Portrait of Munchen Sangye Rinchen, the Eighth Abbot of Ngor Monastery

This thangka belongs to a set of portraits associated with the abbots of Ngor monastery. Munchen Sangye Rinchen served as abbot from 1513 to 1516, when Ngor was at the peak of its power, holding political control over the Ü and Tsang provinces of central and western Tibet. The eighth abbot is seen here seated on a lion protected lotus throne, one hand raised in exposition, the other holding the text from which he preaches. Two lotus stems supporting gem-encrusted holy books flank him and the lobed throne back is studded with jewels. Above presides the Buddha, flanked by ranks of other Buddhist emanations and the patriarchs of the Sakya monastic lineage. In the lower register are wrathful protective deities and the four lokapalas, or directional guardians, shown in yellow, including Kubera. A Tibetan dedicatory inscription appears across the lower margin, and talismanic verses are painted on the reverse.