Mogao Cave 428: Vairocana Buddha

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Zhou dynasty

This mural is located in the center of the south wall and is the earliest Buddha image painted in the caves of Dunhuang. The mural illustrates the Dharma body of Vairocana as described in the “Gandavyuha Chapter” of the Avatamsaka Sutra.
Vairocana Buddha stands beneath a canopy with attendant Bodhisattvas on each side. The Buddha raises the right hand and gently grasps his robe with the left. Six Dharma Realms are portrayed upon his robe, represented by heavenly beings at the top, followed by asuras, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell beings. The heaven realm is painted at the top of the robe, on the shoulders and left sleeve. Two heavenly beings and two apsaras are drawn on each shoulder. A seated asura is painted in front of Mount Sumeru in the center of the chest, with palaces of the Trayastrimsa Heaven at the top of the mountain. Scenes of mountain, villages, and people, either standing or seated, from the human realm are illustrated on the lower part of the sleeves and the abdomen. Figures raising their hands in the air represent the realm of the hungry ghosts, while creatures walking in the forest symbolize the animal realm. Hell is represented by naked figures drawn on the hem of the robe.