The Fifth Karmapa, Dezhin Shegpa (1384-1415)

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The Fifth Karmapa, Dezhin Shegpa (1384-1415)

Eastern Tibet, Kham, circa 18th century
Paintings
Mineral pigments and gold on cotton cloth
Image: 31 1/16 x 17 1/16 in. (78.8 x 43.2 cm)
Gift of Christian Humann (M.71.98.2)
South and Southeast Asian Art
Not currently on public view

Curator Notes

...
This portrait of the Fifth Karmapa, Dezhin Shegpa (1384-1415) depicts one of the most influential Karmapas, the lineage holders and spiritual leaders of the Karmapa branch of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. His distinctive ceremonial Black Hat (Shwa-nag), based on a mystical vision of a Black Hat crown made from the hair of a 100,000 Dakinis (Female Sky-goers; enticing demigoddesses), identifies members of his sect. Dezhin Shegpa was an important figure in the spread of Buddhism, as he was the first Tibetan Lama to visit the Ming Court of Chinese Emperor Yongle (1402-1424) in 1403. While there, he bestowed upon the emperor and empress various Tantric empowerments, establishing himself as the emperor’s personal Guru. In the center of the top register, Hevajra and Nairatmya in union are flanked by the teachers rNam-grol-sde and Grol-sde. In the bottom registrar, on the left is Chopel Yeshe (1406-1452), the third lineage holder of the Shamar (Red Hat) branch of the Kagyu sect. In the lower right are Bya-yul-pa and gTsug-rum-pa, who are otherwise unknown. The nimbate Dezhin Shegpa has the Karmapas’ Black Hat crown and wears orange and red patterned robes. His hands are held in the gesture of Turning the Wheel of the Law (dharmachakra mudra). He sits on a Chinese-style throne with ritual objects placed before him on a low table and on the ground. The blue-and-green landscape evinces the assimilation of Chinese stylistic traditions into the Kham region.
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Bibliography

  • Little, Stephen, Tushara Bindu Gude, Karina Romero Blanco, Silvia Seligson, Marco Antonio Karam. Las Huellas de Buda. Ciudad de México : Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, 2018.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya.  Art of Tibet.  Los Angeles; Berkeley, CA:  Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1983.
  • Little, Stephen, Tushara Bindu Gude, Karina Romero Blanco, Silvia Seligson, Marco Antonio Karam. Las Huellas de Buda. Ciudad de México : Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, 2018.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya.  Art of Tibet.  Los Angeles; Berkeley, CA:  Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1983.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya. Art of Tibet. Expanded edition. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1990.
  • Huntington, John C. and Dina Bangdel.  The Circle of Bliss:  Buddhist Meditational Art.  Columbus:  The Columbus Museum of Art; Chicago:  Serindia Publications, 2003.
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