Mogao Cave 17: Avalokitesvara Holding a Willow Branch

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Song dynasty

This banner from Mogao Cave 17 is made of smooth woven silk. The triangular headpiece is decorated with an image of a Buddha in red monastic robe sitting on a lotus throne. Strips of patterning separate the headpiece from the body of the banner.
Avalokitesvara stands on lotus pedestals, wearing a headdress which is decorated with flowers and white ribbons. The Bodhisattva has a round face and a thick neck. An urna is painted between the eyebrows. Long black hair hangs down past the elbows. The nimbus is composed of concentric circles. Beaded ornaments, a shawl, stoles, and a dhoti cover the body. The right hand forms a mudra, and the left hand holds a willow branch. There is an empty purple cartouche in the upper right corner.