<資料・研究ノート>ビルマの壁画 III : ニャウンヤン時代を中心として

Abstract

Many frescoes can still be seen on the inner walls of the Buddhist temples in the Pagan area. Most of them were painted during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It also seems likely that many frescoes would have been painted during the next three hundred years. It is strange however that so far none of them has been discovered. On the other hand, several frescoes painted during the last half of the seventeenth and the first half of the eighteenth centuries remain, in fairly good condition, in Pagan, Sagaing, Pinya, Pahkangyi and Shwebo districts. Frescoes painted in the "Nyaungyan period" (I consider it better to use this term rather than the "Ava period", because the Burmans regard the latter as the dynasty established by Thadominbya in 1364 A. D. which lasted until 1552 A. D.) show notable characteristics in comparison with those of the Pagan period. For example, both men and women are portrayed with round eyes, plump noses and thick lips. A large protuberance is shown on one side of the face, as if he were holding a big toffee in his mouth. Men of high rank usually wear long robes with short sleeves and no opening. This sort of dress has no collar and is like a long T-shirt. Soldiers carry either a sword, a spear or a bow, and a circular shield. There are no soldiers armed with muskets. Women's hair is worn up, drawn through a ring or funnel-shaped hair ornament. These peculiarities disappear entirely in the Kongbaung period.