Zhenjue Temple, the Five Pagoda Temple

Three-story pagoda-roofed pavilion featuring elaborately carved loggia eaves and intricate window screens

Pavilion of Raining Flowers (Yuhua Ge 雨花閣)

Beijing Qing dynasty

Four Mandalas of the Vajravali Cycle

Ewam Choden Monastery, Tsang region, central Tibet 1429–1456

Blue-skinned, many-armed, cow- and human-headed deity in dynamic pose before fiery nimbus

Vajrabhairava Solitary of Rwa Lotsawa Tradition

Western mural painting in Hevajra Chapel, middle floor, Gongkar Chode Monastery, Gongkar County, Lhokha, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1464–1476

Two blue-skinned, many-armed deities holding implements, locked in embrace before fiery nimbus

Hevajra

Northern mural painting in Hevajra Chapel, middle floor, Gongkar Chode Monastery, Gongkar County, Lhokha, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1464–1476

Many-armed, blue-skinned deity locked in embrace with orange-skinned deity holds animal pelt behind back

The Buddhist Deities Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi

Tibet (by a Newar artist) ca. 15th century

Mandala of Eight Great Bodhisattvas

Yulin Cave 25, east wall Middle Tang (781–848)

Black and white detail of wall painting depicting a ruler and his retinue facing a group of three people

Vimalakirti-nirdesha Sutra (Tibetan Ruler Listening to the Dharma)

Mogao Cave 360, east wall, south side; Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China

Golden statue depicting seated Buddha holding bowl in lap, left hand touching ground

Illuminated Manuscript Page Depicting Four Forms of Mahakala & Vaishravana

China 17th century

Bird’s-eye view of golden-roofed palace complex surrounded by gardens with image of blue-skinned Buddha at center

Medicine Buddha Palace (copy of first painting from the set of the Tibetan Medical Paintings from Mentsikhang Lhasa)

Rebgong county, Qinghai province, China 2012-2013

Mandala in rust-reds and greens featuring vajra-pointed inner circle and deity portraits at corners

Vajrabhairava with Consort Vajravetali

China Ming dynasty (1368–1644), second half of the 15th century

Patinated golden sculpture depicting Buddha wearing pointed crown and tall hairstyle seated in meditation

Buddha Vairochana

China Qing dynasty (1644–1911), ca. 19th century

Tarnished copper sculpture depicting many-armed and -headed deity standing with feet planted firmly apart

Chabui (r); album leaf from Album of the Bust Portraits of Yuan Empresses (Yuandai hou banshen xiang shou ce 元代后半身像手冊)

probably Daidu (Beijing), China Yuan dynasty (1279–1368)

Pencil drawing depicting two building complexes situated on peak and spur of mountain outcropping

Deities of the Padmakula Mandala

Dunhuang, China period of Tibetan rule (ca. 781–848)

Close view of screened window featuring forced-perspective frame and densely carved semicircular pediment

Deshay Maru Jhya (Deshay Maru Jhya (Window without an Equal)

Yetakha tol; Kathmandu, Nepal ca. 18th century

Computer-generated image depicting design for monumental white stupa and colossal golden Buddha amid trees

Design for Grand Maitreya Project, work-in-progress

near Ulaanbaatar

Seated Buddha and attendants assembled in circle look upon beasts being slain by two figures

Detail of Morality Tale of Vidura from chapter 76 in the Wish-fulfilling Vine (Bodhisattvavadanakalpalata)

Southern mural painting of the original Main Assembly Hall, ground floor, Gongkar Chode Monastery, Gangto Village, Gongkar County, Lhokha, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1464–1476

Black and white photograph of tapered structure surrounded at base by registers of decoration and deity statues

Detail of Second Tashi Gomang

Densatil Monastery, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) erected from 1360 for Drakpa Gyeltsen

Rabbit with velvety fur places paw in bowl brimming with white pellets before diaphanous tree branches

Detail of Two Arhats and Heshang with a Woman Washing Daikon

Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China dated 1660

Manuscript featuring landscape with stupas, pagodas and clouds at left, text in different languages at right

