Silk Road China Tours

• By admin
• In DunhuangArt
• 2016-05-15

Dunhuang art -- Samantabhadra, ink and colours on a silk banner

 ZzvSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

From Cave 17, Mogao, near Dunhuang, Gansu province, China
Tang dynasty, late 8th - early 9th century ADZzvSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

Banner painting of a popular bodhisattvaZzvSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

The triangular top and the streamers of this temple flag or banner are missing. The painted central part is occupied by the bodhisattva Samantabhadra, who is shown seated on a white elephant whose feet are supported by lotuses. In true Dunhuang fashion his thick, black hair is lying on his shoulders. A halo behind his head indicates that he is a holy figure.ZzvSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

Such votive banners were most probably hung in the caves and used in worship. Samantabhadra is commonly paired with Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom, and thus this banner may have had a pair depicting Manjushri.ZzvSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

R. Whitfield, Art of Central Asia: The Ste-2, vol. 1 (Tokyo, Kodansha International Ltd., 1982-85)ZzvSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

R. Whitfield and A. Farrer, Caves of the thousand Buddhas: (London, The British Museum Press, 1990)ZzvSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

 ZzvSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

 ZzvSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours