Mogao Cave 17: Standing Bodhisattvas

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Five Dynasties

This long banner, painted with nine Bodhisattvas, dates from the mid-10th century. Each Bodhisattva is identified by an inscription within a cartouche. Wearing headdresses, ornaments, and stoles, the Bodhisattvas face directly towards the viewer. They hold Dharma instruments or form mudras. Their nimbuses are depicted with three black lines. The brushstrokes suggest the use of either a reed pen or a wooden brush. The strokes appear to tremble, suggesting the painting surface was not smooth.