Detail of Yongle Handscroll, “Delivering the Soul of Ming Taizu,” at Lingusi, Nanjing, with inscriptions in Chinese, Persian, Tay, Tibetan, and Mongolian

China 1407

Full view of large drum mounted horizontally on dark stone base in elephant shape

Elephant-skin drum with stone base inside Longguodian (Hall of Dynastic Prosperity)

China Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

Black and white photograph of two-story, pagoda-roofed building featuring colonnades on both levels

Facade of the main assembly hall of Shara Süme, “Yellow Monastery,” imperial monastery built on the same model as Amarbayasgalant Khiid (1727–1736)

Dolonnuur, Inner Mongolia 1727–1731, partially destroyed by Russian troops in 1945

Line drawing on beige paper depicting seated Buddha and retinue amid profusion of elaborate patterns and forms

Frontispiece of the Chinese translation of Vajracchedika Prajnaparamita Sutra (Diamond Sutra)

Dunhuang, present-day Gansu Province, China 11 May 868 CE

Courtyard featuring second-story loggia under sloping roofline; religious sculptures and implements at center of courtyard

Gopichandra Monastery (Pintu Bahi)

Patan, Nepal 2018

Bird’s-eye view of enclosed complex of domed tents and religious structures behind forecourt filled with figures

Ikh Khüree Naadam

Mongolia 1966

Red-brown carved stone cylindrical base for burning incense; features lotus motif at midsection and inscription

Incense burner with Yongle-period inscription in Chinese, Tibetan, and Sanskrit

China 15th century; Yongle reign (1402–1424)

Photograph of t-shirt-shaped objects mounted on poles at shore of body of water before mountain range

Installation work in the exhibition Keepers of the Water

Lhasa 1996

Black and white photograph of craftsman in his studio chiseling small piece of material to create face

Interior view of the “Jung Ho [Ronghe] idol factory” (copper workshop)

located near the Yonghegong Monastery, Beijing, China 1930s

Black and white photograph of three-story temple with broad base, pagoda roofs, and ornate balustrades and finials

Kalachakra (Dechingalba) Temple in Yekhe Khüriye Monastery

Mongolia late 19th century

Monarch wearing pea-green robe and black headdress depicted sitting, holding scroll in right hand

King of Lijiang, Mu Zeng (1598–1646; r. 1598–1624/46), Official Portrait

Lijiang, China Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

Tall, cylindrical, mahogany-colored pitcher featuring diminutive spout and golden floral motifs covering vessel body

Lacquered Wood Duomu Pitcher with Gold Floral Designs

China 19th–20th century

Monk wearing saffron and red robes, hands posed in mudras, seated on lotus pedestal surrounded by miniature portraits

Lama Zhang

Tangut Xixia 1032–1227

Tarnished, gilded relief sculpture depicting rider on horseback before background featuring figures in miniature

Lhamo

Densatil Monastery, U region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1407–1408

Light yellow tapered tower topped with stupa and covered in geometric moldings; features extravagantly decorated portico and base

Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya, India

Bodhgaya, India

Close view from below of tower clad in decorative molding; features richly carved portico, pediments, and lintels

Mahabuddha Temple

Patan, Nepal 1564–1601

Rectangular textile depicting seated Bodhisattva surrounded by eight smaller deities against background of red and gold

Mandala of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in Several Different Aspects: Padmapani, Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara, Chintamanichakra Avalokiteshvara, and Amoghapasha at center

Dunhuang, China period of Tibetan rule (ca. 781–848)

Mandala mounted on blue and gold textile border featuring deity portraits at bottom and background landscape

Mandala of Sarvavid Vairocana (Durgatiparisodhana from the Vajradhatu Mandala Series)

Inner Mongolia or Beijing ca. 18th century

Line drawing featuring Buddha at center surrounded by concentric rings and square frames decorated with symbols and figures

Mandala with the Five Dhyani (Meditation) Buddhas, symbolic of the five cosmic elements, identifiable as Vairochana (center), Amitabha (top), Ratnasambhava (left), Amoghasiddhi (right); and Akshobhya (bottom)

