Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Teacher (Lama) - Tsongkapa

བླ་མ། 喇嘛
(item no. 595)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1400 - 1499
Lineages Gelug
Size 63.50x78.74cm (25x31in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc.# F1997.31.14
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Monastic

Gender: Male

TBRC: bdr:P64

Interpretation / Description

Lama Tsongkapa (1357-1419): founder of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism, with the two principal students, Gyaltsab on the left and Khedrub on the right.

Tsongkapa Biographical Details

At the top center is the buddha Shakyamuni accompanied by two bodhisattvas, Maitreya to the left and Manjushri on the right. The lineage teachers following to the viewer's left represent the Yogacharya tradition of Buddhist philosophy and the lineage teachers on the right represent the Madyamaka 'middle way' tradition. At the front of the lion supported throne is the meditational deity Akshobhyavajra Guhyasamaja.

Jeff Watt 2-2001

Related Items
Exhibition Appearances
Exhibition: Mirror of the Buddha

Thematic Sets
Tradition: Gelug Teachers (Paintings)
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Painting Gallery 3
Teacher: Tsongkapa (Early Paintings, 15/16th Century)
Teacher: Tsongkhapa Main Page
Subject: Lineage Paintings - Dual
Teacher: Tsongkapa (Yogachara & Madhyamaka Lineages)