Maijishan Grotto 27: Illustration of the Lotus Sutra

CHINA, Gansu, Tianshui; Northern Zhou dynasty

The illustrations on the back, left, and right slopes of the ceiling are based on the “Chapter on the Emergence of the Prabhutaratna Pagoda” from the Lotus Sutra. The chapter relates that Prabhutaratna Buddha, while practicing as a Bodhisattva, vowed that after he attained Buddhahood and entered parinirvana, a treasure pagoda would appear to anyone who teaches the Lotus Sutra. Thus, when Sakyamuni Buddha was about to teach the Lotus Sutra, the Prabhutaratna Pagoda appeared from the ground. The pagoda door opened and Prabhutaratna invited Sakyamuni to enter. Seated together, Sakyamuni taught the Lotus Sutra. In Maijishan, it was common for grottoes to contain niches with these Buddhas seated side by side since the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534).
The center of the back slope of the ceiling depicts Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Buddhas seated together, surrounded by Bodhisattvas and disciples. Monks, nuns, male and female lay devotees, and the Eight Classes of Dharma Protectors are depicted on the left side. The right side illustrates a city that contains a main shrine and two auxiliary shrines within a crenelated wall with corner towers. A person stands at each side of the city gate. There are no people depicted within the city. The mural on the left and right ceiling slopes depict sages, disciples, and apsaras who are approaching the assembly.