Teacher: Shakya Yeshe Main Page (Secondary Figure)
Shakya Yeshe Main Page | Black HatsJamchen Choje Shakya Yeshe (1354-1435), a senior student of Je Tsongkapa, was a Tibetan teacher for the Yongle and Xuande emperors of China after the collapse of the Yuan period.
There are many examples of textile tangkas created and given as gifts to Shakya Yeshe by several of the emperors. Aside from the quality of the craftsmanship the most interesting feature is the small portrait of Shakya Yeshe that is found in the top right or left corners of many of the compositions. He is recognisable by a black hat that has the shape of lotus petals and decorated with the Five Symbolic Buddhas, one for each petal. Both the black hat of Shakya Yeshe and the black hat of the 5th Karmapa Deshin Shegpa were gifts of the Yongle Emperor.
Jeff Watt 8-2016
