Footnotes

不丹 十八世紀 彌勒菩薩唐卡 

In this vibrant yet delicate composition, Maitreya is shown approaching Tushita Heaven, represented by the central disc containing a golden-roofed palace set on a visvajra. In the colorful floating clouds above, the thirty-five Buddhas of the Sutra of Confession appear in four groups behind Avalokiteshvara Shadakshari.  

Numerous floating rainbow pearls emerge before Maitreya and a hierarch who wears a large, fan-shaped red hat. This specific hat type with a conical top belongs to the Drugpa Kagyu order of Bhutan and Southern Tibet (see Jackson, Painting Traditions of the Drigung Kagyu School, New York, 2015, p.64). Above the hierarch, Chakrasamvara, Vajradhara, and small mandalas are contained within rainbow-ringed discs. Below the deities, earthly palaces are erected in a verdant landscape, wherein a student kneels in front of his guru. 

At the bottom, two powerful wrathful deities protect the paradisiacal scene above. Lion-faced Simhavaktra snarls amidst flaming clouds on the right. On the other side, Guru Dragpur projects a dark band of fire to destroy demon figures. Guru Dragpur is a meditational form of Padmasambhava manifesting as a protector deity of the Drukpa Kagyu order. Guru Dragpur was discovered by Drugchen Padma Karpo (1527-92) as a Revealed Treasure (terma)–tantric teachings hidden by Padmasambhava during the 8th century to be revealed at auspicious times in the future . He is also depicted in a Shabdrung Ngagwang Namgyal thangka sold at Bonhams, New York, 13 March 2017, lot 3040.