Mogao Cave 17: Life of the Buddha

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

This 9th century artwork is one of a pair of banners decorated with scenes from the Life of the Buddha; the other is in the collection of the New Delhi National Museum. The banner portrays the events beginning with the Prophecy of Dipamkara Buddha and leading up to the Birth of Prince Siddhartha. Scenes of the early life of the prince and his eventual enlightenment are painted on the other banner. There are four distinct scenes divided by black lines. At the top of the banner, Dipamkara Buddha touches the head of a young boy, identifying him as the future Sakyamuni Buddha. In the second scene, the Bodhisattva Sakyamuni ascends to Tusita Heaven to await rebirth. Below, there is a depiction of Queen Maya’s Dream, in which Sakyamuni comes to her in the form of a white elephant. At the bottom of the banner, two attendants wait outside the queen’s pavilion during the birthing of the prince. The small images are colorful and precisely detailed.