Sutra Covers with the Eight Buddhist Treasures China Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Yongle period (1403–24)
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)
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)
Four-armed Mahakala, left, and Remati, right Ron Wosel Puk, Tibet 1538
Four Mandalas of the Vajravali Cycle Ewam Choden Monastery, Tsang region, central Tibet 1429–1456
Mandala of Eight Great Bodhisattvas Yulin Cave 25, east wall Middle Tang (781–848)
Pema Gyelpo, One of the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava Eastern Tibet early 20th century
Stirrups belonging to the equestrian set of Yuthok Tashi Dhondup Tibetan, Derge ca. 1943–1947
Maitreya Procession at Lama-yin Gegeen-ü Khüriye Mongolia late 19th–early 20th century Gempil-yin Dorji (Mongolian, late 19th–early 20th 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
Buddha’s Birth, from a set of the Twelve Deeds of the Buddha Eastern Tibet, Kham Province, Derge Printing House after 1960
Renunciation, from a set of the Twelve Deeds of the Buddha, After a woodblock carved in Derge, Kham region, eastern Tibet, composition attributed to Purbu Tsering of Chamdo (active ca. late 19th century) Kham Region, Eastern Tibet 20th century
Nyima Oser, One of the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava Tibet 18th century
Bon Lama, Rinchen Gyeltsen (1415-1446) Central Tibet 18th century
The “Three Silver Brothers” Manjushri – Avalokiteshvara – Vajrapani (left to right) Western Tibet, Puhrang area early 13th century
Buddha Shakyamuni Mold for an image of Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) Chariot Ritual (Bhimaratha Pata) Ritual Peg (purba) Mold for clay image (tsatsa) of Vajrapani Mold for clay image (tsatsa) of Buddha Amitayus Vajra Scepter Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha Crossed Vajra Bodhisattvas Maitreya and Manjushri in Tushita Pure Realm Book cover Maitreya Handheld Prayer Wheel Chakrasamvara with Consort Vajravarahi Woodblock for printing prayer flag Woodblock for printing Tibetan text Stupa Chakrasamvara with Consort Vajravarahi Green Tara Vasudhara Medicine Buddha Vasudhara, Goddess of Abundance Medicine Buddha Palace (copy of first painting from the set of the Tibetan Medical Paintings from Mentsikhang Lhasa) Avalokiteshvara Vajrayogini Medical Instruments Medical Instruments Panjaranatha Mahakala Panjaranatha Mahakala Buddha’s Birth, from a set of the Twelve Deeds of the Buddha, Print from a woodblock Lekden Mahakala Mandala of Chakrasamvara Birth of the Buddha, from a set of the Twelve Deeds of the Buddha, after a carved woodblock Mahakala Vajrabhairava with Consort Vajravetali Buddha Vairochana The Stages of Nepalese Lost-Wax Metal Casting Heruka with Consort Vishnu with the King of Snakes, Shesha Flying Naga Refuge Field with Machik Labdron (1055–1153) Siddhi Lakshmi Shiva Bhairava Arhat Ajita Wheel of Existence Shrine Cabinet (chosham) Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye (1813-1899) Buddha Amitayus Tsongkapa (1357-1419) Green Tara Manjushri Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara Mahasiddha Avadhutipa Ushnishavijaya Pelden Lhamo Mongolia late 17th century
Chakpori Medical College Tibet 1905 L. Austine Waddell
Chakrasamvara and the Footprints of Drigungpa Jikten Sumgon (1143–1217) Tibet before 1217
Chakrasamvara in Union with Vajravarahi central Tibet ca. 1386
Chorten constructed in the memory of Kunga Drolchok (1507–1566) Namgyal Monastery; Mustang, Nepal ca. 1568
Decanter, Cup, and Rhyton Tibet mid- to late 7th or 8th century partially gilt silver
Deities of the Padmakula Mandala Dunhuang, China period of Tibetan rule (ca. 781–848)
Demon-Binding Against Sickness Dolpo region, western Nepal ca. 1975
Deshay Maru Jhya (Deshay Maru Jhya (Window without an Equal) Yetakha tol; Kathmandu, Nepal ca. 18th century
