Eastern Thousand Buddha Cave 2: Bodhisattva and Figures

CHINA, Gansu, Guazhou; Western Xia period

This Bodhisattva sits upon a lotus throne in relaxation posture, with the head bowed and the eyes gazing downwards at a small figure making an offering. The Bodhisattva wears a short lower garment around a slim waist. Numerous necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and other long ornaments are draped around the body. One hand rests upon the left knee, while the other holds the stalk of an unopened lotus flower. The Bodhisattva is surrounded by an oval-shaped nimbus and mandorla. This image is particularly striking due to the fact that the Bodhisattva’s skin and the surrounding background have been colored with a bright green tint.
Small figures can be found on the upper and lower right hand corners of the image. The badly damaged figure on the upper right appears to be walking outwards towards the edge of the mural. The figure in the bottom right corner wears a short dhoti similar to the Bodhisattva’s garment, and faces the Bodhisattva with joined palms and a slight bow. The mural is painted in a distinctive Vajrayana Buddhist style that displays the influence of Indian and Nepalese art.