Mogao Cave 257: Life of the Buddha - Sumagadha’s Invitation

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Wei dynasty

This set of sequential murals are arranged horizontally in 17 scenes that extend from the lower right of the back (west) wall to the lower left of the north wall. The story is from the Sumagadha Avadana, and tells of how Sumagadha, the daughter of the pious Buddhist Anathapindada, was married into a non-Buddhist family and invited the Buddha to give a teaching. This is the only depiction of the story of Sumagadha within the Mogao Caves.
The narrative starts from from left to right on the back wall with the following scenes: Sumagadha declines to meet the non-Buddhists, Sumagadha’s father-in-law apologizes to the offended non-Buddhists, Sumagadha lights incense to invite the Buddha, Sumagadha’s family welcomes the arrival of the Buddha and his disciples, Gandha descends from the sky with a huge cauldron, and Kunti manifests with 500 flowering trees descending from above.
On the north wall, there are depictions of the arrival of the Buddha and his disciples. Cudapanthaka descends with 500 calves, Rahula descends with 500 peacocks, Kalpina descends with 500 garudas, Uruivilva Kasyapa descends with 500 dragons, Subhuti descends with the glass mountains, Katyayana descends with 500 water birds, Revata descends with 500 tigers, Aniruddha descends with 500 lions, Mahakasyapa descends with 500 white horses, Maudgalyayana descends with 500 elephants, and finally, Sakyamuni Buddha descends from the sky in the company of disciples and Heavenly Kings.
The figures all have nimbuses and are dressed in simple clothing, stoles, and ornaments. Only 5 of the 500 animals described in the sutra as accompanying each disciple are represented in the scenes. The work was produced during the middle of the Northern Wei period (386–534), and demonstrates the ideological struggle between Buddhism and Daoism during that time.