Mogao Cave 9

Mogao Cave 9 was constructed during Late Tang period (848-907 AD). This cave has a central pillar in the back and a truncated pyramidal ceiling in the front of the main chamber. According to a votive inscription on the north wall of the corridor, this cave was dedicated by Zhang family and Zhang's relatives in the end of the 9th century. The center of the front ceiling features a lotus* encircled by various decorative Patterns such as the medallion, lozenges, curving tendrils, drapery and the geometrical patterns like the character 'Hui', with a kalavinka decorated inside. On the south wall is an illustration of the contest between Sariputra and Raudraksa telling about the story that Sariputra transformed in cyclone, a six-toothed white elephant Vajrapani, Garuda a lion, Vaisravana respectively and defeated various transformations of Raudraksa such as a tree, a precious pond, a mountain, a dragon, an ox and a yaksa. In the end, Raudraksa and other heretics surrendered one after another, and are tonsured and converted to Buddhism. The portraits of the donor figures on the two sides of the entrance wall wear luxuriant costumes. To our regret, their facial parts were obscure and the golden color had also been peeled off from their anadems.