A COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF TONPA SHENRAP


TIBET, CIRCA 15TH CENTURYHimalayan Art Resources item no.61921 7 1/2 in. (19 cm) high
|西藏 約十五世紀 敦巴辛繞銅像 Bon as a religious tradition appeared in Tibet around the 10th and 11th centuries, and has continued till the present day. Due to its similarities with Buddhism, some Western scholars have described Bon as an 'unorthodox form of Buddhism'. However, both the followers of Bon (Bonpos) and Tibetan Buddhists consider Bon as a distinct religion (Per Kvaerne, The Bon Religion of Tibet, Boston, 1996, p.10). Crowned and bejeweled in regal dignity, this bronze figure closely resembles that of Buddha Akshobhya. However, the Bon left-turning yundrungs (swastikas) appearing at the center of the throne and in bloom by his right shoulder, identifies the figure as Tonpa Shenrap, the founder of the Bon religion. Tonpa Shenrap is also known as Shenrap Miwo ("Supreme Priest, Great Man"). He is considered by Bonpos to be enlightened teacher of Bon in the present world, whose role is comparable to that of Shakyamuni in Buddhism. His life story is recorded in Bon literature and painting. Born a prince, Tonpa Shenrap became king of Tazik, the holy land of Bon situated to Tibet's west. Tonpa Shenrap travelled widely to propagate the Bon doctrine through preaching and rituals. In Bon art, he can be represented in two appearances – a crowned and bejeweled form like the present lot, or a Buddha-like figure wearing monastic robes. For an example of the latter, see a gilt bronze sculpture in the Pritzker Collection (Karmay and Watt (Eds), Bon: The Magic Word, New York, 2007, p.20, fig.8). The present lot is an especially handsome example of Tonpa Shenrap with a facial type influenced by the Early Ming imperial Buddhist style that received great appreciation in contemporaneous Tibet, particularly in the Tsang region of Central Tibet.