Mogao Cave 419: Prince Sudana Jataka

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Sui dynasty

This narrative illustration occupies much of the east slope of the gabled ceiling. The story begins in the upper right corner with a scene in the city of Jayatura and proceeds in an “S” formation as follows: a hostile kingdom sends a brahmin to ask Prince Sudana for his magic elephant; the prince gives the elephant away; the brahmin leaves riding the elephant; a minister charges the prince with giving away the elephant; the prince is banished to Mekha-Sanda Hill; the prince performs acts of charity before leaving; he bids farewell to his parents; the ministers and common people send him off; a brahmin asks the prince for his horse and leaves riding the horse; another brahmin asks for his chariot and leaves pulling the chariot; a brahmin asks for clothes and the prince willingly gives them away; the prince moves on with his children; Sakra transforms a city and the prince passes straight through it; the prince reaches Mekha-Sanda Hill, meets a sage, builds a hut, and settles down; the children play with wild animals; an ugly brahmin is teased next to the well; the ugly brahmin’s beautiful wife tells him to buy slaves; the ugly brahmin asks the prince for his son and daughter; the prince gives them away; Sakra changes into a lion to prevent the princess from returning home; after picking fruit in the mountains, the two children are whipped by the ugly brahmin; the beautiful wife demands that the children be sold; the children are sold back to their grandfather, the King of Jayatura, in exchange for gold, silver, and food, and the family is reunited.