Item: Teacher (Lama) - Sakya Tridzin 28, Kunga Sonam

28th Sakya Tridzin, Ngagwang Sonam Wangchug (1635/38-1685 [p795]).

Translation Front Inscription Om svasti! I bow to the feet of the sublime [or: late?] root guru, whose kindness is incomparable, the great and glorious Sakyapa, the mantra-holding master, the omniscient Ngag dbang bsod nams dbang phyug bkra shis grags pa rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po. Mangalam!

Translation Back Inscription, Upper Plate (lines 1–4) Om svasti! This is the renowned Venerable Dharma Lord [Ngawang Sonam Wangchuk], the protector of all, the glorious master, who extends his loving kindness to all beings like a mother cares for her only child, who rejoices in them, who leads them in the three realms, and who is the incomparable crown jewel among those who wear the saffron robes. As his inner reliquary and as a means to fulfil his wishes, we, headed by Depön Tenpa Dargye, have faithfully erected this most excellent statue of the supreme one bearing the name Sonam. May through this [act of erecting this statue] our impurities and mistakes that we have repeatedly accumulated all be completely purified. May through this [virtuous] power the happiness and wellbeing of all mother-like sentient beings be all-pervasive, just like the supreme taste of sweet honey, and may it serve as the cause so that all their wishes are effortlessly accomplished in accordance with the Dharma. Mangalam.

Translation Back Inscription, Upper Plate (lines 4–5) A multiplying bone relic of the tathagata; a Khecari pill [blessed by] the Mantra Holder [i.e., Ngawang Sonam Wangchuk?]; a consecrated substance of Sonam Wangchuk, a gyado; a consecrated substance of a seven birthed [Brahmin] that produces many relics. As for the manner in which the fillings of the bone relics of Sonam Wangchuk abide [in this statue]: they are kept in its upper, lower, and middle parts.

Translation Back Inscription, Lower Plate (lines 1–3) [In this sculpture] are present an image of Vajrabhairava; various blessing bestowing objects of the previous lords [of Sakya] together with [pieces of their] garments; in particular, a large [piece of] garment of Sakya Pandita; the relic body salt of the Venerable Lord Kunga Drakpa [i.e., Ngawang Sonam Wangchuk?]; one hundred and thirty-one [small] images [i.e., tsha tshas?] of Amitayus; a large amount of [Ngawang Sonam Wangchuk's] dunglok, garment, and piece of tooth. Furthermore, necessary things like medicinal substances, grains, and brocade. May it thus become a cause for the welfare of the doctrine and sentient beings.

Thematic Sets
Teacher: Ngagwang Sonam Wangchug
Collection: Bonhams, Paris (June 11, 2025)
Teacher: Sakya (Masterworks)