Mogao Cave 17: Avalokitesvara and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattvas

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

There are many paintings of Avalokitesvara and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattvas among the 9th and 10th century artworks found in the Mogao Caves. Here the two Bodhisattvas are shown together, each occupying one side of the picture. Avalokitesvara sits on a lotus throne on the left, wearing a necklace, earrings, and a crown adorned with a Buddha image. A circular nimbus and a patterned mandorla surround the head and the body. The Bodhisattva holds a willow branch in the left hand and cradles a vase in the right hand. A decorative canopy hangs at the top of the picture. In the lower register, there are two lotus-born children and a pair of flaming jewels.
On the right, Ksitigarbha sits with legs perched on a platform. Dressed in a red monastic robe decorated with simple floral patterns, the Bodhisattva holds a golden Dharma wheel in the left hand and rests the right hand on the right knee. Monks stand on either side of the mandorla. A mountain range is depicted with simple lines above the petal-shaped nimbus. Two kneeling figures making offerings and two flaming jewels are painted in the lower register.