Tibet, famous lamas (39)

16th-17th century, Tibet, Shel grong Pan chen Blo gros chos kyi khyu mchog, founder of the gDung phud chos ‘khor, gilt copper, 38 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 1080 pl. 280A, at the gDung phud chos ‘khor (Sakya monastery), lower Tib chu valley (Tibet).

Dressed in monastic garments with an embroidered border, the lama is seated with his legs locked and his hands ‘turning the wheel of dharma‘. On the backrest of his throne we can see elephants supporting sharabhas, makaras, and a garuda at the top holding a naga in its beak and claws.

Circa 16th century, Tibet, mKhas grub dGe legs dpal bzang po, gilt copper, 23,8 cm, photo as before, p. 1081 pl. 280B , at the Palkor Chode monastic complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

Identified by an inscription on the foot of the lotus base, Kedrup Geleg Pal Zangpo (see biographical notes on HAR ) is making the same hand gesture and holding the stem of lotuses that support a vajra sceptre to his right and a vajra bell to his left.

Circa 1750, Tibet, Grwa pa mNong shes, gilt copper, 15,2 cm, photo as before, p. 966 pl. 233A, at the sMin grol gling (Mindroling) monastery (Tibet).

Drapa Ngonshe, founder of the Drathang monastery, has a manuscript in his left hand. See biographical notes on Treasury of Lives

Circa 1750 AD, Tibet, Klu sding rin chen mi ‘gyur rgyal tshan, 37th abbot of the Ngor monastery, gilt copper, 18,2 cm, photo as before, p. 1083 pl. 281D, at the Ngor E wam Monastery (Tibet).

Rinchen Migyur Gyaltsen is holding a long-life vase.  

16th century, Tibet, Lowo Kenchen Sonam Lhundrup, copper alloy with copper inlay, 44,5 cm, private collection, photo and detailed notes by Sosi Mehren on Bonhams

Sonam Lhundrup, above, and Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, below, are holding lotuses topped with the hilt of a sword (to their right) and a manuscript (to their left), which are Manjushri’s attributes.

Late 15th or early 16th century, Tibet, Tsang province, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, bronze, private collection, Purity and Enlightenment lot 18, Hollywood Galleries

Tibet, famous lamas (36)

The following sculptures belong to a corpus of non-gilt brass works made in the Tsang province (Tibet). Published on Bonhams, with extensive notes by Dora Tan (including a translation of the inscriptions around the base), they depict five patriarchs from the Sakya order, all of whom we have seen in previous posts. The first three wear garments that cover both arms because they were laymen, not monks.

15th-16th century, Central Tibet, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, copper alloy, 17,8 cm, private collection, Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art lot 521, 21st March 2023, Bonhams.

15th-16th century, Central Tibet, Sonam Tsemo, same as before.

15th-16th century, Central Tibet, Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen (also spelt Drakpa), same as before.

15th-16th century, Central Tibet, Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen, same as before.

15th-16th century, Central Tibet, Drogon Chogyal Pagpa Lodro Gyaltsen, same as before.

Tibet, famous lamas (35)

16th century, Tibet, Sangye Nyenpa, silver, 6,8 cm, Indian and Himalayan Art lot 111, 21st March 2023, Sotheby’s.

Sangye Nyenpa Tashi Peljor, identified by an inscription at the back of the lotus base, makes the gesture of debate with his right hand while the other is cupped in the gesture of meditation. The border of his garments and most of the patches, including his vest – which comes unusually high up – are deeply engraved with a floral motif.  (See biographical notes  on Tashi Peljor on Treasury of Lives ).

13th century, Tibet, Jigten Sumgon Rinchen Pel, gilt copper alloy, private collection, same as before, lot 128.

We have seen a few other sculptures of this lama with distinctive facial features, although none with such a singular lotus seat. It is adorned with an incised vajra sceptre at the front (see biographical notes on Treasury of Lives ).

14th century, Tibet, Cohje (Choje?) Lorepa Wanchuk Tsondru, copper alloy, 89 cm, private collection, photo as before, lot 129.

See biographical notes on Treasury of Lives

16th century, Tibet, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, brass with silver-inlaid eyes, 17 cm, The Claude de Marteau Collection Part II lot 26, 4th October 2022, Bonhams (Paris).

The famous teacher is depicted with a vajra sceptre in his right hand and a vajra bell in the other, in addition to the stem of a night lily that supports the hilt of a sword and a day one topped with a manuscript, which are Manjushri’s attributes. Being a layman, he wears a garment with long sleeves that covers both arms. It appears to have a cloud-shaped collar and is topped with a meditation cloak. (See biographical notes on Treasury of Lives ).

