Mogao Cave 17: Suryaprabha Bodhisattva

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

Both sides of this 8th century banner are painted with images of Suryaprabha Bodhisattva, with minor differences in facial features and posture. The banner is well preserved, but shows evidence of restoration in the upper and lower sections. Suryaprabha Bodhisattva is depicted with a round face, arched eyebrows, and small red lips. A headdress surrounds the high topknot. The Bodhisattva wears armlets and a patterned robe secured with a sash. Holding a sun disc containing an image of a bird with both hands, Suryaprabha stands barefooted on a lotus throne that appears to emerge from the water below. An inscription within a rectangular cartouche beside the nimbus states the name of the Bodhisattva. The image is mainly traced in white lines. Red is used to highlight the lips of the Bodhisattva and the rooster within the sun disc; gold accentuates the ornaments and the pattern on the robe. The banner is unique among the paintings discovered in Dunhuang.