Mogao Cave 329

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang

This shrine cave is situated in the northern section of the south area and was constructed in the Early Tang period (618–712). It was renovated in the Five Dynasties (907–960) and the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). The cave has an antechamber and a main chamber connected by a corridor. The murals in the antechamber and the corridor were painted during the Five Dynasties. On the west slope of the ceiling in the antechamber are illustrations of Amoghapasa Avalokitesvara, Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara, and Cintamanicakra Avalokitesvara.
The main chamber has a truncated pyramidal ceiling with a caisson center surrounded by apsaras. Thousand Buddhas cover the fours slopes of the ceiling. The niche in the back (west) wall houses a seated Buddha, with two disciples and four Bodhisattvas reconstructed in the Qing dynasty. On the left and right of the sloping niche ceiling are illustrations of Prince Siddhartha riding a horse and another of him riding an elephant. These symbolize his departure from home and his entrance into his mother’s womb. Also on the niche ceiling are images of apsaras and Thunder Deities. On the back wall below the niche are six Bodhisattvas making offerings, and to each side are lotus-born children and Thousand Buddhas. On the north and south walls are illustrations of the Maitreya Sutras and the Amitabha Sutra, respectively, with portraits of monks and donors from the Five Dynasties painted below. Illustrations of the Buddha teaching the Dharma are above and to each side of the entrance on the front (east) wall, and below these are donors with ox and horse carts carrying offerings.