Mogao Cave 55

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang

This altar cave is located in the central section of the south area, between Caves 476 and 478, and below Cave 457. It was built in the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127) and restored during the Western Xia period (1032–1227). The cave consists of an antechamber and a main chamber linked by a corridor. The main chamber is square with a truncated pyramidal ceiling. A Buddha altar is installed in the center of the chamber, backed by a screen wall that extends up to the ceiling. This layout is reminiscent of caves from the Late Tang period (846–907).
Two dragons and a lotus with curled leaves are painted in the center of the ceiling. These are surrounded by the Thousand Buddhas, clouds, apsaras, and other designs. There are sutra illustrations on each slope of the ceiling, including the Maitreya Sutras on the west slope, the Lotus Sutra on the south slope, the Avatamsaka Sutra on the north slope, and the Lankavatara Sutra on the east slope. Heavenly Kings are painted in the four corners of the ceiling.
On the U-shaped altar there are three groups of statues. Maitreya Buddha is in the center of each group, accompanied by attendant Bodhisattvas, Heavenly Kings, and one statue of Mahakasyapa. The large, colorful mandorla of the seated Buddha in the back (west) contains illustrations of Bodhisattvas and apsaras.
There are 37 panels of illustrations of the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish lining the bottom of the back, north, and south walls. On the upper register of the back wall, there is an illustration of the Battle Between Sariputra and Raudraksa. Illustrations of the Usnisavijaya Dharani Sutra, the Sutra on the Questions of Visesa Cinti Brahma, the Medicine Buddha Sutra, and the Devata Sutra are painted on the north wall. Sutra illustrations on the south wall include the Maitreya Sutras, the Infinite Life Sutra, the Returning Favors Sutra, and the “Universal Gateway Chapter” of the Lotus Sutra. On the front (east) wall, there are seven Buddhas, a Bodhisattva, and two apsaras painted above the entrance. On either side of the entrance are illustrations of the Golden Light Sutra and the Ghanavyuha Sutra. Below, there are six Bodhisattvas making offerings repainted during the Western Xia period.