Dunhuang, China ca. 851–900

Painting depicting deity seated before ornate building, flanked by two framed sets of Chinese characters

Manjughosha Emperor, Niched hanging shrine panel, Eastern Side Hall, Pavilion of Raining Flowers

Three gilded Bodhisattva statuettes: one holds sword in left hand, one sits pensively, one holds vajra in left hand

Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara, and Vajrapani

Imperial Workshop, Nanjing or Beijing Yongle period (r. 1403–1424)

Colorful butter sculpture depicting Bodhisattva raising sword with left arm; holding right hand in mudra at chest

Manjushri, torma butter sculpture

Labrang Monastery, Amdo region, eastern Tibet (Gansu Province, China) 2014

Glazed, milky-white porcelain pitcher with crown-shaped rim; handle features ovoid thumb rest

Monk’s Cap Ewer (Sengmao ju)

Jingdezhen, China Yongle Period (1403–1424); collection of Shah Jahan where it was incised with date 1053 AH (or 1643–1644)

Monarch wearing brown robe seated on throne underneath depiction of deity supported by cloud

Mu Zeng as a Monk (木生白画像)

Xitansi Monastery, Chicken Foot Mountain, Yunnan Province, China 17th century

View from bottom of stupas positioned in long, ascending rows on tiers of gray brick structure

One Hundred and Eight Stupas arranged in a triangular shape on the hill

China period (1038–1227)

Painting depicting bird’s-eye view of prominent palace, temples, and monasteries in green mountain valley

Painting of Temples and Monasteries of Lhasa

Kham region, eastern Tibet 1900–1920

Colorful butter sculpture depicting wrathful deity with blue skin and crown of skulls riding atop horse

Palden Lhamo, torma butter sculpture

Labrang Monastery, Amdo region, eastern Tibet (Gansu Province, China) 2014

Polished brown stone sculpture with gold and red pigment depicting grimacing deity before nimbus of flames

Panjaranatha Mahakala

Tibet 15th century

Beige, red, and green mural depicting various buildings and features of mountainous landscape; Chinese and Tibetan text at top

Panoramic Map of Mount Wutai

Cifu Temple, Wutaishan, China 1846

Beige and green mural depicting in fine detail various buildings and features of mountainous landscape

Panoramic View of Mount Wutai

Mogao Cave 61, Dunhuang, northwestern Gansu Province, China ca. 948

Gilded statuette of seated Bodhisattva with dramatically curved torso wearing elaborate crown and finely articulated accessories

Pensive Avalokiteshvara

Imperial Workshop, Nanjing or Beijing Yongle period (r. 1403–1424)

Pinkish-beige sculpture featuring almond-shaped nimbus with Bodhisattva inset; mounted on base and supported by two columns

Pensive Avalokiteshvara on the back of Maitreya Statue

Yecheng, Hebei Province 547

Enlightened teacher holds implement in hands at chest; flanked by attendants and surrounded by portrait border

Portrait of Vanaratna (1384–1468)

central Tibet 15th century

At left, page featuring Chinese script; at right, three-quarter portrait of bearded man; framed and separated by yellow border

Qubilai Khan; album leaf from Album of the Bust Portraits of Yuan Emperors (Yuandai di banshen xiang ce 元代帝半身像冊)

probably Daidu (Beijing), China Yuan dynasty (1279–1368)

Wrathful red- and pink-skinned deities stand locked in embrace atop prone figure and hooved animal before fiery nimbus

Raktayamari

Imperial Workshop, South China Ming Yongle period (r. 1403–1424)

Medium view under blue sky of low-slung rust-red temple building featuring stupas at corners of roof

Red Temple (Dukhang)

Toling, western Tibet founded 996

Photograph of faded image depicting deities painted on white material applied to face of craggy rock

Rock Painting (no longer extant)

Taktsang, Upper Paro Valley, western Bhutan ca. 14th–15th century

Black and white photograph of two-story building in Russian style; Onion dome atop structure at right

