Guge Tara Hall Murals

CHINA, Tibet, Ngari

The Tara Hall is located on a slope east of the White Temple. The murals within the hall were painted in the 16th century. Though they are heavily coated with black soot, the images remain distinguishable. The murals are divided into four rows. The first row is painted with drapery, the second with large images of Buddha, wisdom kings, and eminent monks, the third with illustrations of scenes from the Life of the Buddha, and the fourth row with diamond patterns interspersed with conch shells. Among the illustrations of the Life of the Buddha, the Skills Contest is depicted with images of different competitions, including elephant taming and wrestling. In the middle at the top of the picture, the prince is shown seated on a platform, prodding an elephant with his leg. To the right, the prince is shown wrestling, whirling his opponent around his head with his right hand.