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Mogao Cave 17: Sakyamuni Buddha and Heavenly Beings
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Mogao Cave 17: Sakyamuni Buddha and Heavenly Beings
CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Five Dynasties to Northern Song dynasty (907–1127);Ink and color on paper; 27 x 43 cm; Guimet Museum of Asian Art, Paris, France
This painting, thought to date from the 10th century, portrays six figures: Sakyamuni Buddha, Sarasvati, Mahadevi, Vaisravana, and two deities. The Buddha wears a red monastic robe and forms a mudra with both hands. He stands on a lotus pedestal which could have once been gilded, and has petals outlined in blue.
On the right, Sarasvati and Mahadevi stand upon mountains. Sarasvati has three heads and holds a bow, an arrow, a Dharma wheel, and other objects in her eight arms. Mahadevi wears a tall headdress with a red scarf draped over it and holds a lotus in the left hand.
On the left is Vaisravana, Heavenly King of the North, clad in armor and wearing a crown. His left hand supports a pagoda and the right hand holds a halberd. Vaisravana is supported by the Prthivi and two other deities at the feet. The Heavenly King is accompanied by two deities. One of them has pale skin and holds a bowl in the left hand and a red flower in the right. The other shorter deity has a dark green complexion and fanged teeth. This being holds a vase in the right hand. The image is colorful and the figures each have a unique appearance. |
