Mogao Cave 98: Illustration of the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish - Chapter on the Elephant Helper

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Five Dynasties

This detail from the illustration of the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish is located within the 12th panel from the left in the lower section of the north wall. The narrative runs from bottom to top, and includes seven scenes. It begins with the birth of a child. On the same day, a golden elephant appeared, and soon formed a special bond with the child. Thus, the boy came to be called Elephant Helper. The evil Prince Ajatasatru coveted the elephant. He invited the boy and his father to bring it to the palace, and then claimed it as his own. However, after the boy departed, the elephant disappeared. To escape the wrath of the prince, Elephant Helper became a monk. The top scene in the mural shows his renunciation ceremony. The story emphasizes the belief that paying sincere homage to the Buddha in a previous life will lead to good conditions in later lives.