敦煌西千佛洞=Western Thousand-Buddha Grottoes in Dunhuang; 敦煌石窟=Dunhuang caves; 北周佛教=Buddhism of Northern Zhou dynasty; 涅槃圖=nirvana scene; 部派思想=sectarian Buddhist thought
The nirvana scene in cave 8 of the Western Thousand-Buddha Grottoes is one of the only two surviving examples of this motif in Dunhuang caves from the Northern Zhou dynasty. This paper analyzes the main elements in this painting and identifies two figures who have not been noticed before: Bhikkhu Upavā a and Subhadda. As for the old man in red standing in front of Buddha, this research does not concur with previous scholars who identify him as the physician Jivaka jiva, instead proposing that this is the lay Buddhist Pukkusa offering cloth to the Buddha. In addition to the identities of these central figures, this research has detected several unusual features that are connected to sectarian Buddhist thought, many of which were mainly based on the Dirghagama. While inheriting the tradition of the Western Regions, the style and content of this painting also indicates obvious local innovation, providing researchers with a precious example of the integration of Eastern and Western cultures in Dunhuang.
