Mogao Cave 231: Auspicious Buddha Propagating the Dharma in Vaishali

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

This auspicious Buddha is painted on the ceiling of the back (west) wall niche within the main chamber. There is a mesh canopy above the Buddha, and his head is surrounded by a nimbus composed of red, black, blue, white, and green colors in wave patterns. The Buddha has a round face, crescent-shaped brows, and lowered eyes. He wears long green and red robes, and his right hand forms the vitarka (teaching) mudra. The Buddha stands on a lotus platform that floats on the surface of green water. Beside the image is the inscription, “The Buddha propagating the Dharma in Vaishali, red sandalwood auspicious image.” On the ceiling of the niche on the back wall of Cave 237 is another image of the Buddha standing on water with the same inscription. The Dunhuang manuscript Records of the Auspicious Signs of the Buddhas notes a Buddha image that “moves upon the seas,” which may correspond to these murals.