Mogao Cave 320

Mogao Cave 320 was built during High Tang Dynasty (705-781 AD). This cave. constructed in late period of High Tang, has a truncated pyramidal ceiling. The niche in the west wall contains sculptures of a seated Buddha in yizuo posture, one bhikus and two Bodhisattvas. On the north wall and south wall are respectively illustrations of the Amitaba Sutra and Aparimitayus Sutra. There are two groups of apsarasas in the upper part of the illustration on south wall : each group has two apsarasas, one looking back and the other striving to catch up.
They both are scattering flowers with arms widely extended. Below are 17 transformed Bodhisauvas out of [he lotuses in the precious pond with forty transformed Buddhas and children sitting on lotuses from a same stem on each side. Such illustration can neither seen in Dunhuang caves of other periods nor in other grottoes. Unfortunately, there is one piece of mural on each side of the central image, which was peeled off by Landon Warner in 1924.
The ceiling center is noteworthy, which features a lotus motif of three layers surrounded by patterns of half medallions. Iozenges, lotuses and pendent bells in blue, red, black, green and white. Though slightly discolored, it looks more magnificent because of the thick tone.