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Tocharian Merchants: Their Representations in the Jātaka Scenes in Kucha Paintings

  • Dominika KLIMASZEWSKI (Institute for South and Central Asian Studies, Faculty of History, Art and Area Studies at the University of Leipzig) ;
  • Yi XIE (Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig)
  • Published : 2025.12.31
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Abstract

In the jātaka representations of the Kucha caves-most notably in the rhombi of the barrel vaults associated with the Second Indo-Iranian Style paintings-merchant figures consistently appear as central protagonists within the narratives. This study examines the origins of these merchant figures, challenging the prevailing identification of the figures as Sogdians in earlier scholarship. Through a detailed analysis of their characteristic attire-long considered typical of Central Asian dress-and a comparative investigation of related figures in Kucha paintings, the study explores the possibility of recognizing these merchants as local Tocharian figures within the broader cultural milieu of Kucha.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We gratefully acknowledge the valuable comments and suggestions offered by colleagues during the 20th IABS conference. Our special thanks go to Dr. Yukiyo Kasai for drawing our attention to a misunderstanding concerning the Chinese document cited in this study and for kindly providing further references related to the topic. Any remaining errors are, of course, solely our own responsibility.

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