Once the succession of Tibetan Gurus and disciples had reached significant proportions, it became popular custom to represent such spiritual genealogies in the form of a cosmic tree uniting all the saints, buddhas and deities of the order concerned.
This thangka shows the refuge tree of the Tibetan Buddhist Sakyapa lineage with the historical Buddha Shakyamuni in the center.
Rising out of the cosmic waters with the world mountain Sumeru, the tree, which is in blossom, is guarded by a lot of protectors of the Teaching [lowest row], which belongs to the Kagyupa Pantheon.
he painting shoes four sections of saints, Buddhas and goddesses:
The Sakya [Tibetan: ས་སྐྱ་, Wylie: sa skya, »pale earth«] school is one of four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the others being the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug. It is one of the Red Hat Orders along with the Nyingma and Kagyu.
The Buddhas, saints and deities depicted can be classified into four groups:
| 1. Lamas of Shakyapa lineage |
| 2. Lamas of Kagyu lineage |
| 3. Yidams and |
| 4. Dakinis |
| 1. Lamas of Sakyapa lineage | 2. Lamas of other lineages |
| 3. Yidams and | 4. Dakinis |
More about the symbolism of the tree of refuge
| Our Refuge Tree Thangkas |
|---|
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Measurements: | 50 x 78.7" | 127 x 200 cm |
| Price: | on request |
| Shipment: | Parcel Service from Germany or Nepal |
| Color: | Color Version |
| Material: | Natural Stone Colors |
| High resolution: | Display [3.3 MB, 2310 x 3609 px.] |
