Mogao Cave 17: Life of the Buddha

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

The scenes painted on this body of a banner from the 8th or early 9th century portray Prince Siddhartha after he left the palace to seek enlightenment. It is very similar to another banner kept in a museum in New Delhi, India. In the upper register, Prince Siddhartha sits on a rock to the right. The prince’s horse, Kanthaka, and the faithful charioteer, Chandaka, kneel on the left, bidding the prince farewell. In the middle register, the prince prepares to cut his hair. In the lower register, the prince is shown as an emaciated ascetic, meditating on a rock in the mountains. The prince has sat in meditation for so long that birds have built a nest on his head. Tall cliffs and mountains, displaying the characteristics of Chinese landscape paintings, fill the background of all three scenes. The small figures and large mountains create a sense of vast distance. There is a blank cartouche beside each image. Floral patterns decorate the border of the picture.