Image: Mogao Christian painting (original version)

Description: Fragmentary silk painting of standing figure, Library Cave (Cave 17 of the Mogao Caves), 9th century, during the Imperial Tibetan rule (787–848) or the Guiyi Era (848–1036) of Dunhuang. While the figure has some features typical of bodhisattva images (three-quarter view, hand gesture), this appears to be a Christian saint, possibly Nestorian. He has a halo and a cross, each arm terminating in bead-like extensions, appears both in the headdress of the figure and hanging form the necklace he is wearing. In his left hand he holds a long staff. He wears a red stole with a yellow lining, over a robe which has faded to a greenish colour very similar to that of the background silk. Two minor features suggest that this painting dates from the end of the 9th century: the narrow flame border of the halo and the configuration of the mouth, which has a slight downward return to the ends of the ink line between the lips. Further confirmation of a possible Christian identification of the figure appears on close examination of the face, as there is a fairly thick moustache and a slight beard, both in red and quite different from the curling moustaches, generally in green, of Bodhisattvas. According to Dr. Buslig Szonja of Eötvös Loránd University and Prof. Lin Meicun of Peking University, this is an image of Jesus Christ. Source: http://dsr.nii.ac.jp/narratives/discovery/09/index.html.ja (in Japanese).
Title: Mogao Christian painting (original version)
Credit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=6602&partId=1
Author: AnonymousUnknown author
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No