Vimalakirti

Cave #103, 705-780 AD. High Tang Dynasty
Mogao Caves, Dunhuang

Vimalakirti was an enlightened lay disciple of the Buddha who, according to an early Mahayanist sutra named after him, once engaged in an equal debate with Manjusri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. Here he is shown holding a fan, and leaning forward confidently in the debate.

The line drawing in this painting is painstaking, showing even the individual hairs of his beard, yet vigorous and full of character.