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Lot Essay
This extremely rare painting depicts the life stories of the Tibetan saint Tangtong Gyalpo Tsondru Zangpo (1385/61-1464/85). His name, Tangtong Gyalpo, literally translates to ‘King of the Empty Plain.’ Tangtong Gyalpo was renowned for constructing iron bridges throughout Tibet and for developing a variety of medicinal formulas focused on healing and promoting longevity, many of which are still in use today. He is also credited with the creation of Tibetan opera, known as Achi Lhamo. There's a belief among some that he initiated opera as a method to generate funds for his numerous bridge-building projects.
This amazingly beautiful and historically significant painting belonged to a larger set, likely produced in Riwoche, Eastern Tibet.. There are three other paintings known to be from this same set: the central painting, and the 'right 3rd', and ‘right 4th’.This painting has an inscription located at the top center on the verso indicating it as the 'left 4th' in the complete set of displayed compositions. Compare the present lot with the ‘right 4th’ painting from the same set illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources item number 65932.
In the present painting, there are both Tibetan numbers and short descriptive texts describing the stories from Tangtong Gyalpo's life. The stories depicted within this painting include having a vision of the face of the Chemchog Heruka, meeting with the Bodhisattva Manjushri, encountering the king of China, teaching the art of iron bridge building, dwelling in meditation on the glorious Chubori mountain, and many more. In this painting, the numbers begin with 211 through 235, possibly corresponding to a biography of Tangtong Gyalpo popularized in Tibet in the 19th century.
Although Tangtong Gyalpo typically appears as an old man with long white hair, the present painting depicts Tangtong Gyalpo as a young and energetic yogi. His long lustrous hair is painted with the bright blue of Lapis, and his body is painted in gold. He is seated upright atop a tiger rug and cushioned throne, his upper body naked in the posture of meditation. He holds a link of chain in his right hand, symbolizing the art of bridge building, and his right hand holds an offering plate in which jewels and a longevity vase with medicinal plants are placed within. Tangtong Gyalpo had a profound connection with both the Sakya and Shangpa Kagyu Traditions. He is even recognized as the initiator or forebear of a specific branch of Shangpa known as the Chagzam Lineage. The majority of Tangtong Gyalpo's literary output consists of meditational techniques that he formulated based on 'Pure Vision' experiences he encountered across various locales in Tibet. Other written contributions are associated with Shangpa Kagyu meditation methodologies. Within the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, there exists a comprehensive body of texts purported to be authored by Tangtong Gyalpo, detailing the numerous 'Revealed Treasure' teachings he discovered during his extensive travels across Tibet, Bhutan, and the Himalayan areas.
This amazingly beautiful and historically significant painting belonged to a larger set, likely produced in Riwoche, Eastern Tibet.. There are three other paintings known to be from this same set: the central painting, and the 'right 3rd', and ‘right 4th’.This painting has an inscription located at the top center on the verso indicating it as the 'left 4th' in the complete set of displayed compositions. Compare the present lot with the ‘right 4th’ painting from the same set illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources item number 65932.
In the present painting, there are both Tibetan numbers and short descriptive texts describing the stories from Tangtong Gyalpo's life. The stories depicted within this painting include having a vision of the face of the Chemchog Heruka, meeting with the Bodhisattva Manjushri, encountering the king of China, teaching the art of iron bridge building, dwelling in meditation on the glorious Chubori mountain, and many more. In this painting, the numbers begin with 211 through 235, possibly corresponding to a biography of Tangtong Gyalpo popularized in Tibet in the 19th century.
Although Tangtong Gyalpo typically appears as an old man with long white hair, the present painting depicts Tangtong Gyalpo as a young and energetic yogi. His long lustrous hair is painted with the bright blue of Lapis, and his body is painted in gold. He is seated upright atop a tiger rug and cushioned throne, his upper body naked in the posture of meditation. He holds a link of chain in his right hand, symbolizing the art of bridge building, and his right hand holds an offering plate in which jewels and a longevity vase with medicinal plants are placed within. Tangtong Gyalpo had a profound connection with both the Sakya and Shangpa Kagyu Traditions. He is even recognized as the initiator or forebear of a specific branch of Shangpa known as the Chagzam Lineage. The majority of Tangtong Gyalpo's literary output consists of meditational techniques that he formulated based on 'Pure Vision' experiences he encountered across various locales in Tibet. Other written contributions are associated with Shangpa Kagyu meditation methodologies. Within the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, there exists a comprehensive body of texts purported to be authored by Tangtong Gyalpo, detailing the numerous 'Revealed Treasure' teachings he discovered during his extensive travels across Tibet, Bhutan, and the Himalayan areas.