Yulin Cave 25: Illustration of the Amitayurdhyana Sutra - Western Pure Land - Kalavinka and Crane

CHINA, Gansu, Guazhou; Tang dynasty

This image is located on the left side of the central panel of the illustration of the Amitayurdhyana Sutra on the south wall of the main chamber. It depicts a white crane accompanied by a kalavinka, a creature that is half human and half songbird. This creature is described in the Lankavatara Sutra, which states that “the kalavinka is a bird that is said to have a wondrous voice.” It is also described in the Saddharma Smrtyupasthana Sutra: “the kalavinka has a voice that is sweet to hear, like a heavenly being and like a human, or like a kinnara. No creature on earth is its equal, except for the voice of the Buddha.” According to the Amitayurdhyana Sutra, the kalavinka is one of the mystical birds found in the Western Pure Land.
The kalavinka has the upper torso and head of a human and the lower torso and head of a bird, with a pair of large multi-colored wings on its back. It is depicted playing a musical instrument. A white crane stands beside the kalavinka with wings spread and its head turned towards it.