Yulin Cave 19: Cao Yuanzhong and His Wife as Donors

CHINA, Gansu, Guazhou; Five Dynasties

These figures are located on the north and south walls of the corridor that leads to the main chamber. Depicted on the south wall is the image of a donor, 1.73 m in height, who makes an offering. A cartouche states that the image is of Cao Yuanzhong, a military governor and the third son of Cao Yijin. He holds an incense burner and wears a Chinese turban as well as a brown robe that is tied at the waist with a sash. A youth, standing behind him is identified in the cartouche as Cao Yuanzhong’s son. He wears a white hat and a flower-pattern robe. He is also shown making offerings.
The image of Cao Yuanzhong’s wife, 1.75 m in height, is found on the north wall. The wife wears a lavish outfit with a phoenix headdress, a wide sleeve shirt, long skirt, and upturned shoes. Her cheeks are rouged and she has a mole on each side of her mouth. A young girl identified by the cartouche as her eldest daughter, Yannai, is depicted behind her.