Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/158

 124 BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE. BOOK I. rilievos between the pilasters ; for we cannot understand any Buddhist monument existing anywhere, without the jatakas or legends being portrayed on its walls in some shape or other. At Sarnath all reminiscences of a rail had disappeared, and a new mode of ornamentation introduced, which bore no resemblance to anything found on the earlier topes. Although, therefore, our history of the rails may finish about A.D. 200, it by no means follows that examples may not yet be brought to light belonging to the five centuries that elapsed between that date and the age of A^oka. As they all certainly were sculptured to a greater or less extent, when they are examined and published, we may hope to have an ancient pictorial history of India for those ages nearly as complete as that possessed by any other country in the world. At present, however, we only know of ten or twelve examples, but they are so easily thrown down and buried that we may hope to find more whenever they are looked for, and from them to learn the whole story of Buddhist art. NOTE. The central crowning orna- ment in Woodcut No. 38, page 115, is a chakra or wheel in the centre, with Triratna emblems right and left. These triratna symbols represent the three "Jewels" of Buddhism, Buddha, the Dharma and Sangha. On the upper beam five dagabas and two trees are worshipped; on the intermediate blocks, .Sri and a chakra ; on the middle beam are seven sacred trees, with altars ; on the intermediate blocks, Sri and the chakra again. The lower beam is wholly occupied by the early scenes in the Wessantara jataka, which is continued in the rear. The subjects on the pillars have been described in ' Tree and Serpent Worship,' but are on too small a scale to be distinguishable in the woodcut. See also Griinwedel's ' Buddhist Art in India,' Eng. trans., pp 19, 74, 145. The Triratna is also a Jaina symbol. 45. Triratna Emblem. (From a sculpture at 46. Triratna Symbol from Amaravatt.) Sanchi.