Art

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

Sakya Pandita (1182–1252)

This superbly crafted figure is believed to depict the famous abbot Sakya Pandita (1182–1252). The beginnings of Tibetan theocracy date back to his era; in this form of government the ruler was a religious figure or someone held to be a divinity. 

Sakya Pandita’s splendid attire indicates the secular aspect of the Sakya School. This type of cap, for example, was typically worn by members of this school. The book and sword are references to the Bodhisattva Manjushri; Sakya Pandita was considered to be an emanation of that being.