Art

  • Head of a Lokeshvara
  • Buddhist Pocket-sized Prayer Altar
  • Budai
  • Yakshi, Nymph with Lotus Flowers, fragment of a baluster
  • Buddhist Monk
  • Leaving for Homelessness
  • Stupa
  • Female Monkey with Her Young
  • The Buddha Begins Teaching
  • Shyamatara, Green Tara
  • Monumental Head of a Bodhisattva
  • Head of a Buddha
  • Votive Stela Depicting Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Thangka of the Twenty-One Taras
  • The 4th Dalai Lama Yonten Gyatso (1589–1617)
  • Head of a Monk
  • Plaque Showing the Buddha Teaching
  • Seated Bodhisattva
  • Votive Stela with Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Padmasambhava
  • Taima Mandala, the Buddha Amida’s Paradise
  • Sitatara, White Tara
  • Bodhidharma Crosses the Yangtze River on a Reed
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion in the Posture of Royal Ease
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Meditating Under the Bodhi Tree
  • Dharmatala and two lokapalas From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • The Arhats Panthaka, Gopaka, Nagasena, and Abheda From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Dharmapala Yama
  • The Descent of Buddha Amida
  • Vajradhara, the Primordial Buddha
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Tames the Wild Elephant Nalagiri
  • Amida Nyorai, Buddha of the Western Paradise
  • Standing Buddha
  • Jambhala, the God of Wealth
  • Green Tara (Shyama Tara)
  • The Descent of Buddha Amida
  • Guhyamanjuvajra
  • The Three Buddhas Dipankara, Shakyamuni, and Maitreya
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Printing Block for a Prayer from the Text “Embodiment of the Three Jewels” by Jatson Nyingpo (1585–1656)
  • The Bodhisattva of Compassion as the Bringer of Sons
  • Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • The Death of the Buddha
  • The Transcendent Buddha Akshobhya
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Mahasiddha Virupa
  • Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom
  • Relief of the Five Transcendent Buddhas
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, as the Patron of fishermen
  • The Buddha’s Parinirvana
  • Bodhidharma
  • Shaka Nyorai, the Historical Buddha
  • Buddha Shakyamuni as a Newborn Infant
  • Stela Showing Scenes from the Life of the Buddha
  • Shakyamuni Enters Nirvana
  • Mara’s Daughters Tempt the Buddha
  • Machig Labdrön
  • Vase with Lotus Vines and the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism
  • Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • The Arhats Vanavasin, Angaja, Kalika, and Ajita From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Six Persimmons
  • Sakya Pandita (1182–1252)
  • The Arhats Kanakavasta, Vajriputra, Kanaka Bharadvaja, and Bhadra From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Dharani Sutra of the Heart of the Perfection of Insight
  • Monastic Rules for Monks
  • Travel Shrine
  • Standing Bodhisattva
  • Rectangular Coin
  • Buddha Vairocana
  • Head of the Buddha
  • Gendün Gyatso, the 2nd Dalai Lama (1476–1542)
  • The Four Excursions
  • Baisajyaguru, the Medicine Buddha
  • Standing Monk with Hands Folded
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Praying Priest
  • Standing Tara
  • Buddhist Monastic Rules from the Pali Canon
  • Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Standing Buddha Amida
  • Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Buddha Shakyamuni 
  • The Ascetic Milarepa
  • Gazelle
  • Portrait of the Abbot Ennin
  • Head of the Buddha
  • Buddha Shakyamuni at the Moment of his Awakening
  • Buddha Shakyamuni with Scenes from his Life
  • Buddhist Votive Stela of the Yan Family
  • Prince Siddhartha’s Wedding
  • Hotei, One of the Gods of Good Fortune, with Child
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Padmasambhava with his 25 Tibetan Pupils From a series of 7 thangkas
  • State Oracle Garment
  • The Arhats Bakula, Rahula, Cudapanthaka, and Pindola From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Ceremonial Dagger Featuring the God of Death
  • The Bodhisattva of Compassion Sitting in Meditation
  • Vijaya Stupa
  • The Layman Huashang and Two Lokapalas From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Attains Awakening Under the Bodhi Tree
  • Ushnishavijaya
  • Dakini Vasya-Vajravarahi
  • Jizo Bosatsu, Bodhisattva in the Guise of a Monk
  • Buddha Shakyamuni and the Earth-Touching Gesture
  • Hotei
  • Buddhist Votive Tablet
  • The Prophecy of the Wise Asita
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Large Votive Stupa
  • Great Stupa at Sanchi
  • Buddha Maitreya
  • Padmasambhava with his 25 Tibetan Pupils From a series of 7 thangkas
  • Head of a Bodhisattva
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Buddha Dipankara, the Buddha of the Past
  • Stupa
  • Shyamatara, Green Tara
  • Buddhist Votive Tablet
  • Excerpt from the Lotus Sutra
  • Half-length Portrait of the Zen Patriarch Bodhidharma
  • Bust of a Luohan
  • The Four Pleasures of Nan Shenglu (detail)
  • The Prophecy of the Buddha Dipankara
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Empress Jito, from the series “Parody of the Ogura Version of ‘One Hundred Poets, One Hundred Poems’ ”
  • Buddha Shakyamuni From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Sheltered by the Serpent-King
  • The Buddha Invokes the Earth Goddess as his Witness
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Invokes the Earth Goddess as his Witness
  • Portrait of the Zen Priest Gemmon Doyu
  • Pancha Raksha Manuscript
  • Seated Bodhisattva
  • Zen Priest in a Golden Wrap
The 4th Dalai Lama Yonten Gyatso (1589–1617)

The 4th Dalai Lama Yonten Gyatso (1589–1617)

The Mongol ruler Altan Khan conferred the title of Dalai Lama (“Ocean-like Teacher”) on the head of the Gelug School in 1578.

After the lama's death, his reincarnation was found to be the son of a Mongol prince, thus further consolidating the ties between the Gelug School and its Mongol patrons. The child was recognized as the 4th Dalai Lama, Yonten Gyatso (1589–1617). 

In this standardized portrayal, the 4th Dalai Lama sits upon a throne. To his right, we see the monastery of Sera, where he was abbot. Appearing in a vision at the top left is his teacher, Panchen Lama Lobzang Choki Gyaltsen (1570–1662). Three protective deities wreathed in flames surround the Dalai Lama.