Mogao Cave 285: Buddhas Teaching the Dharma

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Western Wei dynasty

These seven illustrations are located on the upper section of the north wall. Each illustration is approximately 1 m in height. The first on the left displays Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Buddhas seated together with attendant Bodhisattvas, while the other six depict a Buddha teaching the Dharma with attendant Bodhisattvas. At the bottom of each illustration are people making offerings and inscriptions. The dates of the murals are still visible in three of the inscriptions; they were made between 538 and 539 during the Western Wei dynasty. According to the inscriptions, the second and third illustrations from the left are Kasyapa Buddha and Kanakamuni Buddha, respectively, while the fourth and seventh paintings are both Amitabha Buddha. The images were selected and painted according to the wishes of the donors and the inspiration of the artists.