Yulin Cave 2

Yulin Cave 2 was built in Western Xia Dynasty (1036--1227AD). Cave 2 has a square main chamber with a truncated pyramidal ceiling and a central altar on which stands a seven-figure group restored in the Qing dynasty. The center of the east wall represents images of Manjusri, Sakyamuni's nirvana and etc., while the two sides and the sidewalls are used for eight preaching scenes of Sakyamuni in a similar composition Sakyamuni is seated on the Sumeru throne flanked by Manjusri with ruyi and Samantabhadra with palm-leaf scriptures'. There is a secular figure in long gown with a bat-styled headdress among the attendants, which differentiates this picture from the preaching scenes at the Mogao Grottoes.
On each side of the west wall is an image of Water-Moon Avalokitesvara with flowered anadem and long hair hanging down loosely from the shoulders. The picture of Xuanzang going on a pilgrimage for Buddhist scriptures is painted on the other side of the stream in the illustration on north side of the west wall. Xuanzang wears a kasaya with hands clasped and is worshipping Avalokitesvara, behind him are monkey-faced Sun Wukong and white horse. According Xuanzang's records, when they were very tired on the way to Buddhist India, he would lie on the sands and call on the name of Avalovitesvara. In addition, Xuanzang went westwards via Anxi County. Therefore, it is not accidentally for such a picture to be painted in the Water-moon Avalokitesvara images.