Niche 15 among the Muyushan cliff engravings contains an illustration of Bhaisajyaguru, also known as the Medicine Buddha. A comparison of the niche with relevant scriptural texts confirms that the niche was carved in the late Tang and early Five Dynasties period according to sutras translated by Po-Srimitra. Compared with similar niche images from the High Tang period in Anyue, it can be seen that the content of the illustrations has been simplified while the scene of the Twelve Great Vows is depicted in complete episodes using vivid detail and a variety of characters. The engravings thus accurately reflect the main ideas of this scripture, which was very rarely found in Sichuan, Chongqing, or Dunhuang. Niche 15 forms a connecting link between the content and composition of the Tang and Song dynasties and also shows the influence of the compositional style of Pure Land art in Dunhuang murals. These engravings can therefore be seen as representative of a transitional form of Medicine Buddha sutra illustrations, which were first complicated during the High Tang period before becoming more simplified in the early Song dynasty, especially in the art of Sichuan and Chongqing. This transition further reflects how Buddhist believers gradually paid more and more attention to the practical benefits of religious practice following the Tang dynasty.
