Buddhist Deity: Tara, White (Painting Masterworks)
White Tara Main Page Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Paintings (below)
--- Early Paintings
--- Late Paintings
--- Palpung Style
- Sculpture
- Tara Masterworks Page
- Masterworks Female Iconography, 女性尊神
Video:
- HAR #542
- HAR #35896
Masterworks are often more complicated than initially proposed. Organization systems prefer simplicity with masterworks preferring a small selection or 'only the best,' limited inclusion of only the finest. Masterworks unfortunately are not always so simple. The category of masterworks needs to be defined according to the subject material. Is it a painting? Is it a sculpture? What is the region or country of origin? What is the time period? What is the subject and style?
Here, we are discussing Tara in general and then specifically White Tara painting, not sculpture, not murals, although murals could be included in this, but we haven't created a separate category. There is one mural in the selection below. If possible, and if we find enough examples, we will also add a separate category of murals. The murals will most likely be early, and they'll most likely be from West Tibet, possibly the addition of a White Tara from Gyantse Kumbum.
We're looking at White Tara painting masterworks. Now it's very important to divide it up, and it needs to be divided according to different subjects, such as early paintings, late paintings, and if there is a particular genre of painting which is quite dominant and common, or there are a number of excellent examples, then that needs to be included as well.
We've done that here, and it's called Palpung style. I think we have eight compositions under Palpung style painting. Even with Palpung style, you have to divide it between Early Palpung, meaning 18th and 19th century, and Late Palpung, 20th century to the present. There are marked differences between the paintings that happen over that period of time.
That's where we are with the White Tara. We've divided the paintings into three categories: Early, Late, and Palpung.
Jeff Watt [updated 8-2026]
