Bezeklik Cave 15: Illustration of the Abhiniskramana Sutra

CHINA, Xinjiang, Turpan

Cave 15 contains numerous paintings that illustrate stories found in the Abhiniskramana Sutra. This mural was originally situated on a side wall of the rear corridor. It depicts Sakyamuni Buddha’s vows in his previous lives to cultivate himself and the prophecy by one of the Buddhas of the past that he would attain Buddhahood.
The central standing figure is a Buddha of the past. He wears a red monastic robe and a long, jeweled ornament. Standing with each foot on a lotus pedestal, he is surrounded by a large nimbus and an aureole. The standing Buddha faces slightly to one side, towards a kneeling figure with joined palms, believed to be Sakyamuni Buddha in a previous life. Surrounding the standing Buddha are other figures including an old monk, five Bodhisattvas, and a young attendant. They all wear straw sandals and are dressed in clothing typical of ancient Gaochang. On the upper left is a multi-story building. The main color of this illustration is red, with a blue background decorated with flowers and other shapes. The lines in the painting are smooth and finely drawn, giving it a delicate appearance.