Item: Teacher (Lama) - Karmapa 3, Rangjung Dorje

Rangjung Dorje, the 3rd Karmapa, (1284-1339): Buddhist master, scholar and teacher to the Mongol court of China.

Rangjung Dorje, the 3rd Karmapa (1284-1339 [P66]), is known through art to have been portrayed with a variety of hand gestures. With sculpture he is often confused with Karma Pakshi, the 2nd Karmapa, who is often shown with the two hands extended over the knees. Unlike Rangjung Dorje who is clean shaven in all depictions, Karma Pakshi is famous for having worn a goatee from which he was strung-up while he was imprisoned in China.

There are also paintings of Rangjung Dorje depicted within the circle of the moon.

Jeff Watt [updated 3-2023]