Materialized Wishes: Long Banner Paintings from the Mogao Caves of Dunhuang

This paper explores the religious function and meaning of long banner paintings from Cave 17 Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, conjunction with material culture Northwestern China ninth tenth centuries CE. The so-called forty-nine-chi banners have peculiar traits such as extremely lengths, an optional triangular headpiece, a paired or single strip textile on which series standing bodhisattvas are painted. author focuses large number textiles used for questions how extraordinary length contributed to fulfilling donor’s wishes. By examining both banners’ physical characteristics, type textiles, pigments, configurations, theological background based Buddhist Daoist scriptures about longevity, repentance, healing, suggests that materialized form longevity prosperity by physically lengthening multiple bolts silk. further argues depicting pictorial was regarded equally powerful means obtaining good health, prolonging life, eliminating sins, thus being reborn Pure Land.