Mogao Cave 130

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang

Located in the south area, this High Tang period (712–756) great Buddha cave is 28.3 m in height and houses a 27 m high statue of Maitreya Buddha. A corridor leads to the main chamber, which is apsidal with a truncated pyramidal ceiling.
The giant Maitreya Buddha, seated with legs pendent on a throne, is installed on the back (west) wall. Maitreya has a usnisa, curly hair, a broad forehead, and plump cheeks. Floral patterns decorate the nimbus. The Buddha appears solemn and gentle, with downcast eyes, full lips, and three prominent lines on the neck. The right hand is raised in the abhaya (fearlessness) mudra, while the left hand rests on the knee. The figure is clad in a brown robe with long, loose sleeves. The lower part of the robe is draped over the legs in curving folds. On either side of the Buddha are the remnants of paintings from the Western Xia period (1032–1227) depicting Bodhisattvas making offerings, while the north and the south walls contain fragments of Tang dynasty (618–907) Bodhisattva images, surrounded by more Bodhisattvas from the Western Xia period. Two windows on the front (east) wall allow sunlight to fall upon the face of the Buddha. The upper part of the front wall displays Western Xia Bodhisattvas, while the lower part retains a Tang illustration of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra.
The south wall of the corridor has a niche with sculptures of a Buddha and two Bodhisattvas, a Tang dynasty relief, and two murals from the Western Xia period. Below the niche are portraits of the donor, Lady Wang of Taiyuan, her daughter, and their servants. A niche in the north wall of the corridor contains sculptures of a Buddha, two disciples, and a Bodhisattva. The ceiling of the niche is decorated with scrolling patterns from the Tang dynasty, the back wall has floral designs from the Western Xia period painted over Tang dynasty disciple images, and beneath Western Xia motifs on the left wall is a High Tang period picture of a Bodhisattva. Portraits of benefactors, including Le Tinghuan, governor of Jinchang, are painted on the wall below the niche.
A wooden structure five bays in width and three bays in depth once stood outside the cave, serving as the Heavenly King Hall. Now only the ruins of the structure remain.