莫高窟=Mogao Grottoes; 北朝=Northern Dynasties; 如來交腳像=image of cross-legged Buddhas; 菩薩交腳像=image of cross-legged bodhisattvas; 二佛并坐像=two Buddhas sitting side by side
Hall caves and caves with a truncated pyramidal ceiling and square layout account for more than half of the total Northern Dynasties caves built in the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. The central statues in these caves are primarily seated Tathagatas but also include cross-legged Tathagatas, cross-legged bodhisattvas, and two Buddhas sitting side by side. Around these central figures are Buddhas sitting in the lotus position, cross-legged Buddhas, and pensive bodhisattvas, as well as molded devas paying tribute to them. Little research has been done on the central statues inside these caves. This paper analyzes these figures based on the spatial structuring of the cave images. Additionally, the focus of the grand Buddhist paradises based on the Lotus Sutra found in these Northern Dynasties caves should naturally be Buddha Sakyamuni himself.
