This painting presents a listing of medicinal ingredients, or materia medica, and is one of several to do so in the famous set of medical paintings. In particular it shows materials that are mineral-based (e.g., golden sand and bitumen), tree-based (e.g. white and red sandalwood and eaglewood), resin or bodily fluid-based (e.g. digestive stones from various animals and animal musk), and shrub-based (e.g., spices such as nutmeg and clove as well as pomegranate and other fruits).

Artwork Details

Title
Earth, Wood, Nectarous and Plateau Medications (chapter 20 cont.)
Dimensions
60 7/8 x 39 1/2 x 1/2 in. (154.6 x 100.3 x 1.3 cm)
Medium
Pigments on cloth
Origin
Chentsa, Amdo region, Northeastern Tibet (Jianzha, Qinghai Province, China)
Classification(s)
paintings
Date
1995-1996
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin Private Collection
Object number
C2014.9.24

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Transmission

Concepts

The passing down of authentic Buddhist teachings from a teacher to a disciple or student, often in the form of a text in a ritualistic context.

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Secular Goals

Concepts

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.

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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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Tibetan Regions

Region

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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