This fragment comes from a mural on the right wall of Cave 33 of the Bezeklik Caves, a complex of Buddhist cave grottoes found near Turpan in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of northwest China. To be specific, this piece comes from the lower right of a “Pranidhi” scene, a term that refers to paintings that depict episodes from the previous lives and different incarnations of Shakyamuni Buddha. “Pranidhi” is a Sanskrit word referring to a special vow that a person makes to follow the teachings and the way of the Buddha. Pranidhi paintings were especially popular during the period of the Uyghur Khaganate (744-840).

In this work, two men are kneeling and holding decorative trays. From the details of their faces and clothing, the men seem to be merchants working the Silk Road. On the left side of the painting, part of the halo, foot, and robe of Buddha can be seen. Another Pranidhi painting, found in Cave 20 of the Bezeklik Caves, has an inscription stating that Shakyamuni was a merchant in one of his previous lives, and he offered elephants, horses, gold, women, treasures, and pearls to six Buddhas. As such, this painting likely depicts one of the “Jataka tales,” which are stories of the previous lives of Shakyamuni Buddha.