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Trisong Detsen
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Trisong Detsen
CHINA, Tibet; 17th–20th century; Color on cotton; 77.5 x 50 cm; Guimet Museum of Asian Art, Paris, France
Records of Tibetan history state that Trisong Detsen (reigned 755-797) was considered to be a manifestation of Manjusri Bodhisattva. He made Buddhism the state religion and invited the great master Santaraksita and the legendary Vajrayana master Padmasambhava to come to Tibet to teach the Dharma. He also built the Samye Monastery.
Trisong Detsen, wearing a golden headdress and a patterned robe, sits on a lotus in the center of the thangka. His large hand and foot prints are arranged beside him. Paying respect to the hand and foot prints of a revered figure is a common practice in Tibetan Buddhism, and they are often seen on 17th and 18th century thangkas. Trisong is shown again in the upper register, sitting on the left beside Padmasambhava and Santaraksita. In the lower register, the wrathful Dharma protectors stand on lotus pedestals, surrounded by flames. |
