Mogao Cave 257: Novice Monk Committing Suicide to Uphold the Precepts

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Wei dynasty

Located on the south wall, this illustration is based on a story in the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish. The narrative proceeds from left to right in eight scenes, as follows: the son of an elder renounces and goes to study under a respected monk who dwells in a secluded place; the monk instructs the novice to go for alms; the novice monk encounters a young woman who falls in love with him and implores him to resume the secular life; the novice monk locks himself in a room and commits suicide; the young woman is overwhelmed with sorrow when she discovers his body; the young woman tells her father about the incident; the father reports the case to the king, who praises the act of the novice monk; the king cremates the body of the novice and builds a stupa in commemoration.
The scenes are embellished with images of mountains, palaces, and citizens. The figures are depicted simply, most with a nimbus around the head, and the style of the clothing reflects the influence of Chinese culture in the region. The mural holds a prominent position on the wall, and likely served an educational function during a period when adherence to the precepts was notably lacking.