Maijishan Grotto 5: Ceiling

CHINA, Gansu, Tianshui; Tang dynasty

This section of the ceiling is located on the left side of the portico. Carved in the Tang dynasty (618–907), the ceiling was created to imitate a wooden structure. To create the surface for the mural, excess stone was removed, and then the area was covered with clay and leveled. There are three rows on the ceiling and each has six panels with a different mural. Much of the original paint has peeled off but all the murals except one have been restored in recent years.
This mural depicts a horse followed by an elephant traversing a sky filled with clouds and flowers. In front of the horse, there are three wish-fulfilling jewels. Beneath the jewels, an apsara leads two other apsaras, one of which carries an offering tray. The mural has a white background. The flowing stoles of the apsaras are mineral green, while the figures are in burgundy.