Thangka

Thangka painting, with the central figure of Dharmatala. The painting shows five figures identifiable by their iconography, as well as by labels in Tibetan script. The central figure is Upasaka Dharmatala (label = dharma.ta) shown with his standard attributes: a flywhisk, a tiger, an incense burner, a case of books at his back, a circular canopy above his head, and a Buddha that he is visualizing in in a wisp of cloud in front of him. Dharmata is one of two figures often added to Tibetan thangka sets depicting Śakyamuni and the 16 Arhats. The other figure is Hva shang who resembles the Chinese Budai 布袋 iconography.

The two figures above, seated, with halos behind their tonsured heads, are two of the Sixteen Arhats.Top right is the Arhat Subinda (Ch. Xupintuo 蘇頻陀, Lha. Michepa, WT mi.phyed.pa), seated on a throne holding a miniature stupa, and adored by a bearded Central Asian with a dish of offerings. Top left is the Arhat Gopaka/Jīvaka (Ch. Shubojia 戍博迦, Lha. Bejepa, WT sbed.byed.pa), holding a Tibetan-style book. Below Dharmatala are two of the Four Guardians of the Directions. On the right is Vaiśravaṇa (Ch. Duo wen tian wang 多聞天王, Lha. Namtösé, WT. rnam.thos.sras) holding his jewel-producing mongoose. On the left is Virūpākṣa (Ch. Guang mu tian wang 廣目天王, Lha. Chen Mi Zang, WT spyan.mi.bzang) holding a stupa in his hand. Rocks in Chinese Style. This composition belongs to a seven painting set depicting Sakyamuni Buddha and the Sixteen Elders.