This monumental and imposing painting pays homage to Lhawang Tenpai Gyaltsen (1631–1668), the Fourth Demo Rinpoche, a high incarnate lama of the Geluk order. In 1653 Demo Rinpoche accompanied the Fifth Dalai Lama (1617–1682) to visit the Qing Emperor Shunzhi (reigned 1643–1661) in Beijing. The style of portraiture in this unusual painting suggests that it may have been commissioned in China while Demo Rinpoche and the Dalai Lama were in Beijing. Several details, such as the Chinese architecture atop the offering mandala before him is quite similar to three-dimensional mandalas found in Qing-dynasty monasteries in Beijing, such as the famous “Lama Temple” Yonghegong, support this attribution. However the gold inscriptions at the left and right edges of the painting, verses of blessing composed by the Fifth Dalai Lama, include the later date of 1667, complicating this interpretation.The specific details of the teacher’s face, particularly his large nose, depart from the usual Tibetan idealized depictions of religious figures based on Indic aesthetics, which suggests that they are based on Demo’s true physiognomy. A tiny lama is depicted at his heart, likely a reference to his own guru, the Fifth Dalai Lama, who in turn has a tiny gold image of Tsongkhapa, founder of their monastic order, on his own chest.

Artwork Details

Title
Fourth Demo Rinpoche, Lhawang Gyeltsen (1631–1668)
Dimensions
101 x 64 x 3 1/4 in. (256.5 x 162.6 x 8.3 cm)
Medium
Pigments on cloth
Origin
Tibet or China
Classification(s)
paintings
Date
Dated by inscription, 1667
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, gift of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation
Object number
F1997.45.2
HAR Number
578
Published references
* Huntington, Eric. Creating the Universe: Depictions of the Cosmos in Himalayan Buddism. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2018. Fig. 4.11, 4.12; Pp. 184-186.* Jackson, David P.. The Place of Provenance: Regional Styles in Tibetan Painting. (New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2012). Fig. 8.22. Pp. 176-177, 179.* Martin Brauen, editor, The Dalai Lamas: A Visual History (Chicago, Ethnographic Museum of Zurich & Serendia Publications, 2005)* Marylin M. Rhie and Robert A.F. Thurman. Worlds of Transformation: Tibetan Art and Wisdom of Compassion. (New York: Tibet House, 1999). Cat. 133; Pp. 365-366, 368.* Van Alphen, J. Collection Highlights: Rubin Museum of Art. (New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2014). Pp. 136, 146-147Rights & Reproductions:* Permission for use of digital image by Rudolf Hoegger in their publication: Geschenke fur den Buddha (RR Agreement Attached)

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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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Devotion

Concepts

A virtuous feeling and deep respect toward an authentic teaching, teacher, or path. Buddhists believe that expansive study, analysis, and meditation are essential steps for cultivating a healthy and enduring devotion.

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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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Chinese Regions

Region

Although Tibetan Buddhism was not practiced broadly in China, the imperial centers, such as Beijing and Mount Wutai, emerged as hubs of Tibetan Buddhist cultural production. The emperors of the Mongol Yuan (1271–1368), Chinese Ming (1368–1644), and Manchu Qing (1644–1911) dynasties harnessed Tibetan Buddhist ideas to consolidate their power.

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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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