Kizil Cave 207: Life of the Buddha
Kizil Cave 207: Life of the Buddha
CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu
This painting is located on the right wall of the main chamber. The Buddha, sitting upon a high throne, is depicted in the center. The head is tilted slightly to one side, and the right hand forms the vitarka (teaching) mudra. A nimbus and an aureole are drawn behind the Buddha’s head and body, and flame patterns are painted over both shoulders.
There are three rows of figures on either side of the Buddha, while an apsara, at the top on each side, scatters flowers. Vajrapani Bodhisattva holds a vajra and faces the Buddha is on the left side of the middle row, while a monk in a red robe is located on the right side. Three disciples, the youngest, likely Rahula, is depicted in the lower row on the left. The figures on the lower right are no longer discernible.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves R-L, page 587.
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 R-L},
pages = 587,
title = {{Kizil Cave 207: Life of the Buddha}},
volume = 6,
year = {2016}}