Mogao Cave 17: Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Later Jin dynasty

This painting dates from 943, according to the inscription at the bottom, and was likely made by the painting academy of military governor Cao Yuanshen. Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara sits in lotus position on a colorful lotus throne. The Bodhisattva wears a crown topped with a Buddha image and has a third eye on the forehead. The 42 prominent hands, arranged in a circle around the body, either display mudras or hold implements including a sun disc, moon disc, monk’s staff, conch shell, vajra, flaming jewel, and prayer beads. A circular mandorla surrounds the Bodhisattva.
The Four Heavenly Kings sit on clouds beside the canopy in the upper register. Along the sides of the picture and beside the altar below the lotus throne, there are vivid depictions of Sarasvati, Vasu, Candragarbha Bodhisattva, Suryagarbha Bodhisattva, and Guhyapada, each identified by an inscription.
According to the 220-character inscription in the lower register, the painting was commissioned by Ma Qianjin, an official, as an offering on behalf of his late mother. She is depicted on the left wearing white, kneeling on a platform and holding an incense burner. On the right, Water-Moon Avalokitesvara sits on a rock above the sea. This image, portraying the Bodhisattva holding a vase and a willow branch, and backed by a large white moon disc, is the oldest dated depiction of Water-Moon Avalokitesvara.