Yulin Cave 10: Apsaras

CHINA, Gansu, Guazhou; Western Xia period

These images are located on the western slope of the ceiling. Altogether there are nine apsaras, all of which are well preserved. The figures wear headdresses and their hair is tied in high topknots. They are dressed in celestial garments and have long stoles, which are depicted as if floating around them. The apsaras hold various musical instruments, which include a reed instrument, flute, fiddle, lute, various types of zither, pipa, and waist drum. With round faces and slightly upturned eyes, the apsaras have characteristics of the Western Xia people.
One interesting feature of this mural is the exaggerated shape of the fiddle’s scroll; this is the earliest known depiction of the instrument within the Dunhuang murals. As a whole, this vividly colored illustration represents some of the better decorative art from the Western Xia period (1032–1227).