Caves with Ancient Paintings in Kizil’s Periphery
Caves with Ancient Paintings in Kizil’s Periphery

Author(s): Monika Zin
Subject(s): Theology and Religion
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Buddhist cave paintings; Kucha; Kizil; Tocharer; aśubhabhāvanā; mortuary rituals
Summary/Abstract: It will take some time before research can finally settle the questions related to the relative chronology and absolute dating of Kucha paintings. Recently, several studies have approached the issue from different angles, be it a discussion of the school affiliations of the narratives illustrated in the caves or an attempt to establish by which trade routes lapis lazuli – which was used only after a certain date – was brought to Kucha. The present study cautions against the late dating of caves in the periphery of Kizil (whose paintings are to be classified as early for various reasons) merely due to their inconvenient locations and considers possible parallels with Indian monastic complexes, the oldest of which were built in the periphery, close to the burial grounds.

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