Mogao Cave 17: Traveling Monk
Ink and color on paper
Mogao Cave 17: Traveling Monk
CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Five Dynasties to Northern Song dynasty
This is one of several similar 10th century paintings depicting traveling monks that were discovered in Mogao Cave 17. The monk has large eyes, a pointed nose, and a partially opened mouth. He wears a hat tied with a ribbon, spotted garments, and sandals. A whisk is held in the left hand and the right hand holds a short walking stick. The monk carries a sutra case on his back as he strides forward, walking on a trail of clouds that extends back into the upper right corner of the painting. A fierce tiger with an open mouth and protruding tongue stands behind the monk. A Buddha sitting on clouds is partially visible in the upper left corner.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Painting I-O, page 677.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youlu and Wilson, Graham and Manho and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Painting I-O},
pages = 677,
title = {{Mogao Cave 17: Traveling Monk}},
volume = 15,
year = {2016}}