Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.s4.t2.27

v2.c11.s4.t2.27

in the mural ‘*The birth of the Buddha*’ is the same in the picture composition with and the Gandhara relief of the Buddhist story ‘*The birth of the Buddha*’ in the 3^rd century, in which Mahamaya standing under the Sala tree with his right hand holding the branch and legs crossing naturally. Another mural of a Buddhist story, ‘*The Witch Luring Buddha*’ in the cave portrays the image of a haggard Sakyamuni, which is surprisingly similar in the profiling of the Gandhara relief ‘*Ascetical Sakyamuni*’ of the 3^rd century. Gupta art in India in 6^th century also had a great influence on grotto art in Qiuci area. In the left wall of the rear room of the 69^th cave of Kezier, there is a portrait of a standing Buddha, the lines of the cassock drawing the outline of the profile of the Buddha, mirroring the thin clothes close to the body in the Mathura style of Buddha portrait in Gupta era. The Bhiksu portrait in the inner wall of the paved path of the 175^th cave of Kezier particularly emphasises the presentation of the human body, which presents a transparent effect, and this is just the most typical characteristics of Sarnath-styled Buddha portrait. On the front wall of the main room of the 83^rd cave is a dancing girl in the mural of the King Udayana story, exhibiting a graceful S-shaped three-fold posture, which mirrors the Indian dancers in the murals of the Ajanta Caves.