Mogao Cave 17: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the Ten Kings of Hell

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Five Dynasties

Part of this scroll depicting the Ten Kings of Hell is damaged; only five of the kings and the image of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva remain. Each king is seated behind a table, accompanied by the Recorders of Good and Evil. In front of the kings, hell guardians bring deceased beings wearing cangues (wooden restraints) to be judged. The beings will be reborn into one of the six realms, represented by the six dark clouds, depending on their karma. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, holding a staff, is depicted on the side of the scroll, looking down compassionately at beings from hell who have come to ask for relief. Animal-headed guardians and a walled hell are painted on the right. The hats worn by the ten kings and the hairstyles of the other figures indicates that the artwork dates from the 10th century.