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Featuring exhibition curator Karl Debreczeny, this audio tour takes a deep dive into key objects in Faith and Empire and explores the connection between Tibetan Buddhism and politics.

Track 1: Intro Panel: Right to Rule with Curator Karl Debreczeny


Vajrapani Kashmir; 8th century; Bronze with silver overlay and opaque watercolor; The Cleveland Museum of Art; Purchase from the J.H. Wade Fund; 1971.14

Vase; Central Asia or Tibet; early 8th century; Silver with gilding; The Cleveland Museum of Art; Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund; 1988.67.1

Achala, King of the Wrathful Ones; Inner Mongolia; Tangut Xia, Khara Khoto (1032″“1227); early 13th century; silk and pearls; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund; 1992.72

Raven-Headed Mahakala; Bhutan; early to mid-19th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art; C2006.42.8 (HAR 89189)

Qubilai Khan Naming Phakpa (1235″“1280) Imperial Preceptor, ca. 1270; Attributed to Khyentse Chenmo (flourished 1450s”“1490s); Tibet; late 15th”“16th century; pigments on cloth; Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Gift of Mrs. W. W. Ritchie; 1965.068.001

Panjaranatha Mahakala; Tibet; 14th century; Steatite with color and gilding; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015; 2015.500.4.18

Hevajra; China; Ming Dynasty, Yongle Period, ca. 1419; silk embroidery; Pritzker Collection

Bodhisattva; Probably Qutan Temple, Qinghai Province, China; Ming dynasty, Yongle reign; mark (1403″“1424); gilt bronze; Musée Cernuschi, Asian Arts Museum of Paris; MC 5173

Fifth Dalai Lama (1617″“1682) with His Own Hand and Footprints; Tibet; late 17th century; pigments on cloth; Musée des arts asiatiques-Guimet, Paris; MG; 19107

Portrait Sculpture of Changkya Rolpai Dorje (1717″“1786); China; Qing dynasty, 18th century; metal, copper alloy with gilding; Yury Khokhlov Collection

The Kingdom of Shambhala and Final Battle; Mongolia; 19th century; pigments on cotton; Musée des arts asiatiques-Guimet, Paris; MG 34416


The exhibition and catalog for Faith and Empire are made possible by Fred Eychaner, Ann and Matt Nimetz, Zhou Yu Quan, the Zhiguan Museum of Art, the Ellen Bayard Weedon Foundation, the E. Rhodes & Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Lisina M. Hoch, Christopher Fussner, the Thomas and Frances Blakemore Foundation, the Neil Kreitman Foundation, Yury Khokhlov, Margot and Tom Pritzker, Carlton Rochell and Kathleen Kalista, and John Eskenazi.


Image Credits
Hevajra; China; Ming Dynasty, Yongle Period, ca. 1419; silk embroidery; 81 x 131 cm; Pritzker Collection; L207.8.3.
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