室内第一大佛
莫高窟最大一尊佛像营造于初唐，即第96窟的弥勒大佛，俗称北大像。这尊大佛为石胎泥塑，即先在崖面上凿出佛像石胎，后以草泥垒塑，再用麻泥细塑，然后敷色彩绘。佛像高35.5米，依壁倚坐，两腿自然下垂，慈目下视，右手上扬，左手平伸。因其塑于窟内，且高度居全世界之首，故被称为“室内第一大佛”。
武则天称帝前曾制造社会舆论，授意薛怀义、法明等人编造《大云经疏》，暗示她是弥勒降世。第96窟及弥勒大佛最早由禅师灵隐及居士阴祖等造于公元695年，正是武则天称帝后的五年，说明敦煌人当时也顺应形势，迎合武氏称帝思想。此窟后经多次重修，大佛现存外表只有两只胖乎乎的大脚是初唐原作，未经改动，由此也可看出唐代以丰肥为美的特点。1928年敦煌当地人刘骥德、易昌恕等重修时，彩绘中衣及土红袈裟，并在袈裟垂裾边沿绘清式云龙纹，1987年由敦煌研究院主持重塑了大佛的双手。
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.
