Cave 428, Mogao Grottoes, Northern Zhou Dynasty (557-581 A.D.)

It is the largest cave with a central column among the caves of the early period. In the front is an inverted V-shaped ceiling. The wall paintings in this cave illustrates a preaching scene and illustration of Mara Vijaya Sutra on the north wall; the vajra pagoda, nirvana sutra, Sakya and Prabhutaratna Buddha sitting side by side on the west wall; preaching scene and Rocona or Illuminating Buddha on the south wall; and outstanding painting of Buddha's jataka tales on the east wall, including sattva jataka on the south side of the east wall and prince jataka on the north side. Both jataka tales are painted in three horizontal strips, and drawing is concise and style realistic. The patternized mountains and trees present both background for the stories and decorative effect. This cave, containing over 1,000 portraits of donors, has the most donors among the Dunhuang Grottoes group, which evidences that it was probably the monks and Bhiksunies of local temples that patronized this cave.

Publishes at : 07-08-15 22:32

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