Mogao Cave 171: Illustration of the Amitayurdhyana Sutra - Sixteen Contemplations

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

There are Amitayurdhyana Sutra illustrations on the north, south, and front (east) walls of Cave 171, all accompanied by side panels depicting Ajatasatru and the Sixteen Contemplations. This illustration is located on the left side of the north wall within the main chamber and dates to the High Tang period (712–756). The framed scenes consist of three columns and six rows, arranged sequentially from top to bottom and right to left. The Sixteen Contemplations, a set of progressive visualizations of the Western Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha, begin with the contemplation on the sun, followed by the contemplation on water, contemplation on the ground, contemplation on trees, contemplation on the eight attributes of water, contemplation on former objects, contemplation on the lotus throne, contemplation on the image of Amitabha Buddha, contemplation on the true body of Amitabha Buddha, contemplation on Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, contemplation on Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, contemplation on the aspirants reborn in the Pure Land, contemplation on the multitude of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, contemplation on the highest grade of rebirths, contemplation on the middle grade of rebirths, and contemplation on the lowest grade of rebirths. The first 15 contemplation scenes feature Queen Vaidehi within in a pavilion, with the visualizations pictured on her right. In the contemplation on the sun, Queen Vaidehi kneels within a pavilion with palms joined, while above a radiant sun shines down on mountains and sea.