Yungang Grotto 6: Life of the Buddha - Birth of Prince Siddhartha

CHINA, Shanxi, Datong; Northern Wei dynasty

Located to the right of the west niche in the lower tier of the central pillar, this illustration depicts the story of the birth of Prince Siddhartha as described in the Sutra of Cause and Effect in the Past and the Present. According to the sutra, the Buddha’s mother, Queen Maya, raised her right arm to pick a flower from an asoka tree, at which point the prince was born from the right side of her body.
In this illustration, four figures are depicted under an asoka tree, with Queen Maya standing with one arm raised and a baby emerging from her right side. The queen is dressed in a headdress and the attire typically worn by a Bodhisattva. On the left side is a figure kneeling to receive the newborn child with both hands. On the right are two figures; one supports the queen while the other stands with palms joined. Sculpted above the tree is an apsara holding a bouquet of flowers to celebrate the birth. The apsara is depicted in a graceful flying pose, and wears a short skirt and a billowing stole. On each side of the apsara are children holding the ends of a long decorative garland.