TIBETO-CHINESE, 18TH CENTURY

Details

A Dharmadhatu Vagishvara Manjushri Mandala
Tibeto-Chinese, 18th Century
Very finely painted on a yellow ground of scrolling lotus imitating embroidery, the mandala at center depicting a miniature form of Manjushri seated within a lotus aureole, encircled by red, green, white and yellow bands of lotus scrolls extending outwards bordered by concentric squares highlighted with gold detail, terminating with triratna finials within concentric circular borders consisting of lotus scrolls, stylized petals in gold, a red band with gold flowers, a blue band with jeweled banners and a green band with various parasols against a spray of vines, with gateways in the four cardinal directions supporting dharmachakra wheels flanked by a pair of deer, the outer borders with variegated lotus petal and flaming cloud scrolls, mounted on silk brocade bearing a cloth label inscribed in Tibetan, nyer gsum chos dbyings gsung nyis brgya bcu dgu... 23, dharmadhatu manju...
22¼ x 17 3/8 in. (56.5 x 44 cm.)

Lot Essay

This painting is most likely related to a Gelugpa tradition within China. The Indian source text is the Mayajala Tantra belonging to the Yoga class of Tantra (from the four general classes of Buddhist Tantra).

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