Mogao Cave 17: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Five Dynasties

In this 10th century painting, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is shown sitting in full lotus position on a lotus throne. The peaceful Bodhisattva wears a headscarf, a patched monastic robe, and a necklace. A thin monk’s staff is held in the fingers of the right hand, and the left hand supports a wish-fulfilling jewel. The nimbus and aureole are outlined with faint white flames and adorned with intricate patterns. Both are contained within a white mandorla.
A yellow line separates the lower register from the central image. On the bottom left, a donor figure dressed in red joins the palms in reverence. The cartouche beside the figure, which usually records the name of the donor, is left empty. The image on the right is worn and indecipherable. Flowers and leaves are painted in the corners of the picture. The pale green frame remains well-preserved.