TIBET - Lot 68

TIBET Thangka painted in gouache on fabric depicting an episode in Buddha's life: the cutting of the hair, marking the beginning of the "great renunciation" (abhiniskramana). Framed with red, yellow and blue moiré silks adorned with the shou character. Gouache size: 62 x 41 cm. Himalayan world, 20th century. Overall dimensions: 112 x 64 cm Notes A thangka preserved at the Musée Guimet provides an identical illustration of this episode in the life of Shakyamuni, the future historical Buddha. Determined to overcome suffering, attain enlightenment and help all beings, Shakyamuni leaves his father's palace, renouncing his princely life. Once in the forest, he divests himself of his jewels and sumptuous garments, sacrifices his hair and dons the saffron robes of an ascetic. He appears in the center, in front of a stupa, with a vajra behind him, cutting his hair with a cutlass. To his left are his diadem and earrings. Around the central scene are depicted other episodes in the life of the Blessed One: Siddhartha's hair is taken to the heaven of the thirty-three gods; the future Buddha follows the teachings of Brahman masters; asceticism; the future Buddha takes his first meal after asceticism; the offering of the grass bed and the offering of the alms bowls by the four lokapala (regent kings of the directions of space). Slight wear