[Illustration: THE EMIR OF BOKHARA AND HIS MINISTERS]
TAE-KIEH OR YANG AND YIN is a circle separated by two semicircles into comet-shaped halves. Distinctly a Chinese symbol and found in Chinese, Tibetan, and Turkoman textiles. Used as a charm and found in decorations on all sorts of articles.
TARANTULA.--A design which has been so modified as to almost obscure the resemblance. It is almost omnipresent in all of the Caucasian fabrics, especially the Kazaks, Kabistans, and Shirvans. (See doubletone at p. 248.)
TEKKE BORDER DESIGNS.--Two forms, one a sort of a double T border, the other a diagonal arrangement of the Indian fish bone. (See doubletones at pp. 280 and 284.)
TEKKE FIELD DESIGN.--A repetition of a Y-shaped design. Found only in the Tekke rugs, especially those of the prayer variety. (See doubletone at p. 284.)
TOMOYE owes its origin to some ancient conception of elemental forces. It has been adopted by Korea and Japan as a national and heraldic crest. Frequently used in Mongolian ornament.
TORTOISE OR TURTLE BORDER DESIGN.--A design in which the figure of the tortoise is arrayed in a manner similar to that of the Herati border design. In China the tortoise stands for longevity and immortality. In India it is also auspicious inasmuch as it represents the second incarnation of Vishnu where it supports the earth on its back. (See doubletones at pp. 178 and 202.)
[Illustration: Tortoise of turtle border design]
TREE.--Sometimes called the tree of life. Always associated with religious belief. It symbolizes Divine power and perpetual life. It has furnished more different art motives than any other object and is almost omnipresent in Persian prayer rugs. The palm signifies a blessing or benediction, the weeping willow stands for death, and the cypress, while being an emblem of mourning, in its perennial freshness and the durability of its wood, is also a very practical symbol of the life to come. It is an Oriental custom to plant cypress trees on the graves of the dead, to place its twigs in the coffins of the dead, and to use its branches to indicate the houses of mourning. (See frontispiece and doubletone at p. 99.) In India the cocoanut palm is considered "the tree of desire" or one that fulfils all desires. Its stem serves as a pillar or beam, as a water conduit and as fuel; its leaves supply mats for roofing the houses; its kernel supplies oil; its shell makes water bowls, and the oil of the shell is used as an external application in certain skin affections, etc. It is all useful and supplies all the primitive wants and therefore was much cultivated by the Rishis (Saints) of old, who called it "kalpa taru," literally the tree that supplies all desires. Its presence therefore is auspicious. (See color plate at p. 22; also doubletones at pp. 48, 98, 210, 220, and 222.)
