Mogao Cave 257: Heavenly King
Clay
Mogao Cave 257: Heavenly King
CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Wei dynasty
Located to the right of the niche on the east side of the central pillar, this is the only remaining Heavenly King sculpture from the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534) within the Mogao Caves. The Heavenly King guards the entrance to the niche. The grinning face is large and full, with round glaring eyes. The figure has broad shoulders and is dressed in armor, with blue plates on the chest and upper arm guards connected at the shoulders. A stole is wrapped around the shoulders and over the right arm. Much of the left arm and the right hand is missing. The waist is narrow and the abdomen protrudes slightly. A short, green lower garment is worn over a long dhoti that extends to the feet. The Heavenly King’s attire is a combination of that of a warrior and that of a Bodhisattva.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves M-Mo, page 1072.
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 = 1072,
title = {{Mogao Cave 257: Heavenly King}},
volume = 7,
year = {2016}}