Artist: Tan Yao (patron)
Title: Cave 20 , Amitabha Buddha, detail of the aura (prabhamandala) behind the Buddha
Material: sandstone
Site: Yungang, Shansi
Current Location:
Period/Date: Ca. 460-475 C.E. Bei Wei Dynasty
Iconography/Iconology: Surrounding a Buddha, but invisible to the less attained individuals, is an entourage of celestial beings. They bring offerings of flowers and wreaths, bowls of sweets, incense, crowns and other necessities to illustrate a buddha's enlightenment.
Stylistic Comments: The celestail flying figure seen in this detail also indicates a direct Indian Kashmir tradition. This is not surprising as Tan Yao's immediate predecessor as master of the Buddhist community under the Bei Wei dynasty was from Kashmir who probably arrived in China with an entourage of craftsmen, thereby providing an Indian impetus for the desiign of the images in the cave.
