The Medicine Buddha Transformation Sutra Mural, Mogao Cave 220
Dublin Core
Title
The Medicine Buddha Transformation Sutra Mural, Mogao Cave 220
Subject
Buddhist Art
Mural
Mogao Cave
Tang Dynasty
Dunhuang Mural
Description
The Medicine Buddha Transformation Sutra Mural, executed according to the Sutra on Medicine Buddha, was painted in the Early Tang Dynasty (A.D.618-712). It presents a grand scene of dance and music. In the illustration, seven Medicine Buddhas are sitting on an elevated platform. Accompanying them are Candra-prabha (Bodhisattva Moonlight) and Surya-prabha (Bodhisattva Sunlight), representing wisdom and compassion, along with the twelve generals who protect people from misfortune. In front of the platform, the mural vividly depicts a band composed of 28 people from different cultures and ethnicities, playing various instruments from ancient China and Western regions. There are also several dancers wearing silk dresses and dancing on carpets, illustrating the dynamic cultural exchanges facilitated by the Silk Road.
Creator
Unknown Tang Dynasty artist
Source
Dunhuang Academy
Date
A.D.618-712
Rights
Image used under educational fair use
Type
Still Image
Coverage
Mogao Cave 220, Dunhuang, China
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Mural
Physical Dimensions
unknown
Collection
Citation
Unknown Tang Dynasty artist, “The Medicine Buddha Transformation Sutra Mural, Mogao Cave 220,” Omeka, accessed February 5, 2026, https://omeka.ischool.utoronto.ca/items/show/401.