Mogao Cave 445

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang

This cave is located in the south area of the Mogao Caves and was built in the High Tang period (712–756). The main chamber has a truncated pyramidal ceiling, a niche on the back (west) wall, and a corridor which once connected to the antechamber that no longer exists. The caisson in the center of the ceiling has largely faded, and there are Thousand Buddha images on the four slopes of the ceiling which date to the Western Xia period (1032–1227). Within the niche on the back wall are statues of a Buddha, two disciples, two Bodhisattvas, and two Heavenly Kings, one of which is now missing. There are also two Bodhisattva statues outside the niche, one on each side.
On the south wall of the cave is an illustration of the Amitabha Sutra, and on the front (east) wall is an illustration of the Maitreya Sutras, including detailed narrative illustrations. Both the north and south walls are damaged from smoke. The lower walls display images of donors making offerings. Above the doorway on the front wall is a painting of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and Thousand Buddhas still remain on the right side of the doorway. The corridor has a truncated pyramidal ceiling, in the center of which is a Five Dynasties image of Avalokitesvara, and the Seven Buddhas of the Past are painted on the slopes of the ceiling.