Mogao Cave 17: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva and Attendants

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Song dynasty

This painting shows Samantabhadra Bodhisattva sitting upon a lotus throne on the back of a white elephant, holding a vase and a golden lotus stem with three lotus buds. Flanking Samantabhadra are attending Bodhisattvas; two hold parasols, a third joins palms, and a fourth makes an offering of flowers. In front of the elephant, a child looks up at Samantabhadra, and a mahout controls the elephant with a rope. Angled parasols and raining flowers add liveliness to the picture. In the lower register, there are six figures making flower offerings. The hairstyle of the female figures suggests this painting dates from the Northern Song dynasty.