Abstract: The statue in the niche on the western wall of cave 275of the Mogao Grottoes is the statue or cross-ankled Bodhisattva witha Buddhistic crown. Avery similar statue of cross-ankled Bodhisattva at Yungong Grottoes is inscribed as Maitreya.The cross-ankled sitting used to be the favorite posture taken by the Kushan princes. Having studied abundant materials on the making of statues of crossankled Bodhisattvas in Candhara in comparison with the statue mennoned above, with reference to other materials concerning the seated posture, the impression or the hands, the holding of objects, the crown, etc.. the author recognizes the statue of cross-ankled Bodhisattva in cave 775 of Mogao Grottoes is actually the statue of Maitreya. The other statues of cross-ankled or cross-legged sitting Bodhisattvas seem to be the patronesses.
