Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts

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Vols：Caves

Page：553

Kizil Cave 118: Astrological Signs - Hawk Holding a Monkey

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu; circa 3rd–4th century
This vivid image is found within the astrological signs on the central ridge of the barrel-vaulted ceiling in the main chamber. A hawk in mid-flight grasps a monkey in its talons. The large hawk is spotted with brown dots and flies upward. Far smaller in scale, the monkey is brown in color and hangs limp in the hawk’s grasp. While many of the astrological signs found within the caves depict garudas catching nagas, this hawk and monkey image is unique within the Kizil Caves.

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