Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Teacher (Lama) - (unidentified, male, monastic)

བླ་མ། 喇嘛
(item no. 457)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1500 - 1599
Lineages Sakya and Buddhist
Size 66.04x54.61cm (26x21.50in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment, Fine Gold Line on Cotton
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc.# F1996.14.2
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Monastic

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Kunkhyen and Jamyang Chokyi Gyalpo [p873?]. This painting is from a set of compositions that appears based on similar paintings identified as a Sakya Lamdre Lineage set. The secondary lineage that starts at the top left and proceeds down the right and left registers is possibly the Prajnaparamita Lineage beginning with Shakyamuni Buddha.

There is an almost identical set of paintings, slightly later by possibly a hundred years, with four known examples. Compared to this later set of paintings HAR #457 is inscribed by number and letter as painting #12 (na) in that set. Painting #5 (ca) is Dragpa Gyaltsen and Sakya Pandita. Painting #9 (ta) is unidentified. Painting #10 (tha) is Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo [p1132] and Konchog Gyaltsen [p1034].

There are a number of paintings known to be in this painting style likely the result of at least one original master and an atelier of artists spanning a period of some fifty to a hundred years time.

Jeff Watt 5-2010


Figure List:
A. Kunkhyen
B. Jamyang Chokyi Gyalpo
C. Wati Zangpo Lokeshvara (Kyirong)
D. Jamala Lokeshvara (Seto Macchendranath, Kathmandu)
E. Samputa Vajrasattva (the comparable painting has a Buddhakapala inscription)
F. Virupa - subduing the Tirtika gods
G. Panjara Mahakala
H. Brahmarupa Mahakala
I. Worldly Protector, Unidentified
J. Worldly Protector, Unidentified
K. Worldly Protector, Unidentified

---------------------

1. Shakyamuni Buddha
2. Shariputra
3. Rahula
4. Brahmin Rahula (Saraha)
5. Nagarjuna
6. Ghunamati
7. Ratnamitra
8. Dharmabhadra
9. Gunapati
10. Dharmamala
11. Shakyashri
12. Vajrashri
13. Bhava Gupta
14. Prabhashvarashri (Here ends the Indian & Kashmiri Teachers)
15. Khen Sonam Pal (Here begins the list of Tibetan Teachers)
16. Khen Tashi Tsultrim
17. Yeshe Gyaltsen
18. Kunga Zangpo
19. Konchog Phel
20. Sanggye Rinchen
21. Lhachog Sengge
22. Konchog Lhundrub
23. Sanggye Sengge
24. Bumdrag Sumpa
25. (no inscription)
26. Kunga Drolchog

Front of Painting
English Translation of Inscription: [Name inscriptions for each of the retinue and deity figures].

Secondary Images
Related Items
Thematic Sets
Subject: Margapala Lineage Paintings (Sakya)
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Painting Gallery 2
Teacher: Two Main Figures (Composition)
Painting Style: Tibet (Balri)
Subject: Margapala Sets (Two Figures)
Painting Set: Margapala (Miscellaneous)
Subject: Art Depicted in Art (Paintings of Known Sculpture)
Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara, Pagpa Lokeshvara (4 & 108 Temples)
Subject: Caricature Art
Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara (Pagpa Lokeshvara in Painting)