Desire Lhasa 2020 Tsering Dolma (b. 1966, Lhasa)
Cover of a Prajnaparamita manuscript Newar, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal dated 1054
Detail of Mural of Fourteenth Dalai Lama Receiving International Dignitaries Norbulingka, Lhasa, Tibet 1956 Amdo Jampa (Tibetan, 1911–2002)
Detail of Pegam Chest showing pitcher and chemar bo grain vessel on the central table as greeting offerings 19th century
Detail of tashi gomang Tashichhodzong, Thimphu, Bhutan 17th century
Detail of Two Arhats and Heshang with a Woman Washing Daikon Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China dated 1660 Tenth Karmapa, Choying Dorje (Tibetan, 1604–1674)
Do What You Love 2010 Gonkar Gyatso (b. 1961, Lhasa)
Donor Figure western Nepal/western Tibet 13th–14th century
Drilbu Bell Claimed to Have Been Discovered by Dorje Lingpa Thimpu, Bhutan discovered in the 14th century
Durga Killing the Buffalo Demon (Durga Mahishasuramardini) Nepal 12th–13th century
Eagle and Wild Herbivore Zhamar Puk, Tashi Dochung, Lake Namtso, Tibet Protohistoric period (ca. 100–600 CE)
Elephant-skin drum with stone base inside Longguodian (Hall of Dynastic Prosperity) China Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Figurine of a Wild Sheep closely associated with western Tibet Protohistoric period (ca. 100 BCE to 600 CE)
Forty-Three-Deity Mandala of Manjuvajra central Tibet 1375–1380
Gendun Chopel (Tibetan, 1903–1951) India 1935 Photographer unknown
George Tsarong in Yasor Costume, 1950 1950 Heinrich Harrer (Austrian, 1912–2006)
Godāvapa Stūpa Sri Lanka 1941 Gendun Chopel (Tibetan, 1903–1951)
Goddess Marichi Mongolia late 17th or early 18th century Attributed to Zanabazar (Mongolian, 1635–1723) or his workshop
Going on Pilgrimage on All Fours and An Ascetic Sleeping on the Points of a Thousand Wooden Spikes India ca. 1940 Gendun Chopel (Tibetan, 1903–1951)
Group of Officials Riding Up to the Potala for New Year Festivities (named persons: Taring Jigme, Yuthok) February 13, 1937 Frederick Spencer Chapman (British, 1907–1971)
Halo with etched Buddha at Awakening and Attendants Kashmir ca. 720
Handheld Prayer Wheel Tibet 19th–20th century
Handheld Drum (Damaru) Tibet or Mongolia early 20th century
Herbal Medicines, Painting 26 of the Tibetan Medical Paintings, Ulan Ude Set Lhasa, central Tibet early 20th-century copy of original from ca. 1687–1697
Ikh Khüree Naadam Mongolia 1966 D. Damdinsüren (Mongolian, 1909-1984)
Ikh Khüree Tsam Mongolia 1966 D. Damdinsüren (1909–1984)
Installation work in the exhibition Keepers of the Water Lhasa 1996 Gade (b. 1971, Lhasa)
Interior view of the “Jung Ho [Ronghe] idol factory” (copper workshop) located near the Yonghegong Monastery, Beijing, China 1930s
Jalamanusha (Merman) Nepal ca. 13th century
Janbahadya, the White Avalokiteshvara of Jana Bahal, also known as Seto Macchendranath Kathmandu, Nepal date uncertain
Jigme Taring, Tibetan noblemen and official, holding cine camera with still camera hanging at his side Lhasa possibly 1958 Chen Zonglie (Chinese; b. 1932)
Juu Shakyamuni with his pupils made in Dolonnuur, Inner Mongolia, decorated in Buryatia (Federation of Russia) 19th century
Kadampa-style Reliquary Stupa Tibet 13th or 14th century
Kala, Maultier des Postreiters (Kala, mule of the post rider) Tibet 1938 or 1939 Ernst Schäfer (German, 1910–1992)
King Bhaskara Deva Varma (12th century) and Woman Donor Wearing Tayo-bizakani Kwa Baha, Patan, Nepal 1804
Lacquered Wood Duomu Pitcher with Gold Floral Designs China 19th–20th century
Leg Bone Trumpet (Kang Ling) Tibet 18th–19th century
Lhamo Densatil Monastery, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1407–1408
Lhasa Newars with Camera Lhasa 1940s Unknown photographer
Lhasa, der Wollhafen mit Details (Lhasa, wool port with details) Lhasa 1938 or 1939 Ernst Schäfer (German, 1910–1992)
Lhasa, die große Neujahrsparade (Lhasa, the great New Year’s parade) Lhasa 1938 or 1939 Ernst Schäfer (German, 1910–1992
