Mogao Cave 461

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang

This truncated pyramidal ceiling cave is located in the north area of the site and was built during the Northern Zhou dynasty (557–581). The cave is small and square with a truncated pyramidal ceiling. In the center of the ceiling is a lotus and pond framed by a diamond-in-square motif. The outer section of the ceiling consists of valance patterns, and apsaras are painted on the four slopes of the ceiling, all flying in the direction of a wish-fulfilling jewel painted on the west slope. The apsaras wear stoles and long, flowing garments.
In the center of the back (west) wall is a painted niche with a mural of Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Buddhas seated together. The niche lintel has an illustration of the Syama Jataka with flame patterns on the outer edge. Images of ten disciples and four Bodhisattvas surround the painted niche, and beneath the Sumeru throne of the two Buddhas are figures making offerings from the High Tang period (712–756). This type of painted niche is rarely seen after the Sixteen Kingdoms period (303–439), and the Jataka tale on the niche lintel is the only one of its kind. Both the north and south walls of the cave have Thousand Buddha images, and decorative patterns along the base of the walls.