Mogao Cave 272: Buddhas Teaching the Dharma

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Liang Kingdom

These murals, painted on the north and south walls, are similar in style and content. In both murals, the Buddha sits in full lotus position on a square throne with a canopy suspended above. The Buddha has a round face and elongated earlobes that extend to the shoulders. He wears a monastic robe and raises his right hand, possibly forming the vitarka (teaching) mudra. A Bodhisattva stands in tribhanga posture on each side of the Buddha. The Bodhisattvas wear crowns and necklaces, flowing stoles, and long lower garments. Above each of the Bodhisattvas are two monks, and above each pair of monks are two flying apsaras. The contrast between light and dark colors in the murals has intensified over time. These two scenes, together with the main seated Buddha in the back (west) wall niche, form a group of three Buddhas. Because the main Buddha statue is Maitreya, it has been suggested that the theme of the cave is the three assemblies of Maitreya.