ABS 034
Code: ABS 034
Country: Tibet (central)
Style:
Date: 1422
Dimensions in cm WxHxD: 27.1 x 35.5 x 20.6
Materials: Brass
Hollow cast in one piece.
The lips are inlaid with copper.
The monastic garment is intricately decorated with engraved ornaments.
The bottom of the image is sealed with a plain sheet of copper.
The monk, identified by the inscription as Rwa ston yon tan dpal bzang is seated in the diamond attitude (vajraparyankasana) on a double lotus pedestal with beaded borders. He displays the “gesture of setting in motion the Wheel of the Law” (dharmacakra-pravartana -mudra) and is clad with monastic garments (tricivara).
On the upper side of the pedestal is a Tibetan inscription in dBu can script with the name of the represented monk: // Rwa ston yon tan dpal bzang la na mo 26//. “Veneration to Rwa ston yon tan dpal bzang la na mo”. Around the lower edge of the lotus pedestal is a single line dedicatory Tibetan inscription in dBu can script: // brag ’jam dbyangs rin chen rgyal mtshan gyi bsam ba yid bzhin du ’grub par mdzad du gsol//. “I, ’Jam dbyangs rin chen rgyal mtshan, requests that it is executed according to my spirit and my thinking”. The donor of the statue, Jam dbyangs rin chen rgyal mtshan (1364–1422), is possible identical with the abbot of gNas rnying who, in 1421, performed the consecration of the Gyantse sKu ’bum. The depicted monk identified as Rwa ston yon tan dpal bzang was likely the teacher of Jam dbyangs rin chen rgyal mtshan and also of Glo bo mkhan chen [Jackson 30.05.95].
The fact that the monk is shown seated on a lotus pedestal is an indication this statue was commissioned after his death. In Tibet only deceased monks are represented with lotus pedestal otherwise they are shown seated on cushions or without any pedestal.
The lips are inlaid with copper.
The monastic garment is intricately decorated with engraved ornaments.
The bottom of the image is sealed with a plain sheet of copper.
The monk, identified by the inscription as Rwa ston yon tan dpal bzang is seated in the diamond attitude (vajraparyankasana) on a double lotus pedestal with beaded borders. He displays the “gesture of setting in motion the Wheel of the Law” (dharmacakra-pravartana -mudra) and is clad with monastic garments (tricivara).
On the upper side of the pedestal is a Tibetan inscription in dBu can script with the name of the represented monk: // Rwa ston yon tan dpal bzang la na mo 26//. “Veneration to Rwa ston yon tan dpal bzang la na mo”. Around the lower edge of the lotus pedestal is a single line dedicatory Tibetan inscription in dBu can script: // brag ’jam dbyangs rin chen rgyal mtshan gyi bsam ba yid bzhin du ’grub par mdzad du gsol//. “I, ’Jam dbyangs rin chen rgyal mtshan, requests that it is executed according to my spirit and my thinking”. The donor of the statue, Jam dbyangs rin chen rgyal mtshan (1364–1422), is possible identical with the abbot of gNas rnying who, in 1421, performed the consecration of the Gyantse sKu ’bum. The depicted monk identified as Rwa ston yon tan dpal bzang was likely the teacher of Jam dbyangs rin chen rgyal mtshan and also of Glo bo mkhan chen [Jackson 30.05.95].
The fact that the monk is shown seated on a lotus pedestal is an indication this statue was commissioned after his death. In Tibet only deceased monks are represented with lotus pedestal otherwise they are shown seated on cushions or without any pedestal.
Lo Bue, Erberto and Ricca, Franco, 1990. Gyantse Revisited. Firenze: Casa Editrice Le Lettere & Torino: Cesmeo. Pp. 67, 68, 266, 340, 342–43, 344 - References to "Rwa ston yon tan"