(title not possible to read) -The Fourth Great Event

(title not possible to read) -The Fourth Great Event

The eight great events of the Buddha's life

Depiction of the fourth great event of the Buddha's life, the miracle of multiplication. The central scene shows the Buddha in three nearly identical appearances, the emanations grow directly out of his main body. All three depictions hold their hands in the anjalimudra. The smaller scenes which surrounding the stūpa in which the central image is depicted, can not be identified, because the chinese inscription have not been filled in. On the right side of the central image are monk/nun displayed, pointing to the stūpa, and one turning his head to follow the other one. Additionally there are two other figures depicted, which approach the stūpa from the opposite site. One carrying incense burner for ritual veneration. There are also five men kneeling (lower right corner), their hands raised in adoration. The inscription here says that these are Daoist masters. In the lower left corner of the image, there are two faithful and possibly high ranking figures seen, kneeling on carpet and offering flowers ( Ursula Toyka-Fuong : Donor of the image?). In the front of the central image is (like in the other images from Dunhuang cave 76) a stele with a chinese inscription depicted. But it is not possible to decipher the chinese inscription due to damage. The Title says: "Mahapra(t) [i] (harya) (caitya ratna)"- The (jewel of the) great magically potent (stūpa). (Toyka-Fuong, 1998, 76.)

Toyka-Fuong, Ursula, "The Influence of Pala Art on 11th-century Wall-paintings of Grotto 76 in Dunhuang", in The Inner Asia International Style 12th-14th Centuries. Papers presented at a Panel of the 7th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies, Graz 1995, edited by Deborah E. Klimburg and Eva Allinger, 67-95. Wien: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1998, 92.

late 11th century

Courtesy of the Dunhuang Institute of Research, Dunhuang

Sanskrit and chinese

Cave Image

Dunhuang, Mogao Grotto 76, Gansu province, China