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Kizil Cave 175: Five Realms of Existence
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Kizil Cave 175: Five Realms of Existence
CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu; circa 6th–7th century
This painting is located on the inner wall of the right corridor. In the painting, the Buddha wears a monastic robe which bares the right shoulder. He is seated with legs crossed and forms the vitarka (teaching) mudra. A nimbus and an aureole, surrounded by the Five Realms of Existence, are depicted behind the Buddha. The section of the outer circle closest to the Buddha is the heavenly being realm. The next circles depict the human realm, the animal realm, the hungry ghost realm, and the hell realm. Within each realm is a small standing Buddha. Vividly depicted, this is the only painting of the Five Realms of Existence within the Kizil Caves. |
