Kumtura Cave 34: Karma Stories

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

These illustrations are arranged in a horizontal layout on the four walls of the main chamber. The front (west) and back (east) walls are in poor condition, while the north and south side walls are generally intact. The back wall consists of three rows of paintings, and along the top of each row is a white strip of inscriptions, 4 cm in height. The front wall only retains six paintings in one row, and the inscription is unclear. Twenty-five paintings arranged in four rows are found along the south wall. The Kuchean inscriptions along the top row are still legible, while those in the lower rows are not. The north wall contains five rows of murals, each row consisting of 8 to 12 paintings. A total of 31 paintings are still intact on this wall. Each painting features a seated or standing Buddha in the center, wearing in a monastic robe. Surrounding the Buddha are scenes from the karma stories, and include landscapes in the background, such as trees, fields, or palace walls. Content within each story is indicated by the presence of characters and objects. The stories include Sujata Offering Milk Porridge and Sariputra and Others Falsely Accused of Wrongdoing.
Between each row of paintings on the front and the south walls are motifs of Kuchean style buildings. The buildings are articulated with entrance stairways and high platforms. Representative of the grand scale and richness of ancient Kuchean architecture, these images are unique among the Kuchean murals.