Mural of Yamantaka, one of the Eight Sadhana Teaching Deities

Tibet 18th century

Blue-skinned, many-armed, cow- and human-headed deity in dynamic pose before fiery nimbus

Vajrabhairava Solitary of Rwa Lotsawa Tradition

Western mural painting in Hevajra Chapel, middle floor, Gongkar Chode Monastery, Gongkar County, Lhokha, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1464–1476 Khyentse Chenmo (active 15th century)

Two blue-skinned, many-armed deities holding implements, locked in embrace before fiery nimbus

Hevajra

Northern mural painting in Hevajra Chapel, middle floor, Gongkar Chode Monastery, Gongkar County, Lhokha, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1464–1476 Khyentse Chenmo (active 15th century)

Mandala of Eight Great Bodhisattvas

Yulin Cave 25, east wall Middle Tang (781–848)

Black and white detail of wall painting depicting a ruler and his retinue facing a group of three people

Vimalakirti-nirdesha Sutra (Tibetan Ruler Listening to the Dharma)

Mogao Cave 360, east wall, south side; Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China

Indian Teacher Bhavaviveka (After Choying Gyatso’s (active ca.1640s-1660s) set of previous incarnations of the Panchen Lamas)

Tibet 18th century Painted woodblock print

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

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

Central Tibet 19th 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

Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) and Scenes from His Life

Tibet 18th century

Seated Buddha and attendants assembled in circle look upon beasts being slain by two figures

Detail of Morality Tale of Vidura from chapter 76 in the Wish-fulfilling Vine (Bodhisattvavadanakalpalata)

Southern mural painting of the original Main Assembly Hall, ground floor, Gongkar Chode Monastery, Gangto Village, Gongkar County, Lhokha, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1464–1476 Khyentse Chenmo (active 15th century)

Mural in photorealistic style depicting Lama seated on ornate golden throne above group of lamas and deities

Detail of Mural of Fourteenth Dalai Lama Receiving International Dignitaries

Norbulingka, Lhasa, Tibet 1956 Amdo Jampa (Tibetan, 1911–2002)

Guru wearing patchwork robe with staff at right shoulder, bowl in right hand, and vajra in left

Guru Rinpoche/ Padmasambhava

Taktsang, upper Lhakhang, Upper Paro Valley, western Bhutan ca. 1692–93 (destroyed in 1998 fire)

Scene featuring dynamically posed nude figures gathering around robed figure and tiered structure within garden setting

Jataka of the Bodhisattva Sonam Tob (Story 90); north wall of the ground-floor circumambulatory passage

Zhalu Monastery; Tsang District, central Tibet 14th century

Worshippers place offerings before golden stupa and temple; second stupa floats on clouds above them

King Lha Totori Nyentsen Paying Homage to the Objects of the Nyenpo Sangwa

Potala Palace, Lhasa 1645–48

Water-damaged mural depicting Yogi wearing white robe, seated with hands posed in mudras

Milarepa (ca. 1028–1111)

"Milarepa's Tower," Sekar Gutok, Lhodrak, southern Tibet 1200–1250

Mural depicting wrathful deity with red skin wearing animal and human pelts, standing before flames

Mural of Hayagriva

Assembly Hall, Nechung Monastery, Lhasa, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1900, restored ca. 1996

Mural depicting seated Guru wearing resplendent robes in blue, saffron patchwork, and red-and-gold brocade

Mural of Padmasambhava

Assembly Hall, Nechung Monastery, Lhasa, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1900, restored ca. 1996

Mural depicting oracle outlined in flames wearing gold headdress, red and gold robe, and cascading ribbons

Mural of the Nechung Oracle Shakya Yarpel (fl. 1856–1900)

Assembly Hall, Nechung Monastery, Lhasa, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1900, restored ca. 1996

Mural depicting serpents and three flayed human skins painted to appear to hang from blue timber rafters

Murals of Human Skins

Courtyard, Nechung Monastery, Lhasa, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1900, restored ca. 1996

Mural depicting fearsome deity and attendants outlined in flames traveling through green landscape

Murals of Pehar’s Retinue

Courtyard, Nechung Monastery, Lhasa, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1900, restored ca. 1996

Monumental porch featuring blue timbered ceiling and red columns covering two large murals flanking ornate portal

Murals of the Red and Black Butchers

Western Entrance, Nechung Monastery, Lhasa, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1900, restored ca. 1996

Mural depicting four-armed Bodhisattva: two hands posed in mudras, two hands hold symbolic implements

Prajnaparamita

Tamshing Lhundrub Choling Temple, Bumthang District, Bhutan 1503–1505 with potential later interventions

Mural program featuring mandala above lintel and two fearsome deities before fiery nimbuses flanking doorway

The Akshobya Mandala and White and Blue Achala

Segoma Lhakhang, Zhalu Monastery; Tsang region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) 14th century

Mural depicting five Buddhas with yellow, blue, white, red, and green skin enthroned among deity portraits

The Five Jina Buddhas

Segoma Lhakhang, Zhalu Monastery; Tsang region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) 14th century

Two splendidly dressed men converse underneath trees, clouds, and roundels featuring seated deities

Wall painting of Gushri Khan and the Fifth Dalai Lama’s regent

Lhasa, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China)

Abraded mural depicting seated figure on right facing smaller figure within fireball on left

Water-Moon Avalokiteshvara, with Xuanzang, a Monkey-Headed Protector, and a White Horse

Cave 2 of East Thousand-Buddha Grottoes; Tangut Kingdom (Xixia) (present-day Guazhou, Gansu Province, China) ca. 12th–13th century

Significantly damaged mural above doorway depicting wheel; sections of wall appear plastered over

Wheel of Existence

Cave 17, Ajanta, India 5th century

Fearsome white-skinned deity with three eyes and tiger pelt stands in dynamic pose before fiery nimbus

White Achala

Segoma Lhakhang, Zhalu Monastery; Tsang region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) 14th century

Mural in blood- and rust-red depicting Bodhisattva and consort locked in embrace, flanked by attendants

Avalokiteshvara

Tamshing Lhundrub Choling Temple, upper floor, Bumthang District, Bhutan 1503–1505 with potential later interventions

Three-faced, four-armed Bodhisattva wearing red dhoti and delicate green sash sits before rainbow nimbus

Avalokiteshvara-Amoghapasha

Segoma Lhakhang, Zhalu Monastery; Tsang region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) 14th century

Bodhisattva seated on lotus pedestal at center, surrounded by Buddha and deity portraits, against mountainous background

Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, and the Six Buddhas of the Wheel of Existence

Darjeeling, India 20th–21st century

Mural of Yamantaka, one of the Eight Sadhana Teaching Deities

Mural of Yamantaka, one of the Eight Sadhana Teaching Deities

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