Himalayan Art Resources

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Panchen Lama Iconography - Added

The Nartang Monastery Printing House blockprint composition of the Panchen Lama incarnation line was created in the 18th century with 13 prints including the 3rd Panchen Lama in total. It was likely commissioned originally as a painting set in the late 17th or early 18th century first and then adapted to a wood block format. Since the 18th century there have been dozens, if not scores, or hundreds of sets, either directly produced from the wood block prints or painting sets patterned after the block prints. Following the popularity of the prints, in the early 20th century the set was re-produced in Hangzhou, China, as a woven textile set of compositions, easily produced and cheaply sold.