JOURNAL 



ASIATIC SOCIETY 



On the Buddhist Emblem of Architecture. By Capt. T. Latter, B. N. I., 

 Assistant Commissioner, Arracan. With two plates. 



My dear Sir, — I do myself the pleasure of forwarding, for the in- 

 spection of the Asiatic Society of Calcutta, the accompanying portions 

 of a Boodhist Sculpture, (fig. 1 .) brought by me from the old town of 

 Arracan ; and as they present some peculiarities, I have no doubt that 

 the following remarks will be acceptable. 



They formed the upper part of a figure, one of which was sculptured 

 on each side of the entrance into the court of a sort of small cave tem- 

 ple ; and they are interesting on account of the Rose which surmounts 

 the figure, and which is identical with the Rosette of Architecture. It 

 was the only one of such emblems, to which I could not at once apply 

 a Boodhistical interpretation ; and the discovery of this one in a position 

 that could not admit of a doubt of its meaning, and that meaning 

 exactly in conformity with what I expected it would have been, was a 

 source of much pleasure to me. 



I will then now proceed to give you a Boodhistical view of the em- 

 blems of masonry, and I do so with some hesitation at the risk of being 

 accused of riding my hobby, " jusqu' a l'outrance ;" as I am aware that 

 my remarks are of a speculative character : still, as they are the only 

 attempt that has been made, as far as I am aware, at explaining these 

 architectural emblems on philosophical grounds, they may be both in- 

 teresting, and the means of drawing the attention of others to similar 

 subjects. 



No. 165. No. 81, New Series. 4 p 



