Mogao Cave 249

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang

Situated in the south area of the site, this shrine cave was built during the Western Wei dynasty (535–556). The rectangular cave has a truncated pyramidal ceiling. In the center of the ceiling is a square caisson decorated with four lotus flowers, while the four slopes of the ceiling display deities and creatures including the Wind Deity, Thunder Deity, asura, garuda, and Chinese mythical creatures such as Kaiming and Xuanwu.
An arched niche within the back (west) wall houses a statue of a seated Buddha wearing a loose robe. On the walls of the niche there are paintings depicting Bodhisattvas making offerings, 12 disciples, and flying apsaras. At the bottom left of the niche is an image of Vasu, and on the right is Mrgasirsa. Outside the niche on the back wall are eight Bodhisattvas making offerings, and above them are more apsaras. The Thousand Buddhas are painted on the north and south walls, with an image of the Buddha teaching the Dharma in the center of each wall. Along the bottom of the walls are images of monks, figures making offerings, and yaksas. There are statues of Bodhisattvas on the west sides of both the north and south walls. These statues were altered during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911).