Footnotes

宗喀巴與第十四世達賴喇嘛丹增嘉措唐卡
西藏 約1940-1975年

Je Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), founder of the Gelug order of Tibetan Buddhism, is depicted at the center of this painting. Above and in four corners immediately surrounding Tsongkhapa, he is again depicted in his five various manifestations according to the vision of a close successor, Khedrubje Geleg Palzang (1385-1438). These are, clockwise from top center, Tsongkhapa as a pandita, Tsongkhapa seated on a throne supported by gods, appearing as Manjushri riding a lion, appearing as a Mahasiddha riding a lion, and appearing as a monk riding an elephant (cf. HAR set no.1134).

Flanking Tsongkhapa are triads of Shakyamuni Buddha with Amitayus and Tara (left) and Avalokiteshvara Shadakshari with Manjushri and Vajrapani (right). In the bottom register of the painting are Yama Dharmaraja (left), Shadbhuja Mahakala (center), and Jambhala (right). Interspersed between this entourage are charming scenes throughout the landscape of prancing lions, lounging deers, ducks and birds, butterflies, and Atisha (980-1054) and Milarepa (c.1028-1111) practicing in cave retreats. Lastly, in the painting's top corners floating above clouds, are photorealist portraits of the Seventh Pancen Lama, Chokyi Gyaltsen (1938-1989), and the current Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso (b.1935), serving to date this painting within the latter's incumbency.

The large, landscape format chosen for this thangka has been popular within the Gelug order since at least the 18th century when it was possibly inspired by imperial Qing thangkas, examples of which are held in the Palace Museum, Beijing (Wang [ed.], Zangchuan Fojiao Tangka, Hong Kong, 2006, pp.262-285, nos.240-263). Also see an earlier Tibetan thangka with the same format sold at Christie's, New York, 12 September 2012, lot 574.

Provenance
Private Collection, Bloomington, Indiana, by 1976