Bonhams 1793 : A gilt-bronze figure of Tsong Khapa Mid Qing dynasty

Mid Qing dynasty
The finely cast figure depicted seated cross-legged in lalitasana on a double lotus throne framed by beaded borders, the hands held in dharmacakrapravartana holding stems of lillies flanking the shoulders with the left supporting the prajnaparamitasutra, the face downcast in a serene expression, adorned in a ceremonial hat and modest robes incised at the hems.
10.5cm high.

Sold for HK$ 62,500 inc. premium

Footnotes

Tsong Khapa (13571419), whose name translates and literally means 'The Man from Onion Valley', was a famous teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and founder of the Gelukpa school. Born into a nomadic family, Tsong Khapa was ordained at the age of three and was said to have been able to recite countless sutra by heart, having received the empowerments of multiple wrathful deities including Yamantaka, Hevajra and Heruka Chakrasamvara. Tsongkhapa passed away at the age of sixty-two, leaving behind eighteen volumes of his teachings.

清中期銅鎏金宗喀巴坐像

宗喀巴面相慈祥，頭戴通人冠，身穿喇嘛僧袍，衣履刻劃簡單明顯，雙手作說法結，持蓮花枝並引伸至身體兩側，在肩頭分別露出托劍和梵篋，全跏趺坐，下承仰覆蓮座，通體鎏金，金色肥滿，配合造型秀美，簡潔有力。

宗喀巴出生在青海宗喀，被稱為「宗喀地方的聖人」，於明永樂七年(1409)始創了藏傳佛教中的格魯派，提倡苦行，被視為文殊菩薩化身，僧侶頭戴黃色通人冠，故又稱「黃帽教」、「黃教」。

Category: Asian Art / Chinese Works of Art

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