Guge Red Temple: Life of the Buddha

CHINA, Tibet, Ngari

These murals from the mid-15th century are located on the lower sections of the north and south walls of the Red Temple. Except for a scene of Prince Siddhartha with his aunt in the lower left corner of the south wall, the scenes are sequentially painted, starting from the lower left of the north wall and progressing to the right. The scenes include the Buddha’s Ascetic Practice, the Shepherdess’ Offering, Defeat of Mara, Enlightenment, Four Heavenly Beings Offering Alms, Protection by the Naga King, Sariputra and Maudgalyayana Taking Refuge, Meeting His Son Rahula, Subduing Non-Buddhists, Dharma Teaching at Jetavana Grove, Three Turnings of the Dharma Wheel (First Turning at Deer Park, Second Turning at Vulture Peak, and Third Turning at Malayagiri and Vaishali), Teachings Around India, Calming the Drunken Elephant, Monkey Offering Honey, and Cremation.
In the Sujata Offering Milk Rice, Prince Siddhartha appears withered and haggard, wearing a monastic robe draped over his shoulders. He sits on a lotus throne and rests his feet on a lotus platform as he receives milk offerings from two shepherdesses. In another scene, the naga king curls around the Buddha’s upper body while shielding the Buddha from rain with its head. In the next scene, the Buddha sits in full lotus position within a sheltered niche. The Dharma wheel flanked by two deer underneath the Buddha’s seat symbolizes the First Turning of the Dharma Wheel at Sarnath. The Buddha is surrounded by a multitude of disciples, Bodhisattvas, and Dharma protectors. Kaundinya and four other ascetics are positioned symmetrically with the group of five monks on the lower right. These meticulously painted narratives from the Life of the Buddha feature unique depictions of figures in vibrant colors.