Collection place: Xizang autonomous region (Tibet), Tibetan Pleatau, China / Function: 7.0 Use not specified (Communication, Records, Currency, and Measures) - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Collection place Xizang autonomous region (Tibet), Tibetan Pleatau, China Function 7.0 Use not specified (Communication, Records, Currency, and Measures)

Hearst Museum object titled Book cover, wood, accession number 9-22078, described as This is a wooden book cover for a Buddhist text. There are five figures carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a floral sky. Left to right they are: Amoghasiddha (North) Amitabha (West) Vairocana (Center) the principle figure Vajrasattva (East) Ratnasambhava (South)The identification of these five is fairly certain, but lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. These five Buddhas are often pictured without crowns. In this scene, they all have crowns. Here we have Vajrasattva rather than the more typical Akshobhya in the East. Vajrasattva and Akshobhya are closely identified and are, in some limited contexts, interchangeable.Compare to T-155 (See also T-121. T-156, T-157, etc.)

Hearst Museum object titled Book cover, wood, accession number 9-22009, described as This is a wooden book cover for a Buddhist text.There are three figures carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a floral sky. These appear to be the "Three Times Buddhas". Left to right they are: Dipankara (past), Shakyamuni (present), and Maitreya (future). The identification of these figures is fairly certain, but lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. These three Buddhas are pictured here on their thrones of highest Enlightenment, surrounded by the auspicious beings are symbols associated with the attainment of perfect Buddhahood. Compare this to T-187, which has the same three Buddhas in a different order. (See also: T-121. T-155, T-156, etc.)

Hearst Museum object titled Book cover, wood, accession number 9-22007, described as This is a wooden book cover for a Buddhist text.There are five figures carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a floral sky. Left to right they are: Vajrasattva (East), Ratnasambhava (South), the principle figure-Amoghasiddha (North), Vairocana (Center), and Amitabha (West). The identification of these five is fairly certain, but lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. These five Buddhas are typically pictured without crowns. In this scene, they all have crowns. Here we have Vajrasattva rather than the more typical Akshobhya in the East. Vajrasattva and Akshobhya are closely identified and are, in some limited contexts, interchangable.On the back is half of a mandala. Probably the mandala was carved first, accidentally broken in half, and, to conserve precious wood, the reverse side used to care this book cover.Compara with T-189. See also T-121. T-156, T-157, etc.

Hearst Museum object titled Book cover, wood, accession number 9-22008, described as This is a wooden book cover for a Buddhist text.There are three figures carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a floral sky. These are the Three Great Lords (rigs gsum mgon po). Left to right they are: Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara, and Vajrapani. See also T-121, T-155, T-157, etc.

Hearst Museum object titled Book cover, wood, accession number 9-22070, described as This is a wooden book cover for a Prajñaparamita text. There are three figures carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a floral sky. Left to right they are: the Goddess Prajñaparamita, the Buddha Shakyamuni on a lion throne, and the Buddha of the Future, Maitreya. The identification of these three is fairly certain, but lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. Wooden book covers are used typically with volumes of the Buddhas own words such as the Prajñaparamita sutras. Compara with T-190. See also: T-155, etc..

Hearst Museum object titled Book cover, wood, accession number 9-22072, described as This is a wooden book cover for a Buddhist text. There are three figures carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a background of many small figures of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Lamas. These appear to be the "Three Times Buddhas". Left to right they are: Shakyamuni (present), Maitreya (future), and Dipankara (past). The identification of these Buddhas is fairly certain, but lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. These three Buddhas are pictured here on their thrones of highest Enlightenment, surrounded by the auspicious beings are symbols associated with the attainment of perfect Buddhahood. Compare this to T-157, which has the same three Buddhas in a different order. (See also: T-121. T-155, T-156, etc.)

Hearst Museum object titled Book cover, wood, accession number 9-22077, described as This is a wooden book cover for a Buddhist text.There are three figures carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a background of sacred symbols and flowers. These appear to be, left to right: 1. Shakyamuni Buddha, 2. Green Tara on her throne of highest Enlightenment (surrounded by the auspicious beings are symbols associated with the attainment of perfect enlighenment), and 3. a Lama, perhaps Je Tsongkhapa, with the sword of wisdom on his right and the book of Dharma on his left. Although these attributes fit Je Tsongkhapa, the hat is not his typical pandita hat. The identification of these figures is not completely certain, as the lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. See also: T-121. T-155, T-156, T-157, etc.

Hearst Museum object titled Book cover, wooden, accession number 9-22075, described as This is a wooden book cover for a Prajñaparamita text. Here are three figures carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a background of many small figures of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Lamas with a floral sky. Left to right they are: 1. the Buddha of the past, Dipankara 2. the Goddess Prajñaparamita3. the Buddha Shakyamuni on a lion throne Wooden book covers are used typically with volumes of the Buddhas own words such as the Prajñaparamita sutras. These three figures each have two chief attendants, or disciples on either side. They are pictured here on their thrones of highest Enlightenment, surrounded by the auspicious beings are symbols associated with the attainment of perfect Buddhahood. The identification of these figures is not completely certain, as the lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. Compare to T-121 and T-191. See also: T-155, T-156, T-157, etc.

Hearst Museum object titled Book cover, wooden, accession number 9-22076, described as This is a wooden book cover for a Prajñaparamita text. Here are three principal figures, two secondary figures, and many small figures of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Lamas carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a background of with a floral sky. Left to right they are: 1. the Buddha Vairocana, Sarvavid 2. the Goddess Prajñaparamita (the principal figure) 3. the Buddha Shakyamuni on a lion throne These three figures are pictured here on their thrones of highest Enlightenment, surrounded by the auspicious beings are symbols associated with the attainment of perfect Buddhahood. The secondary figures, on either side of the Goddess Prajñaparamita, are Buddha Amitayus on the left and Green Tara on the right. Wooden book covers are used typically with volumes of the Buddhas own words such as the Prajñaparamita sutras. The identification of these figures is not completely certain, as the lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. Compare to T-121 and T-190. See also: T-155, T-156, T-157, etc.

Hearst Museum object titled Letter opener, accession number 9-22147, described as This appears to be a letter opener. It is probably from Tibet, however it could be from China or Japan.