A gilt-repoussé figure of Tsongkhapa (1357-1419)

A gilt-repoussé figure of Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) Mongolia, 18th century 17 ¾ in. (45 cm.) high Provenance: From the collection JF Chen.

Acquired in NY in the 1970’s.

Tsongkhapa, also known as Je Rinpoche or ‘Precious Lord’, was born in the Amdo region of Tibet in 1357. He was a highly respected Buddhist scholar, well versed in all traditions, who became critical of what he believed was a loose application of the monastic code and thus devised a new monastic curriculum and code that emphasized discipline and the dialectical study of religious texts. The new tradition he established became known as the “Gelug,” or the “Virtuous System.” Tsongkhapa is thus exalted by Tibetan Buddhists as a both a great mind and founder of this prominent tradition with which the Dalai Lama is associated.

Altan Khan who claimed to be an incarnation of Kublai Khan established a strong relationship between Mongolia and the Gelug sect by the late 16th century–establishing the tradition of the title “Dalaia Lama” after bestowing it upon Sonam Gyatso, Gelug teacher and incarnation of Yuan imperial preceptor Chogyel Phagpa. By 1642 the Gelug tradition rose to theocratic prominence in Tibet by way of violent consolidation with the support of Mongol military power.

Though the Mongolian influence in unified Tibet did not last, the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism remains a predominant religion in Mongolia where the incarnation of a renowned Tibetan lama and historian, Taranatha (1575–1634), known as the First Jebtsundampa Zanabazar (1635–1723) heralded in a golden era of Buddhist patronage and artistic production. All fine arts in Mongolia, including the present sculpture, were deeply influenced by Zanabazar’s own masterworks of Tibetan Buddhist figures.

This impressive technique behind the present figure, however, differs from the cast examples created by Zanabazar himself. Every feature of this elegant figure is gilded repoussé or hammered metal, apart from the beautiful foliate and floral chasing designs that decorate the hems of each monastic garment and the cast hands held in a graceful teaching gesture before the dignified teacher. The current bronze example may have once held the stems of lotus flowers supporting a sword and book, which are the prime attributes of bodhisattva Manjushri. Such iconography follows Tsongkhapa’s hagiography. As a revered incarnation of the bodhisattva Manjushri, Tsongkhapa was reported to have seen and conversed with the deity from a young age.

Comparable Work

Tsong Khapa (1357-1419) Mongolia, 18th century Gilded and painted metal alloy 45.3 x 30.7 x 23.2 in (115 x 78 x 59 cm) Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, 85.04.0301 Purchased from Maurice De Sedle, 1942.

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