Mongolia
18th century
The right hand is extended in a giving gesture.
Mongolia
18th century
An image of the Medicine Buddha is often found in the houses and offices of traditional Tibetan doctors who consider him the source of their knowledge and practice. The Medicine Buddha sits on a high lotus seat of double rows of lotus petals. Hedisplays the recognizable attributes of a buddha, but his implements distinguish him as the King of Medicine (Menla Gyelpo), as he is known in Tibetan, Himalayan, and Mongolian cultures. His left hand supports a bowl of nectar, and his right hand holdsa myrobalan fruit, which is considered a universal remedy in Tibetan medical traditions and one of the main ingredients in Tibetan medical compounds.Tibetan Buddhism was first introduced to Mongolia in the thirteenth century by Buddhist teachers who were patronized by the ruling elite of the Mongol Empire, such as Qubilai Khan (1215–1294), the grandson of Chingghis Khan who conquered and ruled China. Mongolians traditionally held shamanistic beliefs, but between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries many incorporated Buddhism into their belief systems. Similarly, Tibetan medicine was integrated with the Mongolian indigenous healing practices and is widely practiced today.
None visible in available photography.
The right hand is extended in a giving gesture.
Also known as vajra position, this posture is associated with meditation.
While the primary religious goal for followers of Buddhism is enlightenment, many of the practices also serve secular goals related to daily life, including ethical conduct and cultivating well-being.
A contemplative practice in which a person uses concentration and visualization to achieve aims such as transforming the mind and generating feelings of compassion. Techniques include focusing on breathing or visualizing oneself as a deity.
A meditation technique primarily used in tantric practice that involves imagining a deity in one’s mind or imagining oneself becoming a deity and carrying out various activities. Such techniques are intended to help a practitioner transform ordinary perception and achieve enlightened qualities.
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.
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.
September 12–December 7, 2025Flaten Art Museum
St. Olaf College
Northfield, MN
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