Central Tibet
late 18th-19th century
The right hand is extended in a giving gesture.
Central Tibet
late 18th-19th century
Buddha Shakyamuni, the central figure in this painting, is seated on a lotus, holding a begging bowl and making the gesture of giving. He is surrounded by scenes of visual narratives relating the teachings in his stories. Landscape elements frame each scene, identified by Tibetan inscriptions in gold letters. However, the unifying landscape makes it difficult to distinguish where one story ends and another begins. Three red trilobed vignettes, which give the title and number of the avadana stories help to make sense of this busy tapestry-like painting. The narrative moves clockwise around the Buddha, beginning in the lower part, then moving to the upper left, the upper right, and the right side of the painting.This painting comes from a set of more than twenty depicting one hundred eight stories. It includes stories fifty-seven through fifty-nine, which illustrate cause and effect (karma) in relation to building stupas, telling of King Punyabala’s unlimited generosity and of King Ashoka’s son Kunala experiencing the ripening of his karma and merit.
The right hand is extended in a giving gesture.
Also known as vajra position, this posture is associated with meditation.
A state of “waking up” from illusion and seeing the true nature of reality. Buddha Shakyamuni attained enlightenment while meditating under the bodhi tree. Buddhist teaching explains that the accumulation of merit and wisdom are essential for achieving enlightenment, also known as awakening.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Season 4 · Episode 6
February 15–July 27, 2025Utah Museum of Fine Arts
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Salt Lake City, Utah
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