Two standing
Avalokiteshvara, ink and colour on
silk
From Cave 17, Mogao, near Dunhuang, Gansu
province, China
Tang dynasty, mid-9th century
AD
Devotional painting at a time of
hardship
The painting shows two almost identical figures
of Avalokiteshvara, one of the most popular of the
bodhisattvas,
identifiable by the small figure of the
Buddha
Amitabha in his headdress. One of the only
differences between the two figures are the attributes that they
hold: that on the left holds a flower, that on the right a vase and
a willow branch. All three were popular attributes of
Avalokiteshvara.
The
inscription in the centre of the painting tranlates in part:
'…the disciple of pure faith, Yiwen, on his own behalf,
having fallen [into the hands of the Tibetans], hopes that he
return to his birthplace.' The portable paintings found at
the Mogao caves were mostly commissioned to benefit the donor or
the donor's deceased parents and relatives. It was believed
that the act of commissioning a painting would bring good
karma.
Therefore this example was commissioned to ensure a peaceful life
during the period of war with the Tibetans, who finally had to give
up Dunhuang in AD 948.
R. Whitfield, Art of Central Asia: The Ste-2, vol. 1 (Tokyo, Kodansha International Ltd., 1982-85)
R. Whitfield and A. Farrer, Caves of the thousand Buddhas: (London, The British Museum Press, 1990)