Mogao Cave 285: Meditation Cells

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Western Wei dynasty

Meditation caves are also known as vihara caves, and they consist of small cells used by monks for meditation practice. These eight small cells line the north and south walls of Cave 285. Such cells were an important architectural feature in early Buddhist caves. The structure of the meditation cells in this cave resembles that of Ajanta Cave 12 in Aurangabad, India. There are four square cells along each side wall, each measuring approximately 1 sq m in area and 1.3 m in height. Above the arched entrance to each cell is a flame-patterned border motif.
The thematic content of the surrounding sculptures and murals reflects the functional aspects of the cave. For example, there are statues of monks seated in meditation within the small niches on both sides of the back (west) wall; and on the slopes of the truncated pyramidal ceiling are landscapes comprised of mountain peaks, forests, and animals, interspersed with images of monks meditating in caves.