TIBET, CIRCA 1800

Details

Thangka of Dharmaraja Songtsan Gampo
Tibet, circa 1800
The Dharma king seated in rajalilasana wearing richly brocaded red, green, blue and orange robes, holding a lotus stalk in his right hand and a chakra in his left, attendant figures and Jhambala in the forground, all against a green landscape with the city of Lhasa in the background, mounted on Chinese brocades and silks
25 x 15 in. (63.5 x 38 cm.) high

Lot Essay

This painting comes from a set representing the previous incarnations of the Dalai Lama, his incarnations being as follows: Avalokiteshvara, King Konchog Bang, Songtsan Gampo, Lama Dromton, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, Chogyal Phagpa, then the incarantions of the Dalai Lamas, in succession. Songtsan Gampo began his rule over the Tibetan Empire in approximately 621, and traditionally is regarded as one of the great Dharma Kings by virtue of his founding the city of Lhasa and introducing Buddhism to Tibet.

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