Livestock Charm primarily Dolpo region, Nepal since 1975
Mahasiddha Damarupa of a Lamdre lineage Namgyal Monastery, Mustang, Nepal 16th century
Maitreya Mongolia 1680s Zanabazar (1635–1723)
Maitreya Mongolia 1680s Zanabazar (1635–1723)
Maitreya Procession in Yekhe Khüriye 1965 D. Damdinsüren (Mongolian, 1909–1984)
Mandala of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in Several Different Aspects: Padmapani, Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara, Chintamanichakra Avalokiteshvara, and Amoghapasha at center Dunhuang, China period of Tibetan rule (ca. 781–848)
Canopy of a Mahakala Yantra Tibet 18th century
Mandala of Sarvavid Vairocana (Durgatiparisodhana from the Vajradhatu Mandala Series) Inner Mongolia or Beijing ca. 18th century
Mandala of the Buddhist Deity Chakrasamvara Nepal dated 1490
Mandala of the Sun God Surya Surrounded by Eight Planetary Deities Nepal likely 1379
Manip displaying tashi gomang during Buddhist festival Punakha, Bhutan 1981
Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara, and Vajrapani Imperial Workshop, Nanjing or Beijing Yongle period (r. 1403–1424)
Manjushri, Bodhisattva of Wisdom Tibet 11th century
Manjushri, torma butter sculpture Labrang Monastery, Amdo region, eastern Tibet (Gansu Province, China) 2014
Medical Lineage Holders, Painting 80 of the Tibetan Medical Paintings, Lhasa Set Lhasa, central Tibet early 20th century
Milarepa (1040–1123) Meditating in a Mountain Kagyu Order 18th century
Molded Clay Image (Tsatsa) of a Stupa Molded in the Round Toling Monastery, Ngari region, western Tibet 11th–12th century
Molded Clay Image (Tsatsa) of Eight Different Stupas Guge, Ngari region, western Tibet 12th–13th century
Molded Clay Image (Tsatsa) of the “Descent from Heaven” Guge, Ngari region, western Tibet 11th–12th century
Molded Clay Image (Tsatsa) of the “Heaped Lotuses” Stupa Guge, Ngari region, western Tibet 11th–12th century
Monk’s Cap Silver Pitcher Tibet 19th century
Monks on the “Golden Procession” Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet ca. 1936–1950 Hugh Richardson (British, 1905–2000)
Mount Meru Palace Mandala Yachengar Monastery, Kham region, eastern Tibet (present-day Sichuan Province)
Mural of Hayagriva Assembly Hall, Nechung Monastery, Lhasa, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1900, restored ca. 1996
Mural of Padmasambhava Assembly Hall, Nechung Monastery, Lhasa, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1900, restored ca. 1996
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 of Yamantaka, one of the Eight Sadhana Teaching Deities Assembly Hall, Nechung Monastery, Lhasa, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1900, restored ca. 1996
Murals of Human Skins Courtyard, Nechung Monastery, Lhasa, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1900, restored ca. 1996
Murals of Pehar’s Retinue Courtyard, Nechung Monastery, Lhasa, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1900, restored ca. 1996
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
One of three striped carnivores carved on a boulder Alchi, Ladakh, India Iron Age (ca. 700–100 BCE)
Open tashi gomang Thimphu, Bhutan 19th–20th century
Padmasambhava and His Eight Manifestations Tibet 16th century
Painting of Temples and Monasteries of Lhasa Kham region, eastern Tibet 1900–1920
Pakpa Lokeshvara Nepal 7th century
Pakpa Lokeshvara (copy of the original in the Potala Palace, Lhasa) central Tibet 13th–14th century
Palden Lhamo, torma butter sculpture Labrang Monastery, Amdo region, eastern Tibet (Gansu Province, China) 2014
Panjaranatha Mahakala Tibet 15th century
Panjarnatha Mahakala Tibet 18th century
Pensive Avalokiteshvara Imperial Workshop, Nanjing or Beijing Yongle period (r. 1403–1424)
Pensive Avalokiteshvara Swat 7th century
