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Mogao Cave 296: Prince Sujata Jataka
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Mogao Cave 296: Prince Sujata Jataka
CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Zhou dynasty (557–581)
Painted in the center of the north wall, this illustration is based on a story in the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish. The narrative progresses chronologically from left to right as follows: the yaksas warn a king of a revolt; he escapes from his palace with his wife and his son Prince Sujata; with food supplies exhausted, the king is tempted to kill the queen to eat her flesh; to prevent this, the young prince cuts the flesh from his own body to sustain his parents, who then part with him; Sakra transforms into a tiger to test the prince’s determination; the fearless prince is rewarded by having his body restored; and a neighboring kingdom welcomes the king, queen, and prince, and sends troops to suppress the revolt. The right side of the mural has been damaged. |
