Mogao Cave 263: Life of the Buddha - Defeat of Mara

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Wei dynasty

Located on the south wall, this Northern Wei dynasty mural was discovered beneath images of the Thousand Buddhas in 1942.
The Buddha sits in full lotus position on a throne in the center of the mural. The Buddha has blue hair, a usnisa, and a round face. His monastic robe is draped across his left shoulder. The left hand is held in front of the chest, while the right hand rests on his knee in the bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra. Above him is a canopy, and to each side is a man in Central Asian dress, facing the Buddha as if in conversation. These are likely portrayals of Mara attempting to stop the Buddha from becoming enlightened. In the lower left corner are three young women who wear crowns and stand in graceful postures, representing Mara’s three daughters trying to distract the Buddha. In the lower right, they appear again as three white-haired, aged women. Other demonic beings with twisted postures and fierce expressions surround the Buddha, some holding weapons. They represent Mara’s army. They have red, white, and blue skin, and are either nude or wearing short pants or skirts. Below the Buddha’s throne is the blue-skinned demon king, Mara, sprawled on the ground after his defeat.
The mural incorporates Mara’s attempts at persuasion, his daughters’ transformations, the attack of his army, Mara’s surrender, and other events into a single cohesive scene. The contrast between the twisting bodies of the demons and the stillness and composure of Prince Siddhartha emphasizes his enlightenment.