Sutra of Boundless Life

The Dunhuang caves contain two 8th century murals depicting the "Sutra of Boundless Life" that showcase distinct painting styles. The south wall mural is light and lively, with the Buddha rendered in a typical Chinese linear style. In contrast, the north wall mural has a heavier, more solemn appearance, with the Buddha influenced by Indian Buddhist art and a stronger sense of three-dimensionality.

These differences reflect the competing artistic attitudes towards localizing Buddhist imagery in China versus adhering to Indian sculptural traditions. This rivalry is exemplified by renowned Tang painters Li Sixun and Wu Daozi, whose fluid, dynamic works contrasted with more detailed depictions.

Tang Dynasty (618-907) 300cm*410cm. Mural painting on the south wall of Cave 172, Dunhuang, Gansu Province.

Tang Dynasty (618-907) 300cm*410cm. Mural painting on the north wall of Cave 172, Dunhuang, Gansu Province.

This piece is compiled from the Chinese edition of Three Thousand Years of Chinese Painting by Foreign Languages Press and Yale University Press, translated by Chen Ying.