Mogao Cave 17: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Song dynasty

In this late 10th century painting, Avalokitesvara is portrayed on a light brown paper composed of 5.4 cm squares. Avalokitesvara sits on a lotus throne beneath a canopy of flowers. The round-faced Bodhisattva wears a trefoil crown, earrings, a necklace, and other ornaments. A lotus bud is held in the left hand, while the right hand gently grasps a willow branch. The nimbus and the aureole are painted with the same colorful patterns in red, green and yellow. Both are contained within a simple red mandorla.
The inscription in the upper-left corner, written in bold strokes, pays homage to Avalokitesvara. The figure is outlined with dark ink strokes, and appears to have been painted quickly. There are holes in the corners for hanging the picture.