Art

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