Mogao Cave 17: Illustrated Mahapratisara Dharani

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Song dynasty

The central image in this print is a wheel made up of concentric circles of sanskrit syllables inscribing the Mahapratisara Dharani. Mahapratisara Bodhisattva sits on a lotus throne in the center of the wheel. Outside the wheel, there are clouds, floral patterns, and Dharma protectors within an inner square. The four small circles in the four inner corners and the 16 circles around the outer frame contain seed syllables, lotuses, and Bodhisattvas. The inscription in the middle of the bottom register states that those who upholds the Mahapratisara Dharani will accomplish all virtuous deeds and be supported by Buddhas and heavenly beings. It goes on to state that practitioners who recite the dharani will not be bothered by demons or ghosts, nor harmed by illnesses and curses. It will protect them from the calamities resulting from previous bad karma. Other inscriptions date the print to 980 and attribute it to the craftsman Wang Wenzhao and the sponsor Li Zhishun.