In Mogao Cave 290,which was constructed in the Northern Zhou dynasty, paintings of the story of Buddha’s life on the ∧ shaped ceilings are fine work of art in the history of early picture stories. The eighty nine scenes are arranged in three strips in an S pattern. The content of the thirty seven per cent of the scenes describes the plots of auspicious stories. The plots are not found in paintings of the same story in the Yungang Cave 6 and Kizil Cave10. It proves that the auspiciaus thought was paid more attentions in Dunhuang Budhism in the Northern Zhou dynasty. The auspicious thought emerged in China long ago. According to the records of Buddhist Scriptures ,after the birth of Prince Sidhartha, auspicious signs occurred in the kingdom of Kapilavastu. Both in Buddhism and Chinese traditional culture,the auspicious thought goes back to ancient times. ln cave 290, the content of paintings of Buddha’s life is combination of Buddhism and Chinese traditional culture, It also expresses that the Yuwen family, the ruling clique at that time believed in Confucianism and assimilated the culture of Han nationality.
