Bezeklik Cave 16: Buddhas Teaching the Dharma (detail)
Bezeklik Cave 16: Buddhas Teaching the Dharma
CHINA, Xinjiang, Turpan
These paintings are located on the back section of Cave 16’s ceiling. This rectangular cave has a barrel-vaulted ceiling, divided into eight rows of rectangular sections. Each section contains a painting of the Buddha teaching the Dharma, with a line of Sanskrit sutra text written on the side. The composition of each painting is similar. In each, the Buddha sits in full lotus position on either a hexagonal throne or a lotus throne. The Buddha’s right hand forms the vitarka (teaching) mudra. Above the Buddha, various styles of canopies are drawn. Surrounding the Buddha are Bodhisattvas, Heavenly Kings, monks, or brahmins. The primary color in the image is red with highlights of bright blue and light green. The structure of these paintings is quite similar to the illustrations of the karma stories commonly seen in cave murals in the Kucha region.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves A-E, page 134.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Johnson, Peter and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves A-E},
pages = 134,
title = {{Bezeklik Cave 16: Buddhas Teaching the Dharma}},
volume = 5,
year = {2016}}