Item: Teacher (Lama) - Tsongkapa

Tsongkapa Lobzang Dragpa.

Tsongkhapa is depicted here at the center of the composition surrounded by life-story vignettes. This work is the fourth composition from a set of fifteen paintings depicting the principal 153 different events from the life story of Tsongkhapa. The events were collected from various works on the life of Tsongkhapa by Jamyang Shepai Dorje (1648-1721), a Gelugpa teacher from the early 18th century based in Amdo. There are several other iconographic systems for depicting the life story. However, this is by far the most well known and prolific of the various systems.

The style of composition for the various painting sets predominantly adheres to two primary layouts. The first layout is characterized by its symmetry, placing Tsongkapa at the center of each composition. The second adopts an asymmetrical approach positioning Tsongkapa on either the right or left side of the central axis. The symmetrical style is more common and aligns with the most popular of the textual interpretations. During the 18th century, woodblocks were crafted to facilitate easy reproduction of images such as these, enabling them to be printed on materials such as paper, cloth, or silk.

In the guise of a monastic scholar, Tsongkhapa dons a yellow pandita hat and the orange patchwork attire of a fully ordained monk. With the right hand, he performs the gesture of teaching while holding the stem of a lotus that blooms beside his ear supporting a sword symbolizing wisdom. The left hand is in a gesture of meditation and holds a Dharma text along with a lotus stem and blossom supporting a Prajnaparamita text. With the legs folded in vajra posture, he sits on a moon disc and a vibrant green lotus seat, encircled by a blue halo. Surrounding the main figure are scenes from his life story depicted against a blue/green landscape.

The paleness of the faces of Tsongkhapa and the surrounding figures suggests the completed work is of Eastern Tibetan or Mongolian origin. Considering the historical background and stylistic features of the painting, the work can be dated to the late 18th or early 19th century and based on a block print image. Other examples are illustrated by Jeff Watt, Teacher: Tsongkapa Life Story (painting #4). Himalayan Art Resources. https://www.himalayanart.org/search/set.cfm?setID=8230 (Sotheby's acknowledges and thanks Shinzo Shiratori for preparing this catalogue note).

Shinzo Shiratori, 8-2023