Tour of Mogao Cave 158 with Liu Gang

Today we are going to visit Q158. This is one of the most famous Paranormal Cave. There are two inscriptions on the north wall of the corridor. One is clear, 大波管内三学法师 大波 means 土波. Donghuang was ruled by Tubo from 781 to 848. So this cave was excavated by the Tibetan sponsor. They believed in the Vajrayana form of Buddhism, which is often called Esoteric Buddhism. During this period, more than 40 caves were built, so we can find exquisite caves during this period. This cave has a rectangular main chamber with a coffin-shaped ceiling. Pure land murals were painted on it. The Nirvana cave was often designed as a reclining in shape. There was an altar built against the wall, and the main icon of this cave was the reclining Buddha. Shakyamuni was lying on his right side. We can find the Shakyamuni Buddha rested his head on his right hand, and the left hand rested on his body. The Buddha has wavy hair, half-opened eyes, and a closed mouth. These features imply that this is a release from karma, samsara, rebirth, as well as the dissolution of skandhas. The Nirvana Buddha was lying on his right side, and we can find as if he was in the frontal position. The articulation folds of the kashalapa are very stylized. This is a feature to identify this figure as the Shakyamuni Buddha. The entire image bespeaks the realm of enjoying the spiritual tranquility. The pillow of the reclining Buddha is decorated with burkha cutted motif, comprising birds enclosed in floral roundels on the wrapped background. This motif is identical to many examples of the burkha cutted bird motif unearthed in Qinghai province, and it is similar in style to the burkha cutted bird motif depicted on the murals at Kizil Cave in Xinjiang. This cave was constructed in the period when the Hexi Corridor was under Tibetan rule. Decorative motifs with Sasanian roundels were popular around the Donghuang region. The pillow offers a fine example of this kind of influence. Under the platform appear fine musicians and dancers who are considered as the Malas. Mala was an ancient Indian republic that constitutes one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas of ancient India. The republic is notable for being the chosen death place for Gautama Buddha. After his death, the Malas wanted to keep his surreal, but the other kingdoms also wanting their part went to war and besieged the city of Kushnagala. Finally, an agreement was reached, and the Buddha's cremation relics were divided among eight royal families and his disciples. The first one stepped upside down with both hinds touching the ground. The second figure bent his left leg and played the flute. Besides him is the one who played the drum. The first person is singing aloud with his right hand stretched out. The fifth one holds a whisk in his left hand and dances happily. On the other side of the platform is Shubhadra, who is the last person converted by the Buddha before he passed into Parinirvana. According to some accounts, he was a 120-year-old brahmana. He went to see the Buddha who ordained him. Shubhadra felt that he was unworthy to witness the passage of the Buddha into Parinirvana and thus asked the Buddha for permission to die first. So he set him on fire in deep meditation. The most representative murals of this cave are the Bodhisattva and Arhats behind the reclining Buddha. The morning scenes of the Arhats were painted on the south wall, and we can find the Ksharpa was in the center. He was embraced by two disciples in order to prevent him from falling down. The facial expressions of the Bodhisattva and Arhats are completely different. The This part is the mourning princes from various kingdoms. Because this cave was built in the Tibetan period, so the first figure was a Tibetan king. Beside him is a Han Chinese emperor, who was escorted by two court ladies. The other figures are from Central Asian princes. Some severing their ears and nose, and some even stab their chest with knives. The practice of self mutilation originated from Central Asia. Even the tradition lasted for today. On the upper section of the north wall, we can find a lady jumped out of the bed. Terrified by the news, she descended from heaven. Cave 158 is one of the representative caves in the Mughal grottoes during the Ming Dynasty. There are precious and scarce murals to show different costumers and funerary customers. This cave focuses on the theme nirvana. It is difficult for everyone to be unimpressed by its artistic achievement.