Mogao Cave 231: Auspicious Buddha at Mahabodhi Temple

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

This auspicious Buddha image is located on the ceiling of the niche in the back (west) wall of the main chamber. The Buddha has a round face, an urna, and elongated earlobes. He stands barefoot on a lotus pedestal, wearing a robe with blue trim and a green inner robe with red trim. The left hand holds a corner of the robe and the right hand is raised to the chest in the vitarka (teaching) mudra. The face is painted with the wash technique to create a three-dimensional effect. There is a mesh canopy above the Buddha’s head. The inscription states, “Auspicious Sakyamuni Buddha at Mahabodhi Temple in India.” This statue is also mentioned in the Great Tang Records on the Western Regions and the Forest of Gems in the Garden of the Dharma. In addition to this cave, Cave 237 from the Late Tang period (846–907), Cave 72 from the Five Dynasties (907–960), and Cave 5 in Eastern Thousand Buddha Cave from the Late Western Xia period (1032–1227) to the Early Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) all contain paintings of the Auspicious Buddha at Mahabodhi Temple.