Yulin Cave 25: Vairocana Buddha, Medicine Buddha, and the Eight Great Bodhisattvas

CHINA, Gansu, Guazhou; Tang dynasty

This mural is located on the east wall of the main chamber. It depicts Vairocana Buddha surrounded by the Eight Great Bodhisattvas, but only the four Bodhisattvas on the left side remain. The cartouches beside these Bodhisattvas identify them as Akasagarbha, Ksitigarbha, Maitreya, and Manjusri, which accords with the Sutra on the Mandala of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas translated during the Tang dynasty (618–907). The depiction of the Medicine Buddha on the far left is likely related to the Medicine Buddha Sutra, which states that “when one approaches the end of life, if the name of the Medicine Buddha is uttered, the Eight Bodhisattvas will come to one’s aid; gliding through the sky, the Bodhisattvas will show these beings the path to the Pure Land.” For this reason, the Medicine Buddha and the Eight Bodhisattvas are depicted upon the same wall.
Vairocana Buddha is highly revered in Vajrayana Buddhism. In the mural, the Buddha is depicted as a Bodhisattva, with a high headdress, long curled hair draped over the shoulders, and numerous ornaments. The Buddha sits in full lotus position upon a lotus throne supported by a platform decorated with lions. The hands form the dhyana (meditation) mudra.
This particular illustration is one of the more remarkable murals within Cave 25 because it differs so significantly from the other murals in the cave. The artist used an iron-wire drawing technique to outline the image in a powerful, smooth style. Although it has been painted with subdued colors, the overall effect is striking. This mural is considered to be particularly valuable, as it is one of the earlier images discovered thus far which involves Vajrayana Buddhist themes.