Largest Indoor Buddha

The largest Buddhist statue in the Mogao Caves, known as the Maitreya Buddha in Cave 96, was created in the early Tang Dynasty and is commonly referred to as the "Northern Great Buddha". The statue was first carved out of the rock face, then shaped with a mixture of clay and straw, followed by detailed modeling with fine clay, and finally painted with colors. It stands 35.5 meters tall, seated against the wall with its legs naturally hanging down, eyes looking downward with compassion, right hand raised, and left hand extended horizontally. It has been dubbed the "Largest Indoor Buddha" because it is sculpted inside the cave and is the tallest of its kind in the world.

Before declaring herself emperor, Wu Zetian sought to influence public opinion by ordering monks including Xue Huaiyi and Fa Ming to compile the Commentary to the Mahāmegha Sūtra in a way that implied that she was Maitreya Buddha's incarnation. The Maitreya Buddha statue in Cave 96 was originally created in 695 by Chan master Ling Yin and lay Buddhist Yin Zu five years after Wu Zetian's ascension to the throne. The people of Dunhuang were apparently aligning with the prevailing circumstances and supporting Wu's imperial aspirations. This cave has undergone multiple renovations, and the only remaining original features of the large statue from the early Tang time are its two plump feet, which have not been altered, reflecting Tang-dynasty's aesthetic preference for fullness. In 1928, Liu Jide, Yi Changshu, and other local residents restored the statue, adding painted clothing and a reddish-brown kasaya with Qing-style cloud and dragon patterns on the hem. In 1987, the Dunhuang Research Academy oversaw the reconstruction of the Buddha's hands.

室內第一大佛

莫高窟最大一尊佛像營造于初唐，即第96窟的彌勒大佛，俗稱北大像。這尊大佛為石胎泥塑，即先在崖面上鑿出佛像石胎，后以草泥壘塑，再用麻泥細塑，然后敷色彩繪。佛像高35.5米，依壁倚坐，兩腿自然下垂，慈目下視，右手上揚，左手平伸。因其塑于窟內，且高度居全世界之首，故被稱為“室內第一大佛”。

武則天稱帝前曾制造社會輿論，授意薛懷義、法明等人編造《大云經疏》，暗示她是彌勒降世。第96窟及彌勒大佛最早由禪師靈隱及居士陰祖等造于公元695年，正是武則天稱帝后的五年，說明敦煌人當時也順應形勢，迎合武氏稱帝思想。此窟后經多次重修，大佛現(xiàn)存外表只有兩只胖乎乎的大腳是初唐原作，未經改動，由此也可看出唐代以豐肥為美的特點。1928年敦煌當?shù)厝藙ⅢK德、易昌恕等重修時，彩繪中衣及土紅袈裟，并在袈裟垂裾邊沿繪清式云龍紋，1987年由敦煌研究院主持重塑了大佛的雙手。