Photograph of the pre-Cultural Revolution Jowo Sakyamuni 1954 or 1955
Phunkhang Yabshi Kung, his wife and son Tibet 1948 Hugh E. Richardson (British, 1905–2000)
Portrait Sculpture of the Ninth Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje (1555–1603) Central Tibet 1598 Karma Rinchen (act. late 16th century)
Prayer Beads (trengwa) Tibet 19th century
Purpa Dagger Discovered by Pema Lingpa date unknown
Rabden Lepcha in Delhi ca. 1915 Sir Charles Bell (British, 1870–1945)
Raktayamari Imperial Workshop, South China Ming Yongle period (r. 1403–1424)
Rock Painting of a Bird Che Do, Lake Namtso, Tibet Protohistoric or Early Historic period (ca. 600–1000 CE)
Roll of Mantras for a Prayer Wheel and Its Spindle Tibet ca. 12th–13th century
Russian Consulate and Holy Trinity Church Yekhe Khüriye, Mongolia 1912 Ivan Korostovets (Russian, 1862–1933)
Sarnath Buddha India ca. 1940 Gendun Chopel (Tibetan, 1903–1951)
Sarvavid Vairochana Mandala Tibet 17th century
Seated Buddha Flanked by Maitreya and Avalokiteśvara Palola Shahi Kingdom April 23, 715
Second Jamyang Zhepa (1728–1791), torma butter sculpture Labrang Monastery, Amdo region, eastern Tibet (Gansu Province, China) 2014
Set of Saddle Plates Tibet or China ca. 1400
Shakyamuni, torma butter sculpture Labrang Monastery, Amdo region, eastern Tibet (Gansu Province, China) 2014
Siddhi Lakshmi Nepal 17th century
Skull Cup with Base Tibet 18th–20th century
Spring Morning India ca. 1940 Gendun Chopel (Tibetan, 1903–1951)
Standing Bodhisattva with Yongle-period inscription in Chinese, Tibetan, and Sanskrit on the base China 15th century, Yongle period (1403–1424)
Standing Buddha Kashmir late 10th to early 11th century
Statue of Amitayus, Dolonnuur style 19th century
Statue of Manjushri Efi (efü?) khalkha süme, Shiliin Gol League (formerly in Chakhar), Inner Mongolia mid-18th century
Statue of Seated Vairochana, East Temple, Level 5 (Bumpa) of the Gyantse Kumbum Gyantse Kumbum, Tsang region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1427–1440
Statue of Shakyamuni Buddha Ravangla, Sikkim, India 2013
Statue of Shakyamuni Buddha Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India 2015
Statue of Shakyamuni Buddha (Buddha Dordenma) Thimphu, Bhutan 2015
Statue of Shiva Solophok Hill, Namchi, Sikkim, India 2011
Statue of Ten Thousand Knives Padmasambhava, said to be made of melted knives offered by the local population in the aftermath of a murder Khamar Monastery, Dornogovi Province, Mongolia First half of 19th century, crown made in 2005 Two artisans from the Chinese metal workshops of Dolonnuur and local smiths following the instructions of the great reincarnate lama Danzin-Rabjai (1804–1856)
Statue of the bodhisattva Manjushri with Yongle reign inscription in Chinese on the lotus base China 15th century; Yongle reign (1402–1424)
Statue of White Tara Dolonnuur, Inner Mongolia 18th or 19th century
Stūpas in Old Carvings India ca. 1940 Gendun Chopel (Tibetan, 1903–1951)
Tara Tibet 17th century Atelier of Tenth Karmapa, Choying Dorje (Tibetan, 1604–1674) or later followers
The Akshobya Mandala and White and Blue Achala Segoma Lhakhang, Zhalu Monastery; Tsang region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) 14th century
The Dakini Nairatmya western Nepal/western Tibet 1300–1325
Thirteen-Deity Mandala of Jnanadakini central Tibet 1375–1380
Thirty-Five Buddhas of Confession Mongolia ca. 1914 Chimed, Gendendamba, Jügdür, and Khasgombo (all active early 20th century Mongolia)
Thirty-Two-Deity Mandala of Aksobhyavajra, the second painting of the Vajravali set commissioned in memory of Lama Dampa central Tibet, Sakya tradition 1375–1380
Three Saddle Carpets, from a set of twenty-four woven in the 1930s for the cavalry of Yabzhi Punkhang Central Tibet 1920–1930
Three-Headed One of the Black Rituals, Bonpo version of a partially constructed effigy House of Pema Dolkar, Kagbeni, Mustang, Nepal 2007 Lama Tshultrim of Lubrak (b. 1949, Lubrak, Mustang, Nepal)
