Rubin Museum of Art

Lineage

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.

Art 143 Spiral 1

Painting with large central figure seated on lotus blossom surrounded by temple above and people and elephants below.

Tonpa Shenrab with Episodes from His Life

Amdo Region, Eastern Tibet, 18th - 19th century

Painting of seated figure with red and saffrom robes surrounded nby smaller figures and buildings mounted on vertical strip of patterned blue fabric.

Fifth Dalai Lama (1617–1682) with Episodes from His Life

U Region, Central Tibet, 18th century

Yungton Dorje Pel (1284 1365) (After Choying Gyatso’s (active ca.1640s-1660s) set of previous incarnations of the Panchen Lamas)

Central Tibet, 19th century

Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594–1651) with a Brief Lineage

Bhutan, 19th century

Tibet, 18th century

Tibet, 16th century

Vajradhara and the Great Adepts (Mahasiddhas)

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, late 18th-early 19th century

Vajradhara with Eighty-Five Great Adepts (Mahasiddhas)

Western Tibet, 15th century

Vajrapani (From Situ's set of Eight Great Bodhisattvas)

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Transmission teachers of the Medical Knowledge

Chentsa, Amdo region, Northeastern Tibet (Jianzha, Qinghai Province, China), 1995-1996

Tsangnyon Heruka (1452-1507)

Tsang or Ngari Province, Tibet, 16th-17th century

Tsongkhapa (1357-1419)

Tibet, 16th century

Tsongkhapa (1357-1419)

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Tsongkhapa (1357-1419)

U Province, Central Tibet, 19th century

Tsongkhapa (1357-1419)

Nepal or India, 20th century

Two Arhats, Pantaka and Gopaka

Tibet, 17th century

Two Indian and Four Tibetan Masters

Tibet, early 13th century

Unidentified Lama (Teacher)

Tibet, 18th century

Unidentified Lama (Teacher)

Tibet, 15th or 16th century

Unidentified Lama (Teacher), possibly Second Dalai Lama, Gedun Gyatso (1476–1542)

Tibet, 18th century

Unidentified Religious Master

Tibet, 16th century-17th century

Unidentified Teacher of the Bon Tradition

Tibet, 14th century

Tangtong Gyelpo (1361-1485 or 1385-1446/58)

Tibet, 19th century

Tenth Zhamar, Mipam Chodrup Gyatso (1742-1792)

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, late 18th - 19th century

Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339)

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339) and Other Luminaries of the Rime "Non-Sectarian" Movement

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Third Pawo Rinpoche, Tsuklak Gyatso (1568-1630) with his Handprints and Footprints

Tibet, early to mid-17th century

Thirteenth Karmapa, Dudul Dorje (1733-1797)

Pelpung Monastery, Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 18th century, ca. 1760s

Thirteenth Karmapa, Dudul Dorje (1733-1797)

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Three Mahasiddhas, Kamala, Suvarnadvipa, Viraya

Tibet, ca. 17th century

Senge Dradok, one of the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 18th century

Seventh Dalai Lama (1708–1757) and His Preincarnations

Tibet, 18th century

Situ Panchen (1700-1774); From a Palpung set of Masters of the Combined Kagyu Lineages

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, late 18th century, ca. 1760s

Situ Panchen as Patron of the Avadana Set, After Situ’s set of The Wish-granting Vine Series of One Hundred and Eight Morality Tales

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Sixth Zhamar, Garwang Chokyi Wangchuk (1584-1630); From a Pelpung set of Masters of the Combined Kagyu Lineages

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, late 18th century

Songtsen Gampo (ruled 617-650) (From a set of the previous lives of the Dalai Lamas)

Tibet, 19th century

Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo (1012-1088)

Eastern Tibet, 18th century

Mongolian Rosewood Prayer Beads

Mongolia, 19th century

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158) with His Two Sons, Sonam Tsemo (1142-1182) and Drakpa Gyaltsen (1147-1216)

Ngari Province, Western Tibet, ca. 1500

Sakya Pandita (1182-1251) and Chogyel Phakpa (1235-1280) with Mahakala Lineage Masters

Central Tibet, 17th - 18th century

Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyelsten (1182-1251) (After Choying Gyatso’s (active ca.1640s-1660s) set of previous incarnations of the Panchen Lamas)

Tsang Province, Central Tibet, 18th century

Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyeltsen (1182-1251)

