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Kumtura Cave 23: Karma Stories
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Kumtura Cave 23: Karma Stories
CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu; circa 6th century
These images are painted on the barrel-vaulted ceiling of the main chamber. Four rows of diamond-shaped illustrations of karma stories, with four to five paintings in each row, are found on both sides of the ceiling. A total of 14 illustrations are preserved on each side. A Buddha seated upon a square throne is depicted in the center of each diamond. The Buddha’s head is turned to one side, and an adjacent figure or item, such as an instrument, indicates a particular story. Triangular-shaped illustrations indicating various Jataka tales are found above and below the diamonds.
The Buddhas on the north side of the ceiling look to the right and the ones on the south side look to the left, thus facing the main Buddha statue which once rested in the niche on the back (east) wall. |
