Page 56 - Tibetan Thangka Painting Methodsand Mat, Jackson

2) Peaceful Bodhisattvas thighs 22
The main members of the second class were knees 3
bodhisattvas who possessed peaceful appearances, such calves 22
as Manjusrl and AvalokiteSvara. The porportions of this feet 3
class were exactly the same as those of the Nirm~akaya
Buddhas, except that ~ sor was subtracted from each 108 so,:
large unit of measure. The total height and arm span of
Horizontal measures (half of the arm span):lS
such figures was thus 10 large measures of 12 sor each,
or 120 sor. chest 10
Vertical measures: upper arm 18
forearm 14
head protuberance 4 hand 12
top of skull to hair line 4
face 12 54
neck 4 full arm span: 108 sor
chest 12
stomach 12 The tantric goddesses such as Vajravarahi, when
lower abdomen 12 depicted in a standing posture, had an actual height of
hips 4 less than 108 sor from the soles of the feet to the
thighs 24 hairline. This was because some height was lost due to
knees 4 the bent knees, tilted head and bent torso of the figure
calves 24 in contrapposto ('gying).
feet 4
4) Tall Wrathful Bein$s
120 sor This fourth main class includes the wrathful
bodhisattva Vajrapal).i, and other figures belonging to
Horizontal measures (half of the arm span):l4 the angry Yak~a (gnod sbyin) or Yama class. The class
measures 8 spans in height and arm span, although due
chest 12
to their proud, aggressive posture the length of the
upper arm 20
forearm 16 vertical axis from the feet to the hairline is only 6 spans:
hand 12 Vertical measures:
60 hair 12

Full arm span: 120 sor face 12
neck 4
More detailed proportions had to be specified for torso 36
bodhisattvas with complicated forms, such as the knees 4
thousand-armed Avalokitesvara. calves 12
feet 4
3) Goddesses seat 12
Within the third main class were included the
96 sor
famous peaceful goddesses such as Tara, Prajiiapara-
mitaand Sarasvati, as well as semi-wrathful yogi~s such Theoretically, however, if the figure stood erect
as Vajravarahi, Na-ro mkha'-spyod-ma, and the consorts it would measure 8 spans from the hairline to the feet:
of var)ous male yi-dams. According to some sources, face 12
peaceful male gods of the mundane sphere such as neck 4
Indra and Vi~l).u also belong to this class. The propor- torso 36
tions of these goddesses and gods are similar to those thighs 18
found in the first two classes, but with a few important knees 4
subtractions that bring the total body length to 9 large calves 18
units of 12 sor each, or 108 sor total. fuet 4