About this objectThis detail from the top of the west wall,Cave 3, Yulin—a Buddhist rock-cut temples site east of Dunhuang on the borders of mediaeval China—shows the monk Xuanzang (玄奘 602–64) on his return from pilgrimage to India with sacred Buddhist texts resting on top of a lotus on his horse. The story of Xuanzang was popularised in a later novel, and this represents a phase in the development of the legend. Xuanzang is shown with his monkey companion who was to become a central character in the later story.
Xuanzang's white horse was also vital to the story. Named 'White Dragon', he helped Xuanzang and, at the end of the story, became a bodhisattva. He reminds the viewer of Kanthaka, the favourite horse—also white—of the historical Buddha.
Date Made1038–1227
PeriodTangut
Place MadeCentral Asia
Subject and Association KeywordsPilgrimage
Subject and Association KeywordsHorses
Subject and Association DescriptionLearn More: Deeg 2020, Pakhoutova and Jia 2024;
