克孜爾第123窟=Cave 123 of the Kizil Grottoes; 定光佛授記=prediction of Dipamkara Buddha; 陶工浴佛=potters bathing the Buddha; 誓愿畫=paintings of pranidhi; 菩薩道=way of bodhisattva
Among the central-pillared caves at the Kizil Grottoes, the two wall paintings on the side walls in the main chamber of cave 123 are very special. They are large narrative paintings focusing on a standing central Buddha and are completely different from the pattern of the preaching scenes on the side walls in the main chamber that mainly represent a sitting Buddha in the center. Both paintings are beautiful masterpieces of Buddhist art yet no research has been done on their contents and themes so far. This paper discusses the theme and meaning of the two paintings, analyzes the relationships in nature and composition between them and the paintings of pranidhi, and finally makes it clear that they are precursors of the paintings of pranidhi. It further elucidates the Bodhisattva philosophy underlying the paintings of pranidhi, noting that accepting and advocating the thought of Bodhisattva was a great change in Central Asian Hinayana Buddhism during the 7th century.
