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 is mapped 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 to the west (top right).The central imagery in this painting accords with a prophecy in which a divinely anointed ruler, known as a chakravartin and identified by a golden wheel, transforms the world into an ideal realm. Here the king 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 pure lands.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. They are characters from a parable that teaches the 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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