Mogao Cave 158: Illustration of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra - Eight Classes of Dharma Protectors

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

These figures from the illustration of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra are painted on the right side of the back (west) wall of the main chamber, close to the feet of the reclining Buddha statue. The Eight Classes of Dharma Protectors consist of heavenly beings, nagas, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, and mahoragas. The Dharma protectors are gathered to mourn the Buddha’s parinirvana. Standing behind the Four Heavenly Kings, they appear solemn, with stern eyes and angry expressions. Each of the Dharma protectors wears a distinctive headdress: one is topped with a fierce dragon with raised claws, another resembles the head of a serpent, and a third has a flaming jewels on top of a tiger head.