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Tabo Monastery Central Hall: Monk Teaching the Dharma
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Tabo Monastery Central Hall: Monk Teaching the Dharma
INDIA, Himachal Pradesh; circa 11th century
This mural is painted on the south wall of the ambulatory surrounding the inner shrine within the central hall of Tabo Monastery. It is part of a set of depictions of major events in the history of the monastery. According to the inscription at the bottom, this mural depicts the royal monk Jangchub O teaching the Dharma to monks and the Guge royal family shortly after the completion of the renovation work he was overseeing at the monastery.
Jangchub O, resembling a Buddha, is located in the middle of the image. He wears a red monastic robe over a blue collared top with long sleeves that cover his hands. Two Dharma wheels are painted below him, and there is a canopy above his head. At the top of the image, two attendants hold the ends of a hanging curtain.
There are two rows of figures on the left side of the mural. The bearded figure on the right in the lower row wearing a flat head covering and a garment with long sleeves is identified as a prince and patron of the monastery by a cartouche beside his head. Two royal monks sit in the upper row. On the right side of the mural, there is a group of 17 monks dressed in the monastic robes of Tabo Monastery. One of the figures, presumably the abbot, wears a hat and displays a mudra. The remaining monks have peaceful expressions and join their palms as a sign of respect. The figures in the mural have varied red, brown, and white complexions, an indication of the diversity of the region and the influence of Jangchub O across national and ethnic boundaries. |
