Himalayan Art Resources

Teacher: Tsongkapa (Original & Copy?)

Tsongkapa Page

The un-gilded image is recorded as a gift from the 3rd Panchen Lama Lobzang Palden Yeshe (1738-1780) to the Qianlong Emperor. The gift was very well received and appreciated and the Emperor had a copy made in gold and precious stones. Is it possible that he had other copies made to also give away as gifts? Is it possible the un-gilded sculpture is not the original gift from the Panchen Lama but also a copy made by the emperor? Is it also possible that the whereabouts of the original model for these two sculptures is not currently known?

The un-gilded sculpture is clearly made following a Chinese aesthetic and not stylistically Tibetan in any way.

Jeff Watt 6-2019