Kizil Cave 38: Ceiling

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

This barrel-vaulted ceiling in the main chamber has a central ridge of astrological signs, flanked by diamond-shaped arrangements of images representing stories from the Jatakas and the karma stories. The base colors are mineral blue, mineral green, light yellow, ochre, and white.
The astrological signs depicted are, from top to bottom: Surya, Vayu, a standing Buddha, a garuda, a second Vayu, a second standing Buddha, and Candra. The two standing Buddhas lean slightly to one side, holding their left hands before their chests and their right hands upward. Surya is depicted as a round sun, while Candra takes the shape of a crescent moon, surrounded by white dots. Both the Surya and Candra are surrounded by four geese. Vayu is depicted as a human being among the clouds. The garuda has two heads and spreads both its wings wide, holding nagas in both mouths.
The murals with the multi-colored diamond patterns on each side of the ceiling depict illustrations from the Jatakas and the karma stories in alternating arrangement. Recognizable subjects of the karma stories include Monkey Offering Honey, Defiant Man Reborn as a Heavenly Being, Cakravartin Offering Lamps, Protection by the Naga King, and Offering Banners to the Buddha. Recognizable stories from the Jatakas include the King Sarvadatta Jataka, the King Maitribala Jataka, the Prince Sudana Jataka, the Prince Mahasattva Jataka, the Jataka of the Lion King, the Mahamati Jataka, the Milinda Jataka, and the Ksantivadi Jataka.