Artwork Details

Title
Illuminated Manuscript Page Depicting Four Forms of Mahakala and Vaishravana
Dimensions
9 7/8 × 28 × 1/2 in.
Medium
Pigments on paper
Origin
China
Classification(s)
manuscripts
Date
17th century
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, gift of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation
Object number
F1998.19.2
HAR Number
700048
Published references
  • Rob Linrothe and Jeff Watt, Demonic Divine in Himalayan Art and Beyond (Rubin Museum of Art, Serindia Publications, 2004), 19, 136-137, 262, 302, cat. no. 15.
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    Tantrism

    Concepts

    A religious movement that originated in India around the fifth to seventh century with sacred writings and esoteric teachings and practices transmitted from teacher to student through initiation. These remain an important part of Hinduism and Buddhism today. 

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    Power

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    A kind of energy that can be used, individually and collectively, to effect change.

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    Instruction

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    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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    Chinese Regions

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    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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