Mogao Cave 332

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang

This central pillar cave is located in the northern section of the south area and was built in the Early Tang period (618–712). According to a stele, the cave was constructed in 698 by the benefactor Li Kerang. It was renovated during the Five Dynasties (907–960) and subsequent periods. The cave consists of an antechamber and a main chamber connected by a corridor. On the ceiling of the antechamber are illustrations of Cintamanicakra Avalokitesvara and Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara. On the back (west) wall is the Naga King Paying Respect to the Buddha, and on the north and south walls are disciples, Bodhisattvas, and Heavenly Kings. In the corridor, there is a Six-Armed Avalokitesvara from the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) on the ceiling, and on the walls are images of Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas from the Five Dynasties, with donor images below from both the Five Dynasties and the Yuan dynasty.
The main chamber has a gabled ceiling at the front and a flat ceiling at the rear. On the west slope of the gabled ceiling are images of Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Buddhas. The rest of the ceiling, including the east slope and the flat ceiling at the back, is covered with Thousand Buddha images.
A square central pillar stands in the middle of the main chamber. On the east side of the pillar are statues of a standing Buddha and two Bodhisattvas. Images of Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas are painted on the pillar above the statues. The north, south, and west sides of the pillar have images of Vairocana Buddha, the Medicine Buddha, and Sakyamuni Buddha teaching on Vulture Peak. On the back wall of the main chamber is a niche which houses a reclining Buddha statue. The ceiling and walls of the niche are painted with sala trees, apsaras, and an image of Sakyamuni Buddha’s mother, Queen Maya, at his side. The platform of the statue is decorated with valance patterns and mythical creatures. Bodhisattva images cover the wall below and to both sides of the niche.
The east sides of the north and south walls feature statues of a Buddha with two standing Bodhisattvas, along with a Buddha image painted above these statues. The left side of the north wall features an illustration of the Vimalakirti Sutra, while the right side of the south wall features an illustration of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra. Along the bottom of both walls are donor images. Above the entrance on the front (east) wall is a portrait of Avalokitesvara on Mount Potalaka. A mural of Amitabha Buddha and Fifty Bodhisattvas is to the right of the entrance, and the Buddha teaching on Vulture Peak is to the left. At the bottom of the front wall are three portraits of monks making offerings. There are also two Bodhisattva images from the Five Dynasties on the lintel of the entrance.