Item: Kunzang Gyalwa Gyatso (Bon Deity)

Kunzang Gyalwa Gyatso: This subject belongs to the Bon iconographic group called the Twelve Rituals (cho ga chu nyi) representing twelve important events in the life of the Bon founder - Tonpa Shenrab. Kunzang Gyalwa Gyatso is the peaceful form of Walse Ngampa. In the Bon religion all deities have both a peaceful and a wrathful form. Each of these forms also has a distinct name.

The central figure is surrounded by numerous narrative vignettes from the life story of Tonpa Shenrab. Slightly below the central figure are two 18th century Tibetan Bon teachers. Both are from Eastern Tibet which helps to date and place the composition in a greater context.

Jeff 5-2015