This painting depicts the eleventh abbot of Ngor Monastery, Sanggye Sengge (1504–1569), a great patron of the arts, holding a golden vase of longevity. Signs of venerable age, such as silver stubble of hair and a receding hairline, suggest this is a somewhat realistic painting of the master, in the last years of his life.The painting belongs to a famous series of portraits depicting the Ngor Monastery abbots and teachers of the Path with the Fruit (Lam ‘bras) lineage that was commissioned in the late sixteenth century, the last-known major set of its type in the Nepalese-inspired, or Beri, style. It prominently employs Nepalese decorative scrollwork and the late Beri palate, which features blues and greens. The elegant five-lobed arch around the main figure is supported by ornate pillars, a continuation of Tibet’s earlier Indian-modeled painting tradition.The inscription on the back of this work in the shape of a stupa combines mantras and prayers taken from the Pratimoksha Sutra and is framed by the repeated use of the mantra requesting the essence of the deities to abide in the painting.

Artwork Details

Title
Sanggye Sengge (1504-1569)
Dimensions
49 1/8 × 32 3/4 × 1 1/8 in.
Medium
Pigments on cloth
Origin
Ngor Ewam Choden Monastery, Tsang Province, Central Tibet
Classification(s)
scroll painting paintings
Date
1580s-1590s
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, gift of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation
Object number
F1996.26.1
HAR Number
493
Published references
* Van Alphen, J. Collection Highlights: Rubin Museum of Art. (New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2014). Pp. 90-91* Jackson, David P. The Nepalese Legacy in Tibetan Painting. (New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2010). Fig. 5.12, 5.23, 8.19; Pp. Front Cover, 55, 88-89, 92, 206-207, 210* Jackson, David. ôFour Tibetan Paintings Linked with Ngor Stylistic Diversity in the 16th Century in Arts of Asia, Vol. 40, No. 2, March-April 2010, Fig. 1, pp. 93-95, 96, 101.* Leidy, Denise, "Inside Art: Portrait of a Practice Lineage," Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Quarterly, Shambhala Sun Foundation, Vol. 8, No. 2, Winter 2009 (pp. 74-75)* Marylin M. Rhie and Robert A.F. Thurman. Worlds of Transformation: Tibetan Art and Wisdom of Compassion. (New York: Tibet House, 1999). Cat. 86; Pp. 288-291.*Sotheby’s New York, Indian and Southeast Asian Art, Sale 6632, November 30, 1994, Lot 116.

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Merit

Concepts

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.

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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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Lineage

Concepts

The transmission of teachings from one generation to the next, from teacher to student, traced all the way back to the Buddha without interruption. A complete lineage is essential in Tantric Buddhist practices as it makes the blessings of the teaching more powerful.

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Legendary and Historical Humans

Figure Type

Himalayan art includes portraits of legendary and historical humans, including accomplished religious teachers (lamas), the Buddha’s original disciples (arhats), and spiritually accomplished tantric masters (mahasiddhas).

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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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