The author examines Mara - tarjana images depicting Sakyamuni’ s subjugation of Mara bassd on an examination of paintings on silk in the collection of the Musee Guimet in Paris and discusses the new developments in the handling of these images in the Five Dynasties period and the increased strength of Tantric Buddhism in that period as exemplified by the emergence of Mingwang images. There was also a proliferation and transformation of Mara or demon images and the artistic aspects of Mum - tarjana works were fully explored. The works treated supernatural powers ascribed to Sakyamuni Buddha’ s and drew on his attributes, namely the Seven Treasures, as a Cakravartin King, thereby endowing Sakyamuni with supra - human qualities. Including elements of Indian Pala art, these works far surpassed Northern Dynasties’ works treating the same themes find represent the pinnacle of achievement in treating this genre, drawing on a social background of contemporary folk customs.