Three-Headed One of the Black Rituals, Nyingma Buddhist version of a ritual effigy Sanepa, Kathmandu, Nepal 1995 Lama Karma Tshering of Tshognam (b. 1951, Tetang, Mustang, Nepal)
Throne of the Patan Kings Patan, Nepal 1666
Torana over the Main Entrance of Chusya Baha Kathmandu, Nepal 1663
Tsangnyon Heruka (1452–1507) Tibet 16th century
Turquoise Bridge Lhasa 1951 Tse Ten Tashi
Two Stirrups Mongolian 16th–17th century
Unidentified Deity Seated on a Cow (Yama?) Tibet 17th century Attributed by inscription to Tenth Karmapa, Choying Dorje (Tibetan, 1604–1674)
Uninscribed representation of Lowo Khenchen, identified on the basis of his distinct physical features and the workmanship Lo (Mustang) 16th century
Urine Analysis, Painting 64 of the Tibetan Medical Paintings, Ulan Ude Set Lhasa, central Tibet early 20th-century copy of original from ca. 1687–1697
Vajracharya Priest’s Crown Nepal dated 1145
Vajradhatu (Diamond Realm) Mandala central Tibet 14th century
Vasudhara Mandala Nepal dated 1777 (Samvat 897)
Vasudhara, Goddess of Abundance Nepal dated 1082
Virupa China Yongle period (1402–1424)
Virupaksa, the guardian of the West, one of the Four Guardian Kings of the four directions of the universe Tibet or North China 15th century
Wheel of Existence Tashicholing Temple, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 20th or 21st century
White Achala Segoma Lhakhang, Zhalu Monastery; Tsang region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) 14th century
Wind-Powered Prayer Wheel (mani lung khor) Tibet before 1920
Window No. 1 Tolung, Lhasa 2020 Penpa (b. 1974, Lhasa)
Woodblock for Printing Prayer Flags with Print Himalayan region 15th–19th century
Yamantaka Palace Mandala Potala Palace, Lolang Lhakhang, Lhasa, U region, central Tibet 1751
Yuthok Tashi Dhondup (left) and Taring Jigme (right) in Military Uniform September 7, 1936 Frederick Spencer Chapman (British, 1907–1971)
“Long Live the Emperor” Tablet Longguodian (Hall of Dynastic Prospertity), Quantsi; Drotsang, Tsongka, Amdo region, eastern Tibet (present-day Ledu county, Qinghai Province, China) 1427
“Lhasa United” October 20, 1936 Frederick Spencer Chapman (British, 1907–1971)
2020 Lhasa 2020 Nortse (b. 1963, Lhasa)
Achala Tangut Xixia, excavated from Kara Khoto 13th century
Achala, the Immovable One central Tibet ca. 1386
Amitayus, torma butter sculpture Labrang Monastery, Amdo region, eastern Tibet (Gansu Province, China) 2014
An example of a khüriye encampment: the Torghut Prince Sin Chin Gegeen’s camp at Khara Shar Mongolia before 1927
Anatomy, Painting 49 of the Tibetan Medical Paintings, Ulan Ude Set Lhasa, central Tibet early 20th century copy of original from ca. 1687–1697
Avalokiteshvara Kashmir early 11th century
Avalokiteshvara Yatse Kingdom (Khasa Malla Kingdom), western Nepal/western Tibet ca. 13th–14th century
Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, and the Six Buddhas of the Wheel of Existence Darjeeling, India 20th–21st century
Avalokiteshvara, torma butter sculpture Labrang Monastery, Amdo region, eastern Tibet (Gansu Province, China) 2014
Banquet Set with Ewer, Decanter, and Plate Tibet Yarlung dynasty, 600–800
Bat-Tsagaan Assembly Hall Yekhe Khüriye, Mongolia mid-17th century Zanabazar (1635–1723)
Begtse (Jamsran) Mongolia late 19th century Gendendamba (late 19th–early 20th century)
Birth of Buddha Swayambhu, Nepal Shah period, 20th century
Black Cloak Mahakala Kham Province, eastern Tibet 18th century Situ Panchen (1700–1774)
Boddhisattva Avalokiteshvara Nepal 6th–7th century
Boy grinding indigo and woman weaving a carpet, Pen-jor Lhun-po, near Gyang-tse Drongtse, Palha family estate near Gyantse, Tsang region, central Tibet 1933–1934 Charles A. Bell (British, 1870–1945)
Celestial Musician (Kinnara) Playing a Pipa (Lute) Tibetan Empire 608–866
Project Himalayan Art
