Mogao Cave 17: Eleven-Headed, Six-Armed Avalokitesvara

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Five Dynasties to Northern Song dynasty

The large figure of Eleven-Headed, Six-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva fills almost the entire painting. The Bodhisattva faces straight ahead, standing on two lotus pedestals. Two heads, one symbolizing compassion, and the other symbolizing wrath, flank the central face. The remaining heads are smaller, and are arranged in three rows. A yellow Buddha’s head is at the top.
The body is covered with jewelry, a beaded ornament, and stoles. Floral patterns, frills, and curved lines of orange and red color accent the layered dhoti. The six hands hold lotus flowers, sun and moon discs, a vase and prayer beads.
Two small female donors stand on the right in the lower register. Opposite them on the left, there is a faded image of a male donor. According to the inscriptions within cartouches beside the donors, the male donor is Xu Nuzi from Dunhuang, and the two female donors are his mother and grandmother. Flowers are painted in the background.