Kizil Cave 114: Jataka of the Deer King Saving Animals

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

This image is painted on the left side of the barrel-vaulted ceiling in the main chamber. The story is derived from the Great Tang Records on the Western Regions. According to the story, a fire once erupted in a forest, forcing the animals who lived there to cross a river to escape the flames. The river’s current was too overwhelming for many of them, so in an act of great compassion, the Deer King stretched himself across the river and acted as a bridge for the other animals to step across. By the time most of the animals had crossed, the Deer King was utterly exhausted. After one last small rabbit crossed his back, the Deer King collapsed into the river and died.
In the image, a rabbit is seen atop the Deer King, whose body is stretched across a flowing stream. On the shoreline are birds and other animals.