Heads Of Musicians

Qocho kingdom, 11th c. AD
Cave 31, Bezeklik Grottoes, Xinjiang

A variety of instruments - end-blown and transverse flutes, cymbals, drum, and lute - are played in this lively scene. This wall-painting was removed from the cave in the early 20th century; as of 1963, it was held in a private collection in Tokyo, according to Mario Bussagli (Central Asian Painting, p. 103). Bussagli, writing in the early 1960s, assigned this painting to the 8th century; the 11th century date, quoted above, is from more recent information obtained (2007) on-site.

Bezeklik was ruled from 850 by the Buddhist Uighur state of Qocho, eventually passing into the hands of Genghis Khan in 1209.