Mogao Cave 17: Life of the Buddha

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

This 9th century painting, discovered in Mogao Cave 17, depicts two scenes from the Life of the Buddha. In the upper register, Prince Siddhartha watches a performance in the palace with his wife Yasodhara. The second scene, painted below, depicts the departure of Prince Siddhartha, as described in the Lalitavistara Sutra. To help the prince leave without drawing attention to himself, the Four Heavenly Kings ordered yaksas to lift his horse over the palace wall. The prince wears a crown and a blue robe. Sitting on a white horse, he is carried over the high wall by yaksas standing on clouds. Below the wall, palace guards are shown with their hands to their ears, listening intently for any sound of trouble. The architecture and clothing of the figures are depicted in traditional Chinese style.