Tibet, 16th century

Samantabhadra (From Situ's set of Eight Great Bodhisattvas)

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Sanggye Sengge (1504-1569)

Ngor Ewam Choden Monastery, Tsang Province, Central Tibet, 1580s-1590s

Scenes from the Life of Jamyang Tutob Wangchuk (1588-1637)

Tibet, 17th century

Scenes from the Life of Jamyang Tutob Wangchuk (1588-1637)

Tibet, 17th century

Scenes from the Life of Jamyang Tutob Wangchuk (1588-1637)

Tibet, 17th century

Scenes from the Life of Jamyang Tutob Wangchuk (1588-1637)

Tibet, 17th century

Scenes from the Life of Jamyang Tutob Wangchuk (1588-1637)

Tibet, 17th century

Scenes from the Life of Jamyang Tutob Wangchuk (1588-1637)

Tibet, 17th century

Scenes from the Life of Jamyang Tutob Wangchuk (1588-1637)

Tibet, 17th or 18th century

Scenes from the Life of Padmasambhava

Tibet, 19th century

Scenes from the life of Padmasambhava

Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Scenes from the life of Padmasambhava

Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Phakmodrupa (1110–1170) with His Previous Incarnations and Episodes from His Life

Central Tibet, ca. 1272

Phakmo Drupa Dorje Gyelpo (1110-1170) with His Previous Incarnations and Episodes from His Life

Central Tibet, ca. 1270

Portrait of a Sakya Lama

Tibet, 18th century

Portrait of Tibetan Medical Master Yutok Yonten Gonpo (1126–1202)

Tibet, 19th century

Protective Goddess in Peaceful and Wrathful Form

Central Tibet, 1790-1805

Queen of the World, Sipai Gyelmo

China, 20th century

Rahula and His Assembly

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Namkhai Nyingpo (8th-9th century) Performing a Long-Life Ritual

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Namkha Pelzang (1398–1425)

Lhathok, Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 18th - 19th century

Ninth Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje (1555–1603)

Central Tibet, ca. 1590

Ninth Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje (1555-1603)

Tibet, 17th century

Nyima Oser, One of the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava

Tibet, 18th century

Bodhisattvas Maitreya and Manjushri in Tushita Pure Realm

Tibet, early 20th century

Padma Karpo (1527-1592) and Scenes from His Life

Bhutan, 18th century

Tibet, 18th century

Tibet, 15th century

Tibet, 18th century

Bhutan, 19th century

Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Tibet or Bhutan, 18th or 19th century

Tibet, 19th century

Tibet, late 19th century

Padmasambhava and the Eight Great Mahasiddhas

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Padmasambhava (Following a set of the Great Adepts designed by Situ Panchen)

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Padmasambhava, his eight manifestations, and scenes from his life

Gangteng Monastery, Bhutan, 19th century

Padmasambhava with Consorts

Nepal, 15th - 16th century

Padmasambhava with deities of the Yang Ter tradition

Tibet, 18th century

Padmasambhava with his Eight Manifestations, Hayagriva, flanked by Yeshe Tsogyel, and Shantarakshita

Tibet, ca. 16th century

Padmasambhava with Lineage Teachers

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Manjushri (From Situ's set of Eight Great Bodhisattvas)

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Manjushrikirti, King of Shambhala, From a set of previous incarnations of the Panchen Lamas

Du Jinsheng Silk Factory, Maojiabu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, ca. 1922-1937

Milarepa (1052-1135) and Scenes from His Life

Tibet, 18th century

Mold for an Image of Tsongkhapa (1357–1419)

Mongolia, 19th century

Khedrup Lodoe Sengey

Tibet, 17th century

Lama Chogyur Lingpa (1829-1870)

Kham Region, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Lama Dampa Sonam Gyeltsen (1312-1375)

Tibet, 16th-17th centuries

Tibet, 17th - 18th century

Lama (Teacher) as a Mahasiddha

Tibet, 18th century

Lama (Teacher), Milarepa

Tibet, 18th century

Longchenpa Drime Ozer (1308-1363)

Tibet, 19th century

Lowo Khenchen Sonam Lhundrup (1456-1532)

Mustang, Northwestern Nepal, ca. 1490-1540

Machik Labdron (1055–1153)

Tibet, ca. 16th - 17th century

Machik Labdron (1055-1153)

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Machik Labdron (1055-1153)