Russian Consulate and Holy Trinity Church

Yekhe Khüriye, Mongolia 1912

Seated Bodhisattva

China late 13th–14th century

Colorful butter sculpture depicting Lama seated between two writhing dragons underneath Buddha with blue skin

Second Jamyang Zhepa (1728–1791), torma butter sculpture

Labrang Monastery, Amdo region, eastern Tibet (Gansu Province, China) 2014

Orange leather saddle featuring gold filigree and turquoise decoration at pommel

Set of Saddle Plates

Tibet or China ca. 1400

Exterior view of canopied monument in weathered gray and brown stone featuring pointed arches and tiered pyramid roof

Shaiva Shrine

Payer, Kashmir ca. 10th century

Black and white photograph of sculpture depicting haloed Buddha wearing sheer tunic standing before full-body nimbus

Shakyamuni Donated by Dhandeva

Shantipura, Svayambhu, Kathmandu, Nepal 15th century

Buddha in orange robe sits cross-legged on grisaille throne while flanked by two smaller men in patchwork robes

Shakyamuni Flanked by His Main Disciples

Lijiang, Yunnan Province 17th century

Colorful butter sculpture depicting Buddha seated underneath richly decorated canopy, flanked by attendants

Shakyamuni, torma butter sculpture

Labrang Monastery, Amdo region, eastern Tibet (Gansu Province, China) 2014

Three panels of paper bearing florid, sprawling illustrations outlined in red ink; eight figures in scrollwork roundels at top

Sketches of Floral Patterns and Mythological Creatures, pages from a sketchbook in a folding book (thyasaphu) format

Tibet (and Nepal?) 1435

Gilded statue depicting Bodhisattva wearing flowing skirt and elaborate accessories standing between two long-stemmed blossoms

Standing Bodhisattva with Yongle-period inscription in Chinese, Tibetan, and Sanskrit on the base

China 15th century, Yongle period (1403–1424)

View from below of upper body of monumental golden Buddha before densely wrought open nimbus

Statue of Seated Vairochana, East Temple, Level 5 (Bumpa) of the Gyantse Kumbum

Gyantse Kumbum, Tsang region, central Tibet (present-day TAR, China) ca. 1427–1440

Colossal statue depicting golden Buddha seated atop plinth; situated on hilltop before clouded mountainside

Statue of Shakyamuni Buddha

Ravangla, Sikkim, India 2013

View from below of colossal Buddha statue seated atop colorful, magnificently decorated plinth

Statue of Shakyamuni Buddha

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India 2015

Colossal statue depicting Hindu deity towers above elaborately decorated gold and white entrance to plinth

Statue of Shiva

Solophok Hill, Namchi, Sikkim, India 2011

Gilded statuette of seated, four-armed Bodhisattva holding sword in leftmost hand and spiritual implements in others

Statue of the bodhisattva Manjushri with Yongle reign inscription in Chinese on the lotus base

China 15th century; Yongle reign (1402–1424)

Seated Buddha enclosed in frame of 20 smaller buddhas and flanked by standing bodhisattvas; carved into weathered boulder

Stone carving of twenty-one buddhas and two bodhisattvas

Manthal village of Skardu, Pakistan ca. late 8th century

Relief carving depicting Buddha seated on lotus pedestal supported and enclosed by scrollwork motif

Stone relief on a wall of Qianlong’s underground tomb

Yuling 裕陵 Mausoleum, Eastern Tombs

Ink drawing depicting three stupas in different forms: One larger stupa at left, two smaller stupas at right

Stūpas in Old Carvings

India ca. 1940

Close view from below of white stupa on square base with eroded, crumbling towers

The Great Stupa

Alchi, Ladakh, India ca. 1220 or later

Red line drawing depicting Buddha at center flanked by two attendants on either side before landscape

The Ninth Karmapa (left) and the Sixth Zhamar (right), editor of the Jang (Lijiang) Kangyur, frontispiece of the catalog (karchak) by the Sixth Zhamar, vol. 109 of the Jang Satham (Lijiang) edition of the Tibetan Kangyur, folio 1a

Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China 1621

Zhenjue Temple, the Five Pagoda Temple

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