Kumtura Cave 63

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

Cave 63, from the Anxi Protectorate period (7th–8th century), is situated in the north area, just north of Cave 62. The cave faces west and features a now collapsed antechamber, followed by a main chamber with corridors and barrel-vaulted ceilings. The main chamber once housed a large standing Buddha statue. Murals within the cave are aesthetically typical of the Kuchean style, featuring iron wire paintings and utilizing the shading technique for emphasis and affect.
The main chamber is rectangular and measures 4.5 m wide, 6.8 m high, and 7.14 m deep. The Buddha statue which once stood in the cave was over 6 m high and its original position is marked by a nimbus, outline, and notches on the back (east) wall. The platform of the statue remains, albeit in poor condition.
Murals on the ceiling of the main chamber are well preserved. The central ridge is painted green and connects to a pattern of blue, green, and white mountains. Five rows of diamond-shaped illustrations of the Jataka tales are depicted on each side of the central ridge.
Numerous faded scenes of the Buddha teaching the Dharma can be found on the north and south walls, set within three rows of five columns. The north wall is preserved better than the south wall. The south corridor has seven portraits of monks making offerings on the outer wall, and five portraits of Kuchean donors on the inner wall. Similar portraits are found within the north corridor, but they have since faded. The rear corridor depicts typical scenes from the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, complete with depictions of Cremation and the Division of Relics Among the Eight Kings.