Mogao Cave 231: Auspicious Buddha in Laowangzhuang
Mogao Cave 231: Auspicious Buddha in Laowangzhuang
CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty
This auspicious Buddha image is on the ceiling of the back (west) wall niche within the main chamber. The Buddha stands barefoot atop a lotus pedestal. He has a white urna in the middle of his forehead, elongated earlobes, and a serene gaze. A blue nimbus encircles his head. The Buddha wears a blue and light brown outer robe and a green inner garment. The left hand clasps a corner of the robe, and the right hand is raised before the chest in the vitarka (teaching) mudra.
Beside the image is the inscription, “North of Laowangzhuang, the Buddha is in the ground, the horse feet are removed.” The Dunhuang manuscript Records of the Auspicious Signs of the Buddhas similarly states, “North of Laowangzhuang, the Buddha is in the ground.” What these statements mean remains a mystery. This is the only cave where the image of Auspicious Buddha in Laowangzhuang has been found.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves M-Mo, page 1039.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Johnson, Peter and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves M-Mo},
pages = 1039,
title = {{Mogao Cave 231: Auspicious Buddha in Laowangzhuang}},
volume = 7,
year = {2016}}