Western Thousand Buddha Cave 8: Life of the Buddha - Parinirvana

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Zhou dynasty

This illustration is located on the right side of the west wall and depicts the Buddha’s parinirvana under the twin sala trees at Kushinagar, India. The rendition is composed of earthy colors and somewhat abstract images that effectively express not only the grief of the onlookers, but also the serenity of the scene.
The majority of the mural is occupied by the reclining Buddha, who is depicted lying on his right side and wearing a red monastic robe that leaves the right shoulder bare. The Buddha’s usnisa and curled hair are painted in white. There are mourners located above the Buddha’s flame-patterned mandorla. The monk kneeling at the Buddha’s feet is most likely Mahakasyapa, a disciple who hurried to the Buddha’s side after the Buddha’s parinirvana. A faintly visible white-bearded figure clad in red standing next to the Buddha is thought to be the aged Subhadra, the Buddha’s last convert. Two sala trees are located at the Buddha’s head and feet.