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

Jangchub Gyaltsen (unidentified, male, monastic).

An inscription on the front of the base is the 'Ye dharma' verse. An inscription on the back reads 'Homage to Jangchub Gyaltsen.'

Currently this figure of Jangchub Gyaltsen is unidentified aside from the name and an approximate date for the creation of the sculpture as 16th century. The face is clearly intended to depict the real life portrait of the individual. There are no indications by way of the gesture, posture, or garment designs to indicate a religious tradition or region of origin.

It is not likely that it is a reference to the famous 14th century Tai Situ Jangchub Gyaltsen (1302-1364 [TBRC P1224]) who was a layman as this figure is clearly a monastic as evidenced by the clothing and shaved head. It is also not the convention to depict a teacher so realistically in old age decades or centuries after their passing. It is more the custom to depict holy figures in a youthful quiescent composure indicating their finer spiritual bodhisattva-like qualities.

Exceptions in art of elderly figures do exist such as Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, however this is explained by the usual depictions of his two principal and younger sons often depicted in the same painting or created as a set of sculpture. Figures depicted in art as old over time are only done so in comparable relation to immediate relations, such as Sachen and his sons, or with a youthful close student such as in the case with Marpa and Milarepa.

For the present time Jangchub Gyaltsen remains unidentified.

Jeff Watt 11-2020