Mogao Cave 17: Standing Bodhisattva

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

This banner is decorated with an image of a standing Bodhisattva who wears a headdress decorated with flaming jewels and has a nimbus with green, red, white, and blue rings. The body is covered with a robe, stoles, a necklace, bracelets, and a belt. Both hands hold a straight lotus stem with a large red lotus on the top and a blue bud below. The curving hairline, the outline of the ears, and the palms of the hands are outlined with red. Lines around the eyes give them a slightly sunken appearance. Above the Bodhisattva, there is an ornate canopy decorated with flaming jewels and streamers. The well-preserved headpiece of the banner is decorated with intricate and colorful designs, bordered by blue woven cloth. A thin strip of floral patterns and a solid red line run along the edges of the body.