Distemper and gold on cloth. Seated in dhyanasana on a lotus base, the deity’s hands holding a vajra and ghanta at the chest, clad in heavy patchwork robes and flanked by blue lotus blossoms at the shoulders supporting the sword and book, the face with a serene expression surmounted by a pointed cap and backed by a nimbus, framed by numerous scenes from Tsongkhapa’s life story with detailed identifying inscriptions.

Provenance: A private collection in Germany and thence by descent. Inscribed to the back, ‘WEIR/4B’.
Condition: Good condition with wear, creasing, minor soiling, small losses, few tears and minor fraying to edges, minor flaking to pigment. The colors are particularly fresh and crisp, the piece is thus presenting exceptionally well.

Dimensions: Image size 72 x 50 cm

The founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, Je Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), appears at the center of the composition surrounded by vignettes from his life story with minuscule and neatly painted identifying inscriptions. This thangka comes from a series of 15 thangkas telling the story of Tsongkhapa’s life.

The standard set of paintings depicting the life story of Tsongkhapa, designed in the early 18^th century by Jamyang Shepa (1648-1721/22), has fifteen individual compositions. Typically hung in the grand hall of monasteries, they illustrate how, throughout his previous lives, Tsongkhapa, the 15th century saint and scholar of Tibet, cultivated the Path leading to Enlightenment and how his spiritual progression was attested by prophecies of all the Buddhas of the past. When this group of fifteen thangkas is hung, the first thangka traditionally occupies the central place. For further information, see Francoise Wang, Dje Tsongkhapa, 2002.

The present thangka is the sixth in the series of fifteen, showing various places where Tsongkhapa taught, wrote, or received teachings from other masters, presently identified as:

1. During the winter, Je Tsongkhapa gives lectures in a grotto of Kyormo lung.
2. When autumn comes, yearning to listen to the Basket of the Tantra, he goes to the region of Tsang and arrives in Rong where he listens to the teaching of high learned Masters.
3. Je Tsongkhapa bestows the empowerment of Sarasvati to Lama Umapa. Through the mediation Lama Umapa who has visions of Manjusri, Je Tsongkhapa asks Manjusri questions.
4. He goes to Taktsang where he meets learned Masters and receives teachings from them.
5. In Ba-U Bagner, he receives explanations on the Guyasamaja from the Venerable Rendawa.
6. In Chos-lung, he questions Manjusri through the mediation of Lama Umapa.
7. In Nyang-to, Je Tsongkhapa meets Rinpoche Chos-kyi pel and requests him to give teachings.
8. In Nyang to, in the Tri Tsakang, he studies ritual dances and melodies as well as the manner of tracing mandala and executing mudras.
9. One night, he dreams that Master Kyungpo Lhe comes to him holding a bell and a vajra and that having placed these objects on his head he utters the word ‘Karma bendza’
10. He dreams that Master Kyungpo Lhe shows him his heart in which a rosary of mantras is turning.
11. He receives initiations from the Master Kyungpo Lhe (11bis). Under the direction of Gyeltsen Drakpa, he studies the ritual dances and melodies as well as the manner of tracing mandalas and executing mudras.
12. He listens to the teachings of Rinpoche Chos-kyi Pel in Panam Pakri.
13. He stays in Kadung in U region with Lama Umapa.
14. Retreat with Lama Umapa.
15. Visions of Manjusri.
16. Je Tsongkhapa stays in Lhasa with Lama Umapa.
17. He receives the four initiations of the Guyasamaja from Lama Umapa.
18. Je Tsongkhapa gives numerous teachings in Kyormo lung.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 11 May 2017, lot 20
Price: GBP 20,000 or approx. EUR 33,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A thangka of Tsongkhapa, Tibet, 19^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and manner of painting with a similar rendition of surrounding vignettes from his life story with identifying inscriptions. Note the size (68 x 45 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2014, lot 79
Price: USD 21,250 or approx. EUR 26,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A thangka depicting Tsongkhapa
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and manner of painting, with a similar rendition of surrounding vignettes from his life story with identifying inscriptions, albeit overall with slightly more gilt than on the present lot. Note the size (54.6 x 46 cm).