A TIBETAN POLYCHROME YELLOW SEDIMENTARY SILT STONE FIGURE OF MANJUSHRI YAMANTAKA

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A TIBETAN POLYCHROME YELLOW SEDIMENTARY SILT STONE FIGURE OF MANJUSHRI YAMANTAKA
14TH/15TH CENTURY

Standing in pratyadhasana on a human figure, reclining on a lotus base, his right hand raised and holding the karttrika, the left the kapala, wearing dharmapala ornaments, a mala of severed heads, his face with angry expression, bulging eyes, open mouth showing teeth, beard, five leaf crown, patras, flaming hairdress, flaming halo behind, the reverse with lenghthy inscription and mantras in dBu.can and Lantsha script--6¾in. (17.3cm.) high

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Christie's would like to thank Ms. Heather Stoddard, Paris, for allowing us to publish her translation of both inscriptions.

Both stone sculptures belong to a serie of Buddhist protective deities. To my knowledge no other stone examples in Western collections are known, that form a part of a serie and date as well to the late fourteenth or early fifteenth centuries.
Although the inscription of lot 36 refers to Avalokitesvara, an attribution to Mahakala is more likely. The attributes and dharmapala body ornaments are more in line with Sadbhujamahakala than with Avalokitesvara. A possibility of a mistake or misinterpretation by the carver or the person who wrote the text is not to be excluded.
Interesting is that the inscriptions not only reveal the donator, but as well the carver and the monastery where they were carved. Unfortunately it is with the present state of our knowledge impossible to find more information about the donator, sculptor or monastery. It is obvious that both objects will become extremely important for our (art) historical knowledge of Tibet, when more information becomes available.
As mentioned hardly any other inscribed stone images are existent. Most famous and well-known is the magnificent black stone example belonging to Musee Guimet, Paris and published by G. Beguin, Art esoterique de l'Himalaya, la donation Lionel Fournier, Paris, 1990, pp. 52-56. This stele is dated by Heather Stoddard to A.D. 1292
A similar yellow sedimentary silt stone example, dating to the twelfth century, is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and published by M.M. Rhie and R.A.F. Thurman, Wisdom and Compassion, The Sacred Art of Tibet, New York, 1991, p. 125. The authors remark, based upon information given by Robert Ellsworth, that this particular stone type, like the one under review, is typical for Southwest China.
Altogether one can say that both sacred images are unique and unknown amongst collections in the Western world.

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The inscription reads as follow:
"So as to obtain realisations in accordance with the Word, and to protect the Teachings, the glorious lama Chos.dpal.bzang.po had this stone image, this excellent vessel of the word of 'Jam.dpal.bShieed (=gShin.rjed), the internal methods of attaining the King of the Law, made by the sculptor Rigs.'dzin.no(r).bu.rgyal.mtshan, in the splendid monastery of dPal.'bar.sgang 'Glorious Burning Ridge'. Through this virtuous action may all obstacles to the doctrine be appeased, may the actions of upholding the teaching and affirming the life of the lama be broadened."