava
ons at Paitaval Primitive Khmer' art was introduced from Kam. and Begram, near the modern Charikar, and of the buja, which absorbed Fou-nan, while about the same sculpture, paintings and fragments of MSS. found in time in the NW. corner of the gulf was developed and around the grottoe at Båmiyan. Here and in what has been called 'the art of Dväravati', which the vale of Kakrak nearby, and again at Dokhtar.i. is exemplified as far north as Lamp'un. The in. Noshirwan, about 80 miles farther north, we meet fluence of Buddhism then becomes marked, and we with much evidence of Sasanian influence. The i notice affinities with the Gupta art of India. From dearth of finds at Balkh and its vicinity has been the 7th century the influence of the Srivijaya power described and explained by M. Foucher elsewhere. is seen, e.g., at sites on the Malay peninsula ; and
characteristics of Indo Javanese and Cham art are MEDIEVAL TEMPLES OF THE DAKHAN, by H. Cou. noticed. Khmer inspiration comes with the western SENS. A. S. I. Imperial Series, vol. XLVIII. extension of Cambodian power from the 10th to 12th 13X 10 in.: pagee iiix 85 ; map, 114 plates and 17 centuries. Meanwhile the T'aie were filtering into illustrations in the text. Calcutta, Govt. of India Press, 1931.
the Monam valley, and in the 13th century had This volume deals chiefly with temples in the
established themselves at Sukhot'ai, Lamp'un and Thana, Khandesh, Nasik, Ahmadnagar, Satara and I C'ieng Mai. It is the school of Sukhot'ai, where Sholapur districts of the Bombay Presidency, in Khmer and T'ai architecture became blended, that Berar and at Aundha in H. E. H. the Nizam's has handed down the classical type of the Siamesa Dominions which date from the period of the image of the Buddha. Thence also developed the Yadava rulers and their feudatorice, to which the architectural and sculptural types now known as term Hemadpanti has been rather indiscriminately
Siamese. M. Claeys points to the architectural applied. The descriptions contain more detail than is given in Burgess's Lists prepared in 1885 and
resemblance between (1) the Mahabodhi temple at revised by Mr. Cousens himself in 1897. Of the
Bodh Gaya and (2) that at Pagan, and (3) the Wat plates, 63 are reproductions of photographs of the
Cot Yot at C'ieng Mai, suggesting that Bodh Gaya templo, etcwhile 5l are plans and drawings of influence paesed to Pagan and thence overland to particular features. Many of the photographs are C'ieng Mai. Incidentally, we notice certain features wanting in definition of detail, which may be due to of the Wat Mahath'at at Savank'alok (v. PI. LXIX weathering and crumbling of the stone (Amygds and Pl. LXXI) that also remind us of the Bodh loidal trap) generally used, or to inexpert photo. Gaya temple, at all events before its "restoration" graphy or perishing of the negative, or perhaps to completed 1884). e.K. the doorways, one above the A combination of these causes. In an Appendix on Puri, the ancient capital of the
other, on two stages, the eight stages of the central Silahāras named in several inscriptions, the site of tower (there were eight tiers of niches above the which has not yet been satisfactorily determined, terrace at Bodh Gaya), and the stone railing that Mr. Courens suggests that remains traceable about a furrounds the enclosure. mile to the north of Marol village on Sålsette Island
C. E. A. W.o.