Item: Teacher (Lama) - Tsongkapa

Tsongkapa Lobzang Dragpa (1357-1419): founder of the Gelugpa Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

Tsongkapa Biographical Details

Tsongkapa in this composition is from a set of five paintings (je zigpa ngaden). Here he appears as a mahasiddha, Indian adept, riding atop a tiger, brandishing a sword in the upraised right hand while holding a skullcup in the left. This subject is based on a vision of five forms of Tsongkapa as experienced by Kedrup Geleg Pal Zangpo, a student of Tsongkapa. Kedrub is depicted in the bottom right corner holding a mandala offering symbolizing the entire universe with Mount Sumeru at the center in the two upraised hands.

Jeff Watt 3-2004 [Updated 5-2009]

Thematic Sets
Teacher: Tsongkapa, Five Forms (Set 1)
Teacher: Tsongkapa (Painting Masterworks)
Teacher: Tsongkapa Religious Context
Subject: Tiger Imagery
Teacher: Tsongkapa, Five Forms
Tradition: Gelug Masterworks
Collection of Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Teacher: Tsongkhapa Main Page
Teacher: Tsongkapa as Mahasiddha