Dafo Temple Cave 1: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

CHINA, Shaanxi, Binxian; Tang dynasty

This carving is located on the right side of the back (west) wall. Avalokitesvara has a smooth, round face, fine eyebrows with an urna between them, partially closed eyes, and full lips with a hint of a smile. The hair is in a topknot behind a headdress carved with floral designs and a small Buddha image. Avalokitesvara wears earrings, a necklace, two bracelets on each wrist, a long lower garment, and draped stoles. The hands form a mudra in front of the chest. A multi-layered petal-shaped nimbus is carved behind the Bodhisattva’s head, featuring vine-like motifs on the inner layers and flames on the outer layer. The statue has been restored and repainted, so most of the colors including the black hair, white face, and vermilion lips were not features of the original image.