Mogao Cave 17: Bodhisattva as a Guide

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Five Dynasties

Discovered in Mogao Cave 17, this well preserved, skillfully painted picture portrays a Bodhisattva escorting a deceased woman to the Pure Land. With each foot on a lotus pedestal, the Bodhisattva leads the nobly dressed woman as they walk along a trail of clouds. The Bodhisattva wears a patterned orange dhoti, colorful stoles, and a headdress with a Buddha image in the center. Such headdresses are commonly seen in portrayals of Avalokitesvara. The left hand holds an incense burner, while the right hand holds a long pole topped with a furcated banner. The clothing of the deceased, decorated with circular floral patterns, resembles a popular style from the Late Tang period (846–907). There are three rows of tiny heavenly palaces at the top of the picture. The fine details in the painting include the depiction of smoke curling upwards from the incense burner, along with colorful patterns on the banner and the clothing of the figures.