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Machik Labdron (1055-1153)

Western Tibet or Western Himalayas, ca. 16th century

Mahasiddha Avadhutipa

Tibet, 17th - 18th century

Mahasiddha Jalandhara

Tibet, ca. 16th century

Mahasiddha Naropa

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Mahasiddha Virupa

Gongkar Chode Monastery, U Province, Central Tibet, ca. 1659-1671

Maitreya, the Future Buddha

Tibet, ca. second quarter of 15th century

Indian Master Shantarakshita (active 8th century) and Scenes from his Life

Tibet, 19th century

Indian Teacher Bhavaviveka, (from a set of previous incarnations of the Panchen Lamas)

Tibet, 18th century

Indrabhuti, from a set of the Eight Great Adepts (Mahasiddhas)

Eastern Tibet, Kham Province, 19th century

Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye (1813-1899)

Eastern Tibet, early 20th century

Jatson Nyingpo (1585-1656)

Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Jikme Lingpa (1729-1798)

Tibet, 18th - 19th century

Central Tibet, 16th century

Karmapa with his Footprints

Central Tibet, late 12th-early 13th century

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Fourth Demo Rinpoche, Lhawang Gyeltsen (1631–1668)

Tibet or China, Dated by inscription, 1667

Fourth Zhamar, Chodrak Yeshe Pelzang (1453 1524), and Scenes from His Life

Central Tibet, 16th century

Geluk Refuge Field

Tibet, 19th century

Geluk Teacher Champa Tashi

Central Tibet, 16th century

Gyelse Tokme Zangpo (1295-1369) and scenes from his life

Tibet, 18th century

Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617 1682)

Tibet, 17th century

The Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso (1617-1682) with Previous Incarnations

Central Tibet, 18th century

The Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lopsang Gyatso (1617-1682)

Tibet, 17th century

Fifth Shamar, Konchok Yanglak (1526–1583)

Tibet, 16th century

First Jebdzundamba, Zanabazar

Mongolia, 19th century

First Panchen Lama, Lobzang Chokyi Gyaltsen (1570-1662)(After Choying Gyatso’s (active ca.1640s-1660s) set of previous incarnations of the Panchen Lamas)

Tsang Province, Central Tibet, 18th century

Buddhashri Sanggye Pel (1339–1419) Surrounded by the Yogachara lineage Masters of the bodhisattva vow

Ngor Ewam Choden Monastery, Tsang Province, Central Tibet, ca. 1515-1535

Buddha Vajradhara with the Great Tantric Masters (Mahasiddhas)

Central Tibet, 15th century

Chakrasamvara and the Footprints of Drigungpa Jikten Sumgon (1143–1217)

Tibet, prior to 1217

Chogyel Phakpa (1235–1280) initiating Qubilai Khan (1215–1294)

Tibet, ca. 16th-17th century

Drakpa Gyeltsen (1147-1216) and Sakya Pandita (1182-1251)

Central Tibet, ca. 15th century

Tibet, 15th century

Drenpa Namkha (ca. 8th century)

Amdo Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Drigungpa Jikten Sumgon

Tibet, 13th - 14th century

Drokmi Lotsawa Shakya Yeshe (992/3 - 1043/1072)

Tibet, 17th century

Dromton (1004/05-1064)

Tibet, ca. 18th-19th century

Eight Great Tantric Adepts (From a Pelpung Monastery eleven-painting set of The Eighty-four Great Tantric Adepts)

Kham Province, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Eighth Karmapa, Mikyo Dorje (1507-1554)

Kham Region, Eastern Tibet, 18th century

Eighth Karmapa, Mikyo Dorje (1507-1554)

Tibet, ca. 16th century

Arhat Subhuti (After Choying Gyatso’s (active ca.1640s-1660s) Set of Previous Incarnations of the Panchen Lamas)

Central Tibet, 19th century

Atisha (982-1054)

Tibet, ca. 18th-19th century

Bon Lama, Rinchen Gyeltsen (1415-1446)

Central Tibet, 18th century

Bon Lama Sanggye Lingpa (1705-1735)

Gyelrong, Eastern Tibet, 19th century

Abbot Lhachok Sengge (1468-1535)

Ngor Ewam Choden Monastery, Tsang Province, Central Tibet, ca. 16th century

One Family, One Thousand Years of Spiritual Wisdom

The legendary Khön family has deep roots in Buddhism