16th century, Bhutan, Ngawang Drakpa, (1520-1580) (labelled’17th century, Tibet, Dorjechang Garwang Dragpa’ on HAR ),  bronze with copper and silver inlay, private collection, Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian Art lot 327, 22nd March 2023, Christie’s .

The style of this brass sculpture, including the richly decorated borders of the garments, brings to mind series of non-gilt works inlaid with silver and copper attributed to a workshop (or workshops) operating in the Tsang province around the 16th century. There are several teachers with the same name, including the Guge khenchen seen in a previous post, but the dates given by the auction house correspond to the Ngawang Drakpa , born in Bhutan. His right hand makes the gesture of debate, the other is cupped to hold a vase topped with a flaming jewel.

Tibet, a few lamdre teachers (2)

We saw a set of copper repoussé lamdre teachers from the Mindrolling monastery. The following are made of clay on a wooden armature and are kept at the Lamdre Lhakhang of the Palkor Chode monastery complex in Gyantse (see also: A few specific topics > materials > clay sculptures in Tibet, right-hand toolbar). The photographs have been kindly provided by Mr Ulrich von Schroeder and are published in his book ‘Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet’, Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, pp. 878 – 881.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15th century, Central Tibet, Pandita Gayadhara, painted clay, 91 cm, inventory nº L06.

 

The Lam Dre doctrine (see here ) was brought to Tibet by this Indian master, along with Drogmi Sakya Yeshe (next picture).

15th century, Central Tibet, ‘Brog mi Lo tsa ba Sakya Ye shes, painted clay, 98 cm, inventory nº L07.

Drogmi/Drokmi Lotsawa Shakya Yeshe (993-1077 ?) was a translator, as indicated by the word lotsawa in his name ( Treasury of Lives quote 992 -1043/1072 for his lifespan). 

 

15th century, Central Tibet, Sa chen Kun dga’ snying po, painted clay, 92 cm, inventory nº L10.

We have seen numerous sculptures of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158), always wearing long sleeves covering both arms, indicating that he was a layman. See biographical notes on  Treasury of Lives .

15th century, Central Tibet, bSod nams rtse mo, painted clay, 93 cm, inventory nº L11.

15th century, Central Tibet, Grags pa rgyal mtshan, painted clay, 99 cm, inventory nº L12.

Sonam Tsemo (1142-1182) and Dragpa/Drakpa Gyaltsen (1147-1216) were his sons, both laymen.  Treasury of Lives:  Dragpa Gyaltsen and Sonam Tsemo .

15th century, Central Tibet, Sa skya Pandita, painted clay, 97 cm, inventory nº L13.

Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen (1182-1251) was Sachen Kunga Nyingpo’s grandson and the nephew of Sonam Tsemo and Dragpa Gyaltsen (biographical notes here ). We will note that his hair is drawn in a bun, as on other sculptures of him published in previous posts.

15th century, Central Tibet, Se ston Kun rig (1025–1122), painted clay, 98 cm, inventory nº L08.

Seton Kunrik (1029-1116 according to Treasury of Lives , with surprisingly no entry for him, only various mentions).

15th century, Central Tibet, Zhang ston Chos ‘bar, painted clay, 98 cm, inventory nº L09.

Zhangton or Shangton Chobar (1053-1135) and his brother received the teachings from Seton Kunrig (biography on Zhangton Chobar ).

15th century, Central Tibet, Phags pa Blo gros rgyal mtshan, painted clay, 90 cm, inventory nº L14.

Phagpa/Pakpa Lodro Gyaltsen (1235-1280), brother of Sakya Pandita (biography here ).

15th century, Central Tibet, Zhang (ston) dKon mchog dpal, painted clay, 92 cm, inventory nº L15.

Zhangton Konchok Pel (mid 13th century-1317) received his lamdre teachings from the previous figure (Phagpa Lodro Gyaltsen). See Treasury of Lives.

15th century, Central Tibet, (Naza) Dragpupa Sonam Pel, painted clay, 92 cm, inventory nº L16.

In turn,  Naza Dragpupa Sonam Pel (1277-1346) received the lamdre lineage from Zhangton Konchok Pel.

15th century, Central Tibet, Bla ma dam pa bSod nam rgyal mtshan, painted clay, 90 cm, inventory nº L17.

Lama Dampa Sonam Gyaltsen , (1312-1375) 

15th century, Central Tibet, Seton Kunga Tashi Gyaltsen, painted clay, 88 cm, inventory nº L18.

Kunga Tashi Gyaltsen Pel Zangpo (1349-1425), biographical notes on HAR .