Illuminated books became very popular in nineteenth-century Mongolia, and unlike many Buddhist texts that were reproduced using block prints, most of these books were hand written as is true of this text. This manuscript of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, a guide to navigating the intermediate state of consciousness between death and rebirth, or the bardo, features a vertical Uyghur-based Mongolian script that was instituted by order of Chinggis (Genghis) Khan (reigned 1206–1227) in the early thirteenth century.Painted illustrations translate the written word into easily recognized and memorable forms and shapes, both peaceful and fearsome, that are meant to be visualized during the bardo practice in preparation for one’s own death or as part of the ritual at someone else’s death performed by a ritual specialist. In one folio various female forms are depicted in active postures, each with a different animal head and body color. The colors relate to basic elements such as fire, air, and earth, and the animal heads are derived from Central Asian species of wild game along with some iconic Indian animals such as the elephant and boar.

Artwork Details

Title
Illustrated Manuscript of The Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State (Bardo Thodrol)
Dimensions
7 3/8 × 24 1/4 × 1 1/8 in.6 5/8 × 24 1/8 in. (Page Size)
Medium
Pigments and ink on paper
Origin
Mongolia
Classification(s)
manuscripts
Date
19th century
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art
Object number
C2004.37.3
HAR Number
65385, 66001-66084
Published references
*Pakhoutova, Elena and Agnieszka Helman-Wazny. Illuminated: The Art of Sacred Books. New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2012. Fig. 22.* Van Alphen, J. Collection Highlights: Rubin Museum of Art. New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2014. Pp. 30-31*Ramon Prats, Bardo: Tibetan Art of the Afterlife (exhibition pamphlet), Fig. 2, p. 2. (C2004.37.3.7 and .22)

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Impermanence

Concepts

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. 

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Instruction

Concepts

Teachings and precepts that offer practical and experiential guidance. In Buddhism instruction is primarily an oral tradition and is often targeted to the specific needs or disposition of a student or disciple.

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Death

Concepts

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. 

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Mongolian Regions

Region

Mongolians have been widely active in the Tibetan Buddhist world, playing a key role in Tibetan culture, politics, and relations with China. In the 13th century, the Mongol Empire—the largest contiguous empire in world history—facilitated the spread of Tibetan visual culture.

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