Western Thousand Buddha Cave 12: Battle Between Sariputra and Raudraksa

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Zhou dynasty

This illustration is located on the east side of the south wall of the cave and considered to be the earliest high-quality illustration of this scene at Dunhuang. It depicts a story related in the “Chapter on Sudatta Donating Jetavana Monastery” in the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish. Shown here, Sudatta is purchasing a park to build the Jetavana monastery, and Sariputra and his disciples are defeating Raudraksa. These serial paintings are presented in horizontal format, taking up two rows. All 11 episodes of the battles are shown with corresponding text written on each scene. Due to damage, some figures and inscriptions are no longer discernible. The illustration has a white and green background with extensive use of black ink to outline the figures.
The upper left corner of the painting features a hip roof building. Sudatta and Sariputra kneel before the Buddha and bid farewell to him before going off to seek land in Sravasti, where they plan to build the monastery. The next scene shows figures walking through a willow forest.
The lower section of the painting depicts a scene featuring a toppled tree. This refers to Raudraksa taking the shape of a large tree, and Sariputra requesting the Wind Deity to lend him his power in order to blow the tree down. Beside the tree, Vajrapanibalin, who holds a vajra, points to a mountain, an illustration of the scene in which Raudraksa transforms into a mountain and Sariputra requests Vajrapanibalin to strike the mountain into pieces with his vajra.