Analysis of Mogao Caves 130

Abstract

Cave 130 of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes was fi rst excavated after the nine years of the Kaiyuan period of the prosperous and was completed during the period of Tianbao, which took more than 20 years. The Maitreya Buddha in this grotto is the second largest among the Buddha sculptures in Mogao Grottoes. It is called the South Giant Buddha. The mural picture on the wall of this cave is an original creation of Tang Dynasty, which is about the wife of the governor worshipping the Buddha. This picture is the largest in size among pictures of the theme of the providers worshipping the Buddha, What’s unique about this picture is that the background presents not only bees buzzing and butterfl ies hovering, but also willows hanging and lilies blossoming, adding some liveliness to the solemnity of the worshipping.