Tradition: Jonang Study Guide
Jonang Art HistoryStudy Guide:
- Description
- Site Locations
--- Jonang Kumbum
--- Jonang Phuntsog Ling Monastery
--- Dzamtang Tsangwa Monastery
- Teachers
--- Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen
--- Kunga Drolchog
--- Taranata
--- Miscellaneous
- Deities
--- Raudrantaka
--- Panjarnata with Kila
- Confusions
- Others...
Video: Jonang Study Guide
The site locations are important for original murals with Jonang Puntsog Ling being the most important with the most intact murals. The Jonang Kumbum still has the remnants of murals on some of the inner walls. Tsangwa monastery in East Tibet appears to have only a single early temple with remaining murals dated to the early 15th century.
Scrollworks and sculpture depicting three of the most influential teachers, Dolpopa, Kunga Drolchog and Taranata, are the most common. Dolpopa is the most important of the three because he is depicted in a standardized iconographic form that can be easily recognized in both painting and sculpture. Other works depicting lineage teachers, although rare, can be found of miscellaneous Jonang historical figures. Hats, colour, design and style, are not a reliable indication for distinguishing Jonang teachers from teachersmof other closely related traditions such as the Sakya, Bulug (Shalu), Bodong, Gyantse and others.
Jonang scrollworks can sometimes be identified by protector deities often depicted at the bottom of scrollwork compositions. The key iconographic figures are Raudrantaka and Panjarnata with a Kila. These two will often be accompanied by Panjarnata Mahakala, Shri Devi and Brahmanarupa Mahakala.
In Central Tibet the primary painting style employed by Jonang monastery was the Khyenri tradition of painting. In Eastern Tibet at Tsangwa monastery the painting has been primarily in the Aba style. There is no painting style that is unique to the Jonang tradition, however there are variations and unique iconographic forms attributed to the 17th century teacher Jonang Taranata.
Jeff Watt 5-2021
(The images below are only a selection of examples from the links above).
