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


Vol. 10,  No. 2, pp. 193-222, Dec.  2025
10.22679/avs.2025.10.2.193


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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.

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  Cite this article

[IEEE Style]

D. K. a. Y. XIE, "Tocharian Merchants: Their Representations in the Jātaka Scenes in Kucha Paintings," Acta Via Serica, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 193-222, 2025. DOI: 10.22679/avs.2025.10.2.193.

[ACM Style]

Dominika KLIMASZEWSKI and Yi XIE. 2025. Tocharian Merchants: Their Representations in the Jātaka Scenes in Kucha Paintings. Acta Via Serica, 10, 2, (2025), 193-222. DOI: 10.22679/avs.2025.10.2.193.

[APA Style]

XIE, D. (2025). Tocharian Merchants: Their Representations in the Jātaka Scenes in Kucha Paintings. Acta Via Serica, 10(2), 193-222. DOI: 10.22679/avs.2025.10.2.193.

[MLA Style]

Dominika KLIMASZEWSKI and Yi XIE. "null." Acta Via Serica, vol. 10, no. 2, 2025, pp. 193-222. doi:10.22679/avs.2025.10.2.193

[HAVARD Style]

Dominika KLIMASZEWSKI and Yi XIE (2025) 'null', Acta Via Serica, 10(2), pp. 193-222. doi:10.22679/avs.2025.10.2.193

[ACS Style]

XIE, D.. Acta Via Serica 10 2025, 193-222. 10.22679/avs.2025.10.2.193

[ABNT Style]

XIE, D.. null. Acta Via Serica, v. 10, n. 2, p. 193-222, 2025. DOI: 10.22679/avs.2025.10.2.193

[Chicago Style]

Dominika KLIMASZEWSKI and Yi XIE. "null." Acta Via Serica 10, no. 2 (2025): 193-222. doi:10.22679/avs.2025.10.2.193

[TURABIAN Style]

Dominika KLIMASZEWSKI and Yi XIE. "null." Acta Via Serica 10, no. 2 (2025): 193-222. 10.22679/avs.2025.10.2.193

[VANCOUVER Style]

Dominika KLIMASZEWSKI and Yi XIE. null [Acta Via Serica]. 2025;10:193-222. DOI:10.22679/avs.2025.10.2.193

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