Bezeklik Cave 20: Superintendent Monks
Bezeklik Cave 20: Superintendent Monks
CHINA, Xinjiang, Turpan
This painting is located on the inner wall of the north corridor. These life-sized figures wear monastic robes in the Chinese style, with crossed collars and large sleeves. The front of each robe bears a pattern resembling the rectangular division of rice fields. All three Superintendent Monks have similar features, including full faces, elongated eyebrows and eyes, prominent noses, and small mouths; typical Uighur characteristics. Each monk holds a flower in both hands.
Across the top of the figures are three rectangular cartouches reading, from left to right, the names of the Superintendent Monks: Fahui, Jinhui, and Zhitong; appearing in both Chinese and Uighur scripts. A Superintendent Monk was the highest official managing all monastic matters in Gaochang during the Tang dynasty (618–907).
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves A-E, page 140.
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 = 140,
title = {{Bezeklik Cave 20: Superintendent Monks}},
volume = 5,
year = {2016}}