Mogao Cave 17: Illustration of the Vimalakirti Sutra

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

This illustration of the Vimalakirti Sutra was made in the late 8th century. Many cave murals depict this sutra, but paintings such as this are rare. In the middle register, Vimalakirti and Manjusri Bodhisattva sit directly opposite each other, debating. Vimalakirti, barely visible due to damage, is seated upon a canopied bed on the left. Manjusri, with a nimbus and an aureole, sits on a platform on the right. The wall in the background represents the city of Vaishali. The Four Heavenly Kings, Bodhisattvas, and disciples are all gathered around listening to the debate. A Tibetan king and a Chinese emperor, both accompanied by attendants, occupy the left and right corners respectively. Three seated Buddhas accompanied by Bodhisattvas are painted in the upper register. In the center, five figures wearing crowns kneel before the Buddha. This is a representation of the 500 princes making offerings to the Buddha that is mentioned in the introductory chapter of the sutra. On the left, three lion thrones represent a scene from the “Chapter on the Inconceivable” in which Vimalakirti provides 32,000 lion thrones for the assembled listeners. On the right, three alms bowls filled with rice symbolize the meal invitation in the “Chapter on Accumulated Fragrance Buddha.”