Derge Printing House, Derge, Kham Region, Eastern Tibet
ca. 1979
Derge Printing House, Derge, Kham Region, Eastern Tibet
ca. 1979
This is the second composition from a set of nine depicting key scenes from the life story of Buddha Shakyamuni known as the Twelve Deeds of the Buddha. This image depicts scenes from his youth: the fourth and fifth deeds, which are “Mastering Worldly Arts” and “Amusements in the Palace,” also known as “Enjoying Court Ladies.” Depicted along the bottom is young prince Siddhartha learning and mastering athletics, including contests of strength (throwing an elephant), swimming, elephant riding, and archery. The central scene shows the young prince enjoying courtly life surrounded by many wives and court ladies. Yet Siddhartha experiences these as illusory, and he sneaks out of the palace. His experiences are depicted outside the palace walls as he encounters people who are suffering from old age (mid-right), sickness, and death (lower left). Coming upon a renunciate he decides to follow this path, and he escapes from the palace roof on his horse supported by the gods while everyone sleeps (top right).
This woodblock print was printed at the Derge Printing House in the Kham region of southeastern Tibet (modern-day Ganzi, Sichuan Province, PRC). Founded in 1729, it is one of the largest and most important producers of traditional Tibetan woodblock prints. This set of compositions depicting the Twelve Deeds of the Buddha is based on paintings attributed to the famous late 19th-century master painter Purbu Tsering of Chamdo.
The idea that everything is temporary, constantly changing, and moving through stages of development, decay, and dissolution. Impermanence is a reminder to avoid strong attachments and focus on the present moment.
The end of this life marked by the cessation of bodily functions followed by decay. According to Buddhism, after death consciousness transitions to an intermediate state known as the bardo before embarking on another life.
A vehicle for the preservation and transmission of knowledge. The Buddha’s teachings were originally passed down through oral transmission and storytelling, and stories of the Buddha’s past lives are considered an important source of inspiration and guidance.
The cultivation of a strong aspiration to help sentient beings overcome suffering. In Buddhist Mahayana teaching, compassion is the seed for attaining full enlightenment.
An awakened being who understands the true nature of reality and is free from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. While there are many buddhas, Siddhartha Gautama is the historical Buddha, whose teachings became the foundation of Buddhism.
Beings who aspire to become fully awakened like the Buddha and are dedicated to helping others on the path to enlightenment.
Himalayan art includes portraits of legendary and historical humans, including accomplished religious teachers (lamas), the Buddha’s original disciples (arhats), and spiritually accomplished tantric masters (mahasiddhas).
Today, Tibetans primarily inhabit the Tibetan Plateau, situated between the Himalayan mountain range and the Indian subcontinent to the west, Chinese cultural regions to the east, and Mongolian cultural regions to the northeast. During the 7th to 9th century, Tibetan rulers expanded their empire across Central Asia, and established Buddhism as the state religion.
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