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At Dunhuang; and other caves in China (781-847A.D)
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Dunhuang is in the north-western desert of China at the crossroad of important caravan routes.

The map of Tang China shows clearly how Chinese influence was growing along the silk road. Dunhuang was the exit point of the old China situated on the Chinese wall. Chang'an was the tang capital where are found statutes of Kunlun slaves.

 

Given is a text from Li Fang (980) that has to show that the people drawn were considered by the chinese to be Kunlun slaves. (And not black people from India)

Taiping Kuang Chi (Book CCCXL )

In the tenth moon of the sixth year of the Cheng Yuan Period (A.D. 790), Lu Shu was residing at Ch'ien-t'ang…. He had a maid-servant whose name Hsiao Chin ('Little Golden One') and who was about fifteen years old. . . One night she dreamt of, an old man mounted on a huge lion  similar in color to the Lion that bears Manju Sri. The lion's speed was so great as to render it all but invisible when it moved. On either side of the lion were K'un-lun slaves to hold the reins. 'It came to my ears,' the old man said to her, that you were being persecuted by demons. For which reason I have come hither from a very great distance ……….

 


Not only the wall paintings in Dunhuang show Kunlun slaves, the documents found there do too. The ones shown are all taken from: Aurel Stein, The Thousand Buddhas. They are all depicted as servants taking care of a lion and occasionally an elephant.

 

 

Dunhuang Cave 463 constructed during the Yuan dynasty: the south wall features a portrait of Manjusri, the top portion shows three disciples, the middle portion a monk, two donors, a lion and a slave.

 

 

 

 

 

Cave 109 Mogao Grottos 8th century Dunhuang two Kunlun in front, bringing  holy relics of Buddhism, they are envoys and the others are princes of other countries.


Yulin Caves (170km SE from Dunhuang.)

On the north side of the western wall of the cave is an illustration of Manjusri Bodhisattva. Bodhisattvas are Buddha-designates or higher beings who have temporarily set aside the attainment of nirvana in order to help others find the way, and alleviate suffering. Manjusri personifies wisdom and is shown as eternally young and beautiful. Often he is as here shown riding on a tame lion held by a Kunlun  (black person)

 Cave 25, Yulin Grottoes
Cave 25, Yulin Grottoes
Yulin Grottoes in Gansu Anxi the west wall of Cave 25- the south side of Samantabhadra change murals -detail Kunlun Nu and white elephant.

Kizil Caves NW of Dunhuang

The site is located on the northern bank of the Muzat River 65 kilometres (75 km by road) west of Kucha. This area was a commercial hub of the Silk Road. The caves are said to be the earliest major Buddhist cave complex in China, with development occurring between the 3rd and 8th centuries CE. The paintings of kunlun figures are sometimes in direct contact with the silk road trade.

 

cave of the musicians
cave of the musicians
cave of the musicians
cave of the musicians

Sabu (1) (himself a merchant) saving merchants from a dragon.
Sabu (1) (himself a merchant) saving merchants from a dragon.
arms and armour
arms and armour
Sabu leading the way at night for a merchant with a camel.
Sabu leading the way at night for a merchant with a camel.
Ruler with attendants.
Ruler with attendants.

On Top a map from the eastern part of the silk road. They give an (incomplete) list of places where paintings (or written proof) of Black People were found. As there are so many paintings I do not think these people can be from Africa. So this collection I made to argue against all authors who state they are, or can be.

-Hexi Corridor records from Juyan Han Jian 120BC to 30AD.

-Kizil caves 250-800AD

-Mogao caves at Dunhuang 781-847 AD.

-Yulin cave 900-1279AD

-Tribute Bearers by Ren Bowen copy from 1350AD.

-Siyah Qalam paintings and scroll about Chinese Princess 1400AD.

Note: the text from the Hexi Corridor, the paintings of the Tribute Bearers and of Siyah Qalam of Black People are on my webpage for Aqquyunlu Album (late 15th).

(1) Sab or Sabu: This cave also shows Central Asian traders encountering various dangers on their way, such as being lost in the dark, and being saved by the good merchant Sabu (萨缚), who, in order to show the way to a party of 500 merchants lost in the darkness, puts his own arms on fire to use them as torches, and successfully rescues them. The story appears in numerous paintings, in which the merchants are in Central Asian garb and accompanied by camels, and Sab has the attributes of a Bodhisattva.

(2) See my webpage on Aqquyunlu Album. (late 15th).