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hand of a Siddha, from the Lhakang Karpo ('white-god-house') Toling
in the Lhakang Karpo ca 15thC.,
Toling, far Western Tibet.
I love the attention to detail of this painting. Look how the artist has depicted the 'quick', and the grime beneath the nails of this siddha (Enlightened being). The delicate attention to shading and vivid colouration are typical of Gu-ge style which had its origins in Kashmir a century or two before this was painted.
This painting is on the wall of a temple at Toling in far western Tibet. Here, from the 13th to 16th century, the Kingdom of Gu-ge flourished; religion and art were given royal patronage; and numerous temples were heavily decorated. Many of those vivid paintings survive at Toling to this day.
The black and white decoration is part of the heavily decorated robe which covers his knee. On his fingers are coral rings in a style still popular with Tibetans.
There are numerous exquisitely depicted images similar to this one around the walls of the White Chapel.Next month: The view from a hospital.
Mts Kangteka and Thamserku, Everest region Nepal.
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To see other images from this era and find out about its history
look at our Gu-ge page.
For a more intensive look at the art check our Gu-ge art page.
If you would like to visit Gu-ge and the holy mountain Kailas
in western Tibet
see our Kailas tour to the 'navel
of the world'.
return to the photo page from which this account originates.
revision 18 Mar 2001
http://www.greenkiwi.co.nz/footprints/photo/ph9804.htm
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