Art

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