Kizil Cave 38: Milinda Jataka

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

This painting is situated on the left side of the barrel-vaulted ceiling within the main chamber. According to the Sutra on the Collection of the Six Perfections, Milinda went to sea with 500 merchants in search of gems despite his mother’s attempts to dissuade him. Angrily, he stepped upon his mother’s head as he departed. While at sea, the merchants encountered many mishaps and only Milinda survived. After he had lived out his days, he arrived in the hells of the silver city, gold city, crystal city, and glass city. Eventually he fell to hell where, suffering karmic retribution for injuring his mother, a demon put a wheel on Milinda’s head, crushing his skull, and then burned his body.
The figure seated in the middle is Milinda, wearing little clothing and depicted with a narrow waist and broad shoulders. He is flanked by two blue demons with protruding chests and bellies, their hands at their waists. The square building beneath him represents the iron city. An iron wheel is atop Milinda, illustrating how his skull is crushed and body burned in hell.