Mogao Cave 17: Lotus-Born Children

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

This 9th century painting depicts children emerging from lotuses in the Pure Land. Two groups of three children stand on lotuses with red petals. The legs of a seventh child are visible at the top of the picture, but the rest has torn away. The children in the lower resister are holding hands, while those in the upper register play musical instruments. They all have happy, peaceful expressions. Except for one naked child, the figures are dressed in aprons and shoes, and have the hairstyles of children from the Tang dynasty (618–907). Their clothing and the lotuses are painted in matching reds and greens, creating a harmonious ambiance.