Bezeklik Cave 24: Uighur Royalty as Donors

CHINA, Xinjiang, Turpan

This painting is located on the front of the altar in the main chamber. It is part of an artwork illustrating the Buddha’s First Turning of the Dharma Wheel at Deer Park. The original artwork was a combination of sculptures and paintings; however, only the mural on the throne remains.
A Dharma wheel with a pair of deer on each side looking upwards is at the center of the painting. Above each pair is a cloud cluster containing a flying figure facing the Dharma wheel. There is a donor on each end of the painting. A cartouche with Uighur script can be found between each figure and the center part of the painting. A Uighur princess is to the right. She wears a tall pointed headdress, an open-collared gown, and a golden phoenix-shaped plaque in her hair. She stands with her arms crossed holding a flower. A male figure, also holding a flower in his crossed arms, stands to the left. He wears a long, round-collared robe and a tall hat.