A RARE THANGKA OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI AND THE SIXTEEN ARHATS

Estimated Value:

20.000 € - 30.000 €

Schätzpreis:

20.000 €

Description:

China, 17th/ 18th c.
101 x 70 / 182 x 93-102 cm
This painting originated from the tradition of Hinayana Buddhism, sometimes called "Small Vehicle", or Theravada Buddhism "Teaching of the Elders". Arhats (gNas brtan) are the enlightened ones of Hinayana Buddhism. They are initially sixteen disciples of the Buddha, especially distinguished from a multitude of followers by their special abilities and circumstances. Later, two more personalities were added to the ranks. The Arhats are revered as leading figures on the Hinayana path because they attained self-salvation by overcoming ignorance and suffering. To Buddha, they pledged to realize the Dharma, to teach it, and to proclaim it to all points of the compass. They are still revered today, although with the development of Mahayana Buddhism, its ideal type - the bodhisattva - has become even more central as a role model. The latter's mission, beyond the personal liberation of the individual from the cycle of suffering, is to promote salvation for all sentient beings, renouncing their own final passage to the state of nirvana, the state of permanent bliss, by transcending suffering through wisdom and compassion. This painting shows in its center the historical Gautama Buddha Shakyamuni, dressed out of deep veneration in a precious gold-embroidered cloak, with purple lining, and in a red gold-embroidered undergarment, with a green belt. He is depicted with the earth touch gesture, the testimonial invocation of his enlightenment, and with his left hand relaxed in his lap. To signify his dignity and immaculateness as a cakravartin, the soles of his palms and feet are painted a delicate pink. His body color is done in gold due to his esteem. Between the brows is the Urna, a small dot-like elevation on the forehead, as one of the thirty-two body features of the Buddha. His hair color is blue, and on the crown of his head is the ushnisha, also called the "wisdom knot," with a crowning jewel. To his left and right are his principal disciples Shariputra and Moghallana, holding alms bowls and the rattle staff of the wandering monks. Buddha's throne is the lunar lotus, reclining on an altar table supported by atlantean-like creatures, with his throne animals, a pair of snow lions, crouching in the altar niches. Above the gloriole of the Buddha, the king of feathered creatures - Garuda - flies with outstretched arms, symbolically holding a defeated naga. On the left and on the right there is a water dragon - Makara. On the top of the throne arch there is a small umbrella of honor, equipped with a wish jewel, and behind it symbolically rises the Bodhi tree, the place of his enlightenment. Around the presence of the Buddha the appearances of the Arhats are lined up. Since the names of the depicted Arhats are sometimes difficult to decipher and an assignment is difficult, only the names of the Arhats are listed here, with their individual characteristics: Angaja; the first of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him who holds the incense bowl and the frond!'; Ajita; the second of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him whose hands form the mudra of meditative equilibrium!'; Vanavasin; the third of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him whose right hand forms the Tarjani mudra and whose left hand holds the frond! '; Kālika; the fourth of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him who holds a pair of gold earrings!'; Vajriputra; the fifth of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him whose right hand forms the Tarjani mudra and whose right hand holds a frond! '; Bhadra; the sixth of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him who holds his hands in the mudra of Dharma declaration and meditative balance!' Kanakavatsa the seventh of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him who holds a necklace of precious stones!'; Kanakabharadvaja; the eighth of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him whose hands form the mudra of meditative balance! '; Bakula; the ninth of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him who holds in his hands a mongoose!'; Rāhulabhadra; The tenth of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him who holds a diadem!'; Cudapanthaka; the eleventh of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him whose hands form the mudra of meditative equilibrium!'; Pindola Bharadvaja; the twelfth of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him who holds a book and an alms bowl!'; Panthaka; the thirteenth of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him who holds a book in his left hand and whose right hand shows the mudra of Dharma declaration'! Nagasena; the fourteenth of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him who holds a vase and a begging stick!'; Gopaka; the fifteenth of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him who holds a book in his hands!'; Abheda; the sixteenth of the sixteen Arhats; 'Worship to him who holds an enlightenment stupa in his hands!' These are followed by the two laymen: Hvasang, 'the China monk', who does not belong to the group of sixteen saints, and Dharmatala, who are usually depicted together. Hvasang is the messenger who delivered the (legendary) invitation to China to the sixteen Arhats on behalf of the Chinese emperor. Like Dharmatala, Hvasang is said to have accompanied the group on the march from Tibet to China. The ever-laughing pot-bellied Hvasang is considered a generous alms-giver and benefactor. Children climb all over him, making it clear how much he deserves trusting affection. In Tibet, Dharmatala is considered an incarnation of the Transcendent Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. He is regarded as a voluntary, self-sacrificing servant of the sixteen arhats, who fans them with the yak hair frond, refreshes them from the water bottle, and caries their books on the back stretcher, which are still especially protected by a screen are protected. At the bottom follow the Four World Guardians (Lokapalas): In the east, Dhrtarashtra rules, his color is white; he holds a mandolin and is lord over the Gandharvas. In the south Virudaka rules; his color is blue or green, his attribute is a sword; the demons are subject to him. In the west dwells Virupaksha, of red color, holding a stupa or jewel and a snake, for he is the lord of the Nagas. The north is protected by Vaishravana , the god of wealth, he is the lord of the Yakshas; his color is yellow, he has as attributes lance, flag and mongoose. He is also worshipped as the god of wealth. In the history of Buddha the Lokapalas appear at all important points, already at the conception, the birth. At the departure from the world life they hold the hooves of the horse. When he gave up the strict fast, they handed him four bowls, which he miraculously fused into one. Tempera and rich gold on cotton fabric, modern silk mounting.
Private collection Rhineland, collected before 2000
Published: Thangka Calender 2005, Windpferd Verlag - For a stylistically similar thangka see Sotheby's London, 14.11.1988, lot 21- Somewhat soiled, minor wear and water stains

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