Mogao Cave 17: Traveling Monk

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

This partially damaged late 9th century painting was discovered in Mogao Cave 17. The traveling monk carries Buddhist sutras on his back and holds a whisk in his left hand. A tiger walks at his side, blending curiously with a walking stick or strip of cloth held in the right hand. The monk does not carry the look of a Chinese but have his high bridged nose, deep-set eyes, and long eyebrows. The straw shoes, spotted clothes, and a hat suggest a long and arduous journey.
In the upper left corner, a Buddha on a lotus throne descends upon a trail of clouds. Some of the color in the painting has faded and the two cartouches are empty. The lines appear to have been painted rapidly and there is little detailing. This is one of several similar paintings from Mogao Cave 17 that appear to have had a strong influence on later portrayals of the eminent monk Xuanzang.