Mogao Cave 103

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang

This shrine cave is located in the southern section of the south area of the Mogao Caves site. It consists of an antechamber and a main chamber connected by a corridor. The murals in the antechamber have been damaged by fire; only a Heavenly King on the back (west) wall remains. A doorway in the south wall leads to Cave 105, and another in the north wall leads to Cave 104. The walls of the corridor display remnants of paintings of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Vaisravana, Heavenly King of the North.
The main chamber has a truncated pyramidal ceiling decorated with floral, vine, and pennant patterns in the center, as well as images of the Thousand Buddhas on its four slopes. A niche in the back wall contains sculptures of a Buddha, two disciples, and four Bodhisattvas that were all restored during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Two Bodhisattvas and eight disciples are painted on the walls within the niche, and two more Bodhisattvas are depicted on the back wall to either side of the niche.
On the south wall are illustrations of the Lotus Sutra. A scene from the “Introductory Chapter” of Sakyamuni Buddha teaching at Vulture Peak is in the center of the mural. On one side is the “Chapter on the Past Deeds of King Subhavyaha” and on the other is “Chapter on the Parable of the Phantom City.” The lower portions of the murals are damaged. The north wall has an illustration of the Amitayurdhyana Sutra, which includes illustrations of the story of Prince Ajatasatru and the Sixteen Contemplations. The lower part of this mural is also damaged. Surrounding the entrance on the front (east) wall is an illustration of the Vimalakirti Sutra, including a depiction of the “Chapter on Buddha Land” above the entrance, an image of Manjusri Bodhisattva on the left, and Vimalakirti on the right, with the “Chapter on Skillful Means” below him.