Item: Teacher (Lama) - Jamchen Choje Shakya Yeshe

Shakya Yeshe, Jamchen Choje (1354-1435 [TBRC P3450]).

In this portrait of Shakya Yeshe, he is attired in a magnificently detailed robe with dragon and cloud designs, patterns and lotus motifs. Atop the head he wears a black crown, adorned with the five Buddhas; recorded as a gift from the Chinese Emperor. The lengthy woven title in Tibetan and Chinese, dates this slit-silk tapestry to the Xuande period (1426-1435).

There are three inscriptions and one seal on the front of the textile. The two inscriptions at the upper right, side by side, are in Chinese and Tibetan. The inscription reads the same for both languages. At the upper left is a representation of the seal given to Shakya Yeshe by the Xuande Emperor.

Inscription at the top right: "Variously active, clear knowing, holy itself, supremely victorious, pure wisdom, greatly illuminating, all pervasive, protector of the realm, vastly spreading the teachings, greatly loving king of Dharma [Jamchen Choje] in the western direction, supreme knowledge-holder, one who has thus gone [tathagata], powerful-one, the great complete all-knowing enlightened one."

Inscription along the bottom front of the composition: "Together with this image a Kalachakra, Chakrasamvara, Hevajra, Vajrabhairava and Mahachakra were created by Gonding Goshir Amogha and Goshir Sonam Sherab."

Jeff Watt 9-2014

Thematic Sets
Textile: Main Page
Textile: Masterworks (纺织品, འཐག་དྲུབ་མ།)
Teacher: Shakya Yeshe Main Page
Subject: Hats (Gifts of the Yongle Emperor)
Subject: Hats (Gelug)
Textile: Woven Artwork Main Page
Subject: Black Hats & Blue Hats Main Page
Subject: Throne, Gyantse Style