Kizil Cave 17: King Sudhira Jataka

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

This painting is located on the left side of the barrel-vaulted ceiling within the main chamber. According to Bodhisattva Avadana, King Sudhira of the Puskaravati Kingdom had much compassion, so he took in a virtuous officer of another kingdom. Due to this incident, the king of the other kingdom ordered a blind brahmin to ask King Sudhira for his eyes. The king complied and gave up his eyes to the brahmin. Touched by his action, Sakra used his supernatural power to restore the king’s vision.
King Sudhira, located in the center of the painting, is seated on a high rectangular throne. His head is encircled with a nimbus. The king is barefoot and wears a light green dhoti and a brown stole that hangs down from his left shoulder. Next to him kneels the blind brahmin. The brahmin also wears a light green dhoti. He holds a tool which he will presumably use to extract the kings eyes. This blue, diamond-shaped painting is decorated with tiny ochre colored flowers while a tree canopy adorns the top.