Kizil Cave 110

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

This cave is located in the inner valley and was built in the 6th century. It consists of an antechamber and a main chamber, with steps in the front leading into the cave. The antechamber has a rectangular layout and a flat ceiling. Most of the side walls and the ceiling have collapsed. An entrance to the main chamber is located in the center of the back wall.
The main chamber has a barrel-vaulted ceiling and measures 4.73 m wide, 4.28 m high, and 5.48 m deep. An illustration of Maitreya Bodhisattva Teaching the Dharma is painted above the entrance, and on either side are empty niches with figures painted below them. Most of the ceiling is in ruins, but astrological signs can still be discerned along the central ridge, such as Surya, a standing Buddha, and a naga. Four rows of seated Buddhas are depicted within diamond motifs on each side of the ceiling along with trees, monks in meditation, monkeys, and other animals. A row of honeysuckle patterns lines the bottom of the ceiling on each side.
Illustrations from the Life of the Buddha accompanied by Kuchean inscriptions are painted in chronological order on the left, right, and back walls of the main chamber. It is estimated that there were originally 57 to 60 such illustrations in total. Many of these illustrations were removed by German expeditions; the remaining ones are either damaged or blurry.