Kizil Cave 17: Nalapana Jataka
Kizil Cave 17: Nalapana Jataka
CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu
Located on the left side of the barrel-vaulted ceiling in the main chamber, this painting is based on the Nalapana Jataka. In the story, the Monkey King uses his wisdom to save other small monkeys from a water monster. The water monster in the pond had eaten several monkeys that drank from the pond, and the Monkey King teaches the others to use reed stems as straws so as to draw the pond water from a safe distance.
The diamond-shaped painting has a blue background, and shows a circular pond in the center. The water monster in the pond looks outwards, prepared to catch the monkeys. Three of them, one black and two white, stand near the pond. With one foot forward, each holds a reed stem with both hands and draws water from the pond. The painting is simply depicted, yet highly illustrative.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves R-L, page 488.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Johnson, Peter and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves R-L},
pages = 488,
title = {{Kizil Cave 17: Nalapana Jataka}},
volume = 6,
year = {2016}}