Mural in Mogao Cave 3

This cave is located on the northern end of the south area. An inscription on the back (west) wall dates it to 1357 during the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). Many of the sculptures were restored during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). The shrine cave consists of a corridor and a main chamber with a truncated pyramidal ceiling. The murals utilized a new base layer technique which consisted of mixing lime, clay, and sand to form a porous surface that was then saturated with color pigments, achieving a more permanent result.

The murals in the corridor are heavily damaged and only one Bodhisattva image on the north wall remains. Four dragons are painted in the center of the ceiling of the main chamber. Above the doorway on the front (east) wall are five seated Buddhas in full lotus position, and on each side of the doorway is a large image of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.

The back (west) wall of the main chamber has an empty niche. There are Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva images painted on either side of the niche and the two side walls within it. The niche’s truncated pyramidal ceiling has concentric bands of patterns, and an ink-brush bamboo pattern is still visible on parts of the damaged back wall.

Exquisite depictions of Eleven-Headed, Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattvas are located in the center of both the north and south walls of the main chamber. The Avalokitesvara on the north wall is flanked by Vasu on the right and Mahadevi on the left. In the lower right and left corners are figures such as Three-Headed Vajrapanibalin. The Avalokitesvara on the south wall is flanked by Sakra on the left and Brahma on the right.