Kizil Cave 114: King Sibi Jataka

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

This mural is on the right side of the barrel-vaulted ceiling in the main chamber. The story is found in the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish. According to the story, King Sibi was diligent in following the Bodhisattva path. In order to test whether he was truly dedicated, Sakra and Visvakarman transformed into a hawk and a dove, respectively. The hawk chased the dove into King Sibi’s throne room. The dove sought protection from the king while being pursued by the hawk. King Sibi, knowing that he could not surrender the dove nor leave the hawk to starve, offered his own flesh instead. The hawk requested that the flesh offered equal the weight of the dove, so piece by piece, King Sibi dismembered himself until his entire body was on the scales. Sakra and Visvakarman then revealed themselves and King Sibi was returned to health.
The mural depicts the scene in which the king welcomes the dove and offers his body in replacement. The king sits on a rectangular throne. He wears a crown and a stole, his head encircled by a nimbus. To the upper right of the king is the dove being chased by the hawk. To the left, a figure holds a blade and slices flesh from the king’s right leg. To the right, a person sits cross-legged and holds a scale for weighing the flesh.