Subject: Refuge Field, Chod (Machig)
Refuge Field (Religious Traditions)Subjects, Topics & Types
- Description (below)
- Zhije & Chod Tradition
- Block Print Model (Karma Chagme?)
- Gelug Chod Field: HAR #74245
- Masterworks
- Confusions
- Others...
Videos:
- Chod Tradition & Refuge Field
- Chod Tradition Protectors
At this time there are only a few Cho Refuge Field scroll paintings, with Machig Labdron at the center, that are photographed and documented. Seven of these appear to be based on a 19th century block print image from East Tibet, possibly Dege Parkang. (For the block print image see the Kawaguchi Ekai Collection in Japan, Kawaguchi No. 2-083. Referenced from the Art of Thangka, vol. 3, #10, page 34). Painting HAR #57049 resided at a Tibetan Monastery at Boudhanath in Kathmandu, Nepal, in the mid 1970s when this photo was taken.
Four of the paintings below appear to be derived from the same original source image with #98814 and #98910 the earliest and #223 painted after 1959 in India. Of the first two the #98814 is possibly earlier and then 98910 a later copy. It is also possible that the first two paintings are 'parma' - paintings done from the block print along with minor variations depending on the artist. Paintings #74245 and #74246 belong the a museum in Buryatia, Russia, with #74246 likely following the same 'parma' composition. HAR #74245 appears to be the only visual example, so far, representing the Gelug system of Chod.
Jeff Watt 1-2011
A Catalogue of Ekai Kawaguchi's Collection of Tibetan and Nepalese Buddhist Art, 1990 Tokyo. Kimiaki Tanaka. (From this publication see the reference to Karma chags med's rJe rang byung rdo rjes mdzad pa'i gcod kyi tshogs las rin po che'i phreng ba 'don bsgrigs bltas chog tu bkod pa, gCod kyi lugs sor bzhag). [Updated 6-2017]
