Central Tibet
17th century
Central Tibet
17th century
In this painting Tibet is depicted as a terrestrial paradise, much like the hidden land of Shambhala, a heavenly realm believed to be concealed on our world and the basis of the Western construct of the fabled lost land of Shangri-la. Tibet’s sacred geography ismapped out, with Mount Wutai and its distinctive five multicolored peaks to the east (bottom left) and Mount Kailash’s snowy peaks towering over nomadic scenes of the Tibetan northern plains (Tibetan: chang tang) to the west (top right). The identification of the central mountain with the meditator in a cave and a pair of snow lions frolicking on its peak is still uncertain, but possibly Pure Crystal Mountain (also known as Mt Tsari) in south-east Tibet, which was an increasingly important Tibetan pilgrimage site in the 17th and 18th century.The central imagery in this painting accords with a prophecy in which a divinely anointed ruler, known as a chakravartin or “wheel turning” king, identified by a golden wheel he holds, transforms the world into an ideal realm. Here the ruler sits in a palace surrounded by representatives of various races and nations who have come to make offerings at his feet. Complementing this terrestrial paradise, the top of the painting includes depictions of three bodhisattvas floating above in their own heavenly paradises: Green Tara in her Sandalwood Forest (left); Maitreya in Tushita (center) flanked by the historical figures Atisha (982-1055) and Tsongkhapa (1357-1419); and Avalokiteshvara in Potala (right).At the top left of the painting is a group of four animals — an elephant, monkey, hare, and partridge — known as the Four Harmonious Friends are shown working together in harmony and living a virtuous life. Soon all the animals and eventually the king of the country even adopted their ways. They are characters from a parable that teaches importance of unity, harmony, and collaboration.
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.
In Buddhism merit is accumulated through engaging in positive actions that lead to positive results, such as better rebirths. Buddhists gain merit by making offerings, donating to those in need, reciting mantras, and other good deeds.
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.
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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