Kizil Cave 17: King of Kucha as Donor

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

The mural was originally situated on the right side of the front wall within the main chamber. The three portions depicted here were removed by a German expedition in the early 20th century.
The background of the mural is brown and on the left are seven figures. The king, standing in the center, wears a crown and has a three-layered nimbus. He wears a long, white robe with wide collars and narrow sleeves. The robe is decorated with a diamond pattern and green trim. He raises his left hand to his chest and his right hand rests to the side of his body. He holds a red cloth bag and wears long boots. Three monks on the right wear brown monastic robes and face the king with their right shoulders bared. Three princes are depicted to the left. The one nearest the king wears a crown and has a three-layered round nimbus. His long green robe has wide sleeves with brown trim decorated in white dots in a sawtooth pattern. The second prince wears a long robe with narrow sleeves that is decorated with a string bead pattern. The third wears a blue robe decorated with a similar bead pattern.
More figures to the right have been obscured by damage. From what is left, three of these can be seen, two of which lack nimbuses. They wear formal garments and carry objects for offering. Some of these figures may be attendants. The king and supporting figures are drawn in clean colors and lines which, despite damage, can be clearly discerned.