Painting Set: Karma Kagyu Lineage (Two Figures)
Karma Kagyu Lineage Set 1 Outline | Karma Kagyu Lineage Sets Main PageThese six paintings depict the Mahamudra Lineage of the Karma Kagyu Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The set appears to end with the painting of Sanggye Rechen and the 8th Karmapa Mikyo Dorje. In that same last painting is a small depiction of the 9th Karmapa Wangchug Dorje (1556-1603). Assuming that the first painting is of the Primordial Buddha Vajradhara, in a single figure composition, then the lineage list below seems most plausible in accounting for the identification and missing paintings from the full set of paintings.
Karma Kagyu Lineage:
1. Vajradhara (painting missing)
2. Tilopa & Naropa (painting missing)
3. Marpa & Milarepa (below)
4. Gampopa & Dusum Kyenpa, 1st Karmapa (below)
5. Drogon Rechen & Pomdragpa (below)
6. Karma Pakshi 2nd & Orgyanpa (painting missing)
7. Rangjung Dorje 3rd Karmapa & Yungton (painting missing)
8. Rolpai Dorje 4th Karmapa & Kacho Wangpo (below)
9. Deshin Shegpa 5th Karmapa & Retnapa (painting missing)
10. Tongwa Donden 6th Karmapa & Jampal Zangpo (below)
11. Goshri Paljor & Chodrag Gyatso 7th Karmapa (painting missing)
12. Sanggye Nyenpa & Mikyo Dorje 8th Karmapa (below)
Jeff Watt [updated 11-2010]
