Zhaohua Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals - Illustration of the Ulka Mukha Preta Sutra

CHINA, Hebei, Zhangjiakou; Ming dynasty

This scene is painted in the lower register of the east wall in the Great Hero Hall. The Water and Land Dharma Service was initiated by Emperor Wu (reigned 502–549) of the Liang dynasty (502–557) after he dreamt of a monk advising him to perform a service in order to ease the suffering of beings in the six realms. Part of the liturgy for the service is based on the account of Ananda’s encounter with a hungry ghost in the Ulka Mukha Preta Sutra. One night, as Ananda was meditating in the forest, he suddenly saw the Burning-Mouth Ghost King. The king told Ananda that in three days his life would end and he would be reborn in the realm of hungry ghosts. Terrified, Ananda went to the Buddha and asked for help. The Buddha taught Ananda how to make ceremonial food offerings to help the beings in the lower realms and also purify his own negative karma.
Ananda stands on the left, wearing a monastic robe and joins his palms in reverence, appearing to recite the Dharani of Offering. Rising from the clouds on the right are 19 hungry ghosts with emaciated faces, wild hair, and skeletal limbs. Some lean on staffs while others hold out their hands, begging for food. In the center of the lower register, the large Burning-Mouth Ghost King joins his palms and looks towards Ananda.