Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.s4.t2.25

v2.c11.s4.t2.25

The shape, structure and murals of Kezier Caves are clearly affected by Indian Gandhara art and Gupta art. The shape and structure of Kezier Caves have a kind of Gandhara style rectangular patio bucket roof. The bucket top architectural form is common in Central Asia and West Asia area. Today, this kind of patio can also be seen in the sitting room of residential houses in Karakax County, Khotan. The early murals in Kezier Caves in Qiuci took portraits of Buddha, bodhisattva and large scale Buddha stories as the main theme, which is very close in the theme content and number to Gandhara Buddha stories, and the portraits of Buddha, bodhisattva and the image of nature and of man also have many similarities with the 3^rd century Gandhara statues. The 76^th cave of Kezier is deeply affected by the Gandhara art; the Buddhist story