Kizil Cave 80: Watchdog Reborn into a Wealthy Family

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

This image is located on the right side of the barrel-vaulted ceiling in the main chamber. According to the Extraordinary Stories from Sutras and Vinayas, there once was a wealthy man who had a watchdog that habitually bit people. Therefore, no stranger was able to get past the door. One day, a monk went to the house for alms while the watchdog was asleep and received food from the wealthy man. The monk shared half of his food with the watchdog. This act of kindness influenced the dog to be kind. Later, as the watchdog slept outside the house, a man it had previously bitten beheaded the watchdog with a sword. Because the watchdog had learned kindness, he was reborn into a wealthy family in his next life.
In this diamond-shaped painting, the Buddha is seated in the full lotus position in the center. A dog, to the left, lies on a tall seat facing the Buddha, and below it is an alms bowl. A bare-chested man in a headdress, to the right, pulls a sword from its sheath.