This intricate and vividly painted thangka illustrates the Bhavachakra or the Wheel of Life which a profound visual teaching on the Buddhist understanding of samsara, the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. At the center, the three poisons of ignorance, attachment, and aversion are symbolized by the pig, rooster, and snake. Surrounding them are the six realms of existence, each finely rendered with remarkable narrative detail and expressive color.
The composition is held within the grasp of Yama, the Lord of Death, symbolizing impermanence and the inevitability of transformation. Above the wheel, the Buddha points toward liberation, representing the path beyond cyclical existence.
The painting is framed within its original textile mount of dark silk and patterned brocade, with traces of age that speak to its devotional use. The reverse bears painted symbols including the endless knot and Buddha’s footprints, invoking auspicious blessings.
A powerful object of meditation and teaching, this thangka embodies both artistic mastery and spiritual depth and is an authentic expression of Tibetan Buddhist cosmology and compassion.
Size: 16.5" x 31" [42cm x 79cm]
Age: Q1 20th Century (1900-1925)
Origin: Tibet
Type of Textile: Thangka
Material: Paint and silk cloth
Condition: Very good
TX572
