Kizil Cave 171

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

Situated in the east valley, this cave was constructed during the 4th to 5th century. It consists of an antechamber, main chamber, and corridors. The antechamber is mostly in ruins, thus only the back wall still stands. Marks where doors were once installed are found at the entrance to the main chamber. This rectangular chamber has a barrel-vaulted ceiling and measures 4.4 m wide, 4.5 m high, and 4.35 m deep. On either side of the back wall are side corridors connecting to the rear corridor to form a central pillar. The rear corridor also has a barrel-vaulted ceiling.
An arched niche is located on the back wall of the main chamber; however, the sculptures and murals in the niche are missing. Diamond-shaped depictions of Mount Sumeru on the wall outside of the niche once connected to the diamond-patterned illustrations on the ceiling, but only a series of neat chisel marks are still visible. Rows of square chisel marks on both side walls are found at the top, with murals beneath displaying scenes from karma stories and the Life of the Buddha. Each wall has six murals, all of which have been removed. Distinguishable themes are Mahakasyapa Taking Refuge in the Buddha on the right wall, and a Dancer Taking Refuge in the Buddha on the left wall. The front wall of the main chamber also contains illustrations from the Life of the Buddha and karma stories on both sides of the doorway. Just above the doorway is a row of seated Buddhas. The semicircular section of the wall above the doorway displays Maitreya Bodhisattva Teaching the Dharma. The central ridge of the barrel-vaulted ceiling displays astrological signs, including Candra, a standing Buddha, a garuda, a second standing Buddha, Vayu, and Surya. Rows of diamond-shaped illustrations of karma stories and triangular-shaped depictions of the Jatakas are seen on each side of the ceiling. Discernible stories are the King Srutasoma Jataka, Jataka of the Lion King, Jataka of Dove’s Self-Sacrifice, Jataka of the Bodhisattva Staying Still for Birds, Monkey Offering Honey, Monkey Offering Fruits, Conversion of the Three Kasyapa Brothers, Clam Reborn as a Heavenly Being, Buddha Teaching Hariti a Lesson, Disobedient Drummer and the Bandits, Defiant Man Reborn as a Heavenly Being, Devadatta Attacking the Buddha with a Rock, Conversion of a Dancer, and Angulimalya and His Wrongdoings.
The outer wall of the rear corridor once depicted the Buddha’s Parinirvana while the left side showed the Buddha Teaching the Gandharva King. Both of these paintings have been removed. The right wall displays a portrait of a monk named Brahmana, while the inner wall shows two rows of 11 seated Buddhas in stupas. The majority of the murals on the ceiling have been removed. The walls of both side corridors each display two rows of seated Buddhas in stupas; parts of these paintings have also been removed. The central ridge of the vaulted ceiling displays a series of five geese with diamond-shaped images on both sides.