Dunhuang Art The Grottoes

The south wall contains the Diamond sutra illustration and the Amitayus sutra illustration, below them are a few screen paintings that have been obscured. In the Diamond sutra illustration, Sakyamuni Buddha sits in lotus position in the center flanked by various bodhisattvas, Shravaka and heavenly kings. The upper part is a landscape of floating clouds and a river that runs into distance. The upper left corner shows scenes of giving offerings and interpreting the Diamond sutra for people, and upper right corner contains scenes of giving offerings and being humble as a blessing.The lower part contains pagodas and stories of Kalingka. In the Amitayus sutra illustration, Amitabha sits in the center flanked by Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapdta under the central treasured platform.