Mogao Cave 17: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Later Liang dynasty

This painting portrays Avalokitesvara as an elegant figure standing on a lotus pedestal. The Bodhisattva has an urna between the eyebrows and wears a crown decorated with a Buddha image. A pale nimbus surrounds the head. The body is adorned with ornaments. A green and black stole spirals around the arms, and a long white ribbon hangs from the headdress and loops in front of the knees. The left hand gently grasps a willow branch and the right hand holds a vase. On the right, a figure with black hair wearing a black robe holds a tray with a single flower on it. A tall nun is depicted on the left, carrying an incense burner. Bamboo trees are painted in the background.
The inscription within a cartouche in the upper right corner states that the painting was commissioned by the official Zhang Youcheng, beseeching Avalokitesvara to bring peace to the world, and dedicates merit to Zhang’s elder sister and parents. It further reveals that the nun in the painting is Zhang’s elder sister, that her Dharma name is Yanhui, and that she resides in Puguang Temple.
Based on the inscription at the back, this painting was completed in 910 after the Tang dynasty (618–907) was overthrown. It may have been made with the support of the prominent and powerful Cao family, whose patronage sustained the construction of large scale caves during the transitional period when Dunhuang was isolated from political events.