Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Miscellaneous - Torana

པར་ཤིང་སྣང་བརྙན། སྣ་ཚོགས། 版画 (多种)
(item no. 65651)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1300 - 1399
Lineages Bon
Material Wood
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Object/Concept

Interpretation / Description

Throne back (Tibetan: gyab yol) for the special figure of Nampar Gyalwa a form of Tonpa Shenrab, founder of the Bon religion. This throne back is different from others most notably because the lion at the bottom is eating a human figure and the winged-lion-horse (dragon) above is eating a naga serpent spirit. This throne back design can also be found on paintings the Four Transcendent Lords.

According to the text the animals should be a lion, dragon and sea monster. This is described in detail in the story of Nampar Gyalwa found in chapter 50 of the Ziji a twelve volume biography of Tonpa Shenrab.

Jeff Watt & Samten Karmey 12-2006

Secondary Images
Related Items
Publications
Bon Religion & Culture: Technical Glossary

Thematic Sets
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Bon Artworks
Subject: Lion Imagery Page
Bon: Bookcovers & Wood (Masterworks)
Bon Deity: Nampar Gyalwa Masterworks
Bon: Book Covers & Wood Objects (Early Sculpture)
Exhibition: Bon, The Magic Word (RMA 2007)
Subject: Miscellaneous Objects
Subject: Animals Mythical and Real
Bon Deity: Nampar Gyalwa (Tonpa Shenrab) Main Page
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Sculpture (Gallery 2)
Subject: Torana Main Page (Arch, Decorative Throne Back)