Western Thousand Buddha Cave 8: Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Buddhas

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Zhou dynasty

This illustration, located on the left side of the back (north) wall, depicts the “Chapter on the Emergence of the Prabhutaratna Pagoda” from the Lotus Sutra. The chapter states that a past Buddha, Prabhutaratna, vowed that after his parinirvana, a pagoda would appear wherever the Lotus Sutra was taught. Thus, a pagoda emerged from the ground when Sakyamuni Buddha started teaching the Lotus Sutra. Sakyamuni Buddha enters the pagoda upon the assembly’s request and finds Prabhutaratna who then offers Sakyamuni half of his seat. Both Buddhas sit and Sakyamuni Buddha begins expounding the Lotus Sutra.
The arched structure at the center of this illustration depicts the scene with Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Buddhas seated together within the pagoda. They are both in the full lotus position and are facing each other, as if conversing. They wear red monastic robes accented with white, and each probably displays the vitarka (teaching) mudra with one hand.
The Buddhas are flanked by standing Bodhisattvas on both sides of the niche. The Bodhisattvas wear headdresses, long stoles, and long skirts. They stand in tribhanga postures, and their hands perform various gestures. The facial features of all of the figures in this image are highlighted in white.