Khedrubje Makes an Offering to Tsongkhapa

Gallery 325, Asian Art, third floor (Imasogie Gallery)

Main Building

Khedrubje Makes an Offering to Tsongkhapa

18th century

Artist/maker unknown, Tibetan

With its blue-green landscape, craggy rocks, sinuous clouds, flowering tree, and peonies (used to represent high rank), this painting is very Chinese in feeling. Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), founder of the Gelug order of Tibetan Buddhism, rides an elephant in a cloud at the upper left. Below him sits Khedrupje (1385–1438), one of his most devoted students, who became the first Panchen Lama. Khedrupje invokes his teacher by offering symbols of the universe: a temple perched atop the cosmic mountain. The fierce deities Yamantaka and Mahakala (at upper right and lower left) symbolize the ritual teachings passed from teacher to student. This is also reflected in the inscription: “Tsongkhapa, revered king of religion, taught Khedrupje both Yamantaka and Mahakala rituals.”

Gallery 325, Asian Art, third floor (Imasogie Gallery)

Object Details

Title:

Khedrubje Makes an Offering to Tsongkhapa
Khedrubje, the First Panchen Lama, The deity having a vision of, and making and offering to, his teaher Tsongkhapa, Thangka (Hanging Painting)

Date:

18th century

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Tibetan

Medium:

Colors on cloth; cloth mounting

Dimensions:

Image: 53 1/2 × 33 1/2 inches (135.9 × 85.1 cm) Frame: 1 3/4 inches × 6 feet 6 inches × 46 1/4 inches (4.4 × 198.1 × 117.5 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

Gift of Natacha Rambova, 1959

Accession Number:

1959-156-2

Geography:

Made in Chengde (Jehol), China, Asia

Context:

Dynasty: Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Period: Qianlong Period (1736-1795)

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Gallery 325, Asian Art, third floor (Imasogie Gallery)

Main Building

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