Mogao Cave 17: Vaisravana and Heavenly Beings

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Five Dynasties

This portrait of Vaisravana, Heavenly King of the North was commissioned by Xu Hanrong, who is depicted on the left side of the painting. Wearing a crown and a golden suit of armor, the Heavenly King sits upon a galloping white horse, looking back at Xu and a female devotee. Xu holds a scepter, while the female donor stands with palms joined; both look up at the majestic figure of Vaisravana. The five armored generals beside the Heavenly King are his five sons, each of whom holds an emblem such as a pagoda, a pennant, a bow, a sword, or a banner. The yaksas below Vaisravana enthusiastically collect precious items such as coral, gold coins, gold vases, and pearls. At the bottom of the painting, there is a pond containing lotuses, ducks, a child, and a naga king. The mountains in the background of the upper register represent the northern ranges of Mount Sumeru, marking the land that Vaisravana rules and protects. The way in which the faces are depicted and the accessories worn by the female donor suggest that the painting dates from the mid-10th century.