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Mogao Cave 148: Illustration of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra - Celebration of the Non-Buddhists
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Mogao Cave 148: Illustration of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra - Celebration of the Non-Buddhists
CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty (618–907)
This detail is on the left side of the illustration of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra on the back (west) wall of the main chamber. Sakyamuni Buddha is shown lying on his right side upon a bed, passing into parinirvana. Mahakasyapa stands at the foot of the bed, joining his palms in reverence after having returned from afar. Surrounding Sakyamuni are his disciples, the Buddhas of the Ten Directions, and the Eight Classes of Dharma Protectors. There are also scenes of the disciple Upali ascending to Trayastrimsa Heaven to announce the Buddha’s parinirvana, the disciple Subhadra passing away just prior to the Buddha, and the Buddha’s mother, Queen Maya, descending from heaven to mourn the passing of her beloved son. In the bottom left corner, seven non-Buddhists are depicted dancing and rejoicing. To the right of the scene, an inscription states, “The non-Buddhists of the city of Kushinagar rejoice upon hearing of the Buddha’s parinirvana.” |
