Kizil Cave 80: Life of the Buddha - Calming the Drunken Elephant

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

This painting is located on the right side of the barrel-vaulted ceiling in the main chamber. According to the Samyukta Ratna Pitaka Sutra, when the Buddha once taught the Dharma at Rajagriha, Devadatta released a drunken elephant in an attempt to harm him. However, upon encountering the Buddha, the elephant became calm and subdued.
This painting illustrates the scene of the drunken elephant storming towards the Buddha. Within the diamond-shaped illustration, the Buddha sits on a rectangular throne. The monastic robe leaves the right shoulder bare, and his right hand forms the vitarka (teaching) mudra. The Buddha’s head and body are encompassed within a nimbus and an aureole. A canopy is depicted above, and on the right side is the white elephant. The elephant holds a green sword with a black hilt in its trunk and runs toward the Buddha.