Ngor Ewam Choden Monastery, Tsang Province, Central Tibet
ca. 16th century
Ngor Ewam Choden Monastery, Tsang Province, Central Tibet
ca. 16th century
Lhachok Sengge (1468–1535), the ninth abbot of Ngor Monastery, was a great patron of the arts. In fact, he is known to have commissioned several paintings now in the collection of the Rubin Museum.Sculpture carved from ivory, a costly import, is unusual in the Himalayas. This one harmoniously combines elements of different artistic conceptions and time periods. The Indic facial features, including the gentle smile and the cape-like outer garment covering the figure’s back, can be traced to teacher representations from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The physicality of the garments, which fully cover the legs of the teacher, is an expression of a newer artistic conception with an emphasis on repeating patterns in the folds of drapery concealing the body that starkly differs from earlier traditional representations. The great abbot wears a scholar’s cap with one earflap placed on top of the other so that they hang down his back. This fashion was associated with translators of sacred texts.
The transmission of teachings from one generation to the next, from teacher to student, traced all the way back to the Buddha without interruption. A complete lineage is essential in Tantric Buddhist practices as it makes the blessings of the teaching more powerful.
A virtuous feeling and deep respect toward an authentic teaching, teacher, or path. Buddhists believe that expansive study, analysis, and meditation are essential steps for cultivating a healthy and enduring devotion.
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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