Kizil Cave 17: Life of the Buddha - Parinirvana

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

The mural is painted on the back wall of the rear corridor. The Buddha lies on a seven-jeweled bed, depicted smiling. The well-rounded face looks peaceful. Elongated earlobes reach the shoulders, and the figure is dressed in a monastic robe which covers both arms. The right hand supports the cheek while the left rests on the lower torso. There are seven streams of flames portrayed above, with a nimbus and an aureole which appear as a colorful wheel in pink, green, ocher red, black, and white. Brahma accompanied by warriors appears above the aureole. The farthest figure from the Buddha is the disciple Ananda, and kneeling at the Buddha’s feet is Mahakasyapa. All the figures have nimbuses, which have become obscured due to damage.