Buddha Maitreya (Primary Title)
applique thanka (Object Name)
Unknown (Artist)
Large thangkas, appliquéd with many pieces of colorful cloth, were made for display at Tibetan monasteries during certain religious festivals, This beautiful example shows Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, sitting on a lotus with his hands held in the teaching gesture. In the clouds above him are two important Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders: Tsongkhapa (with sword and book) and Kelsang Gyatso, the Seventh Dalai Lama (1708-1757). An inscription at the bottom dedicates this banner to the long life of the Seventh Dalai Lama and informs us that it was commissioned by the abbot Jamyang Dondrup, shown kneeling at the lower right. He offers to Maitreya the Wheel of Teaching, a symbol of the Buddhist Law. Opposing him is the Tibetan state oracle, wearing armor and holding a banner and bow. Between them sits Kubera, the god of wealth.
Gift of Berthe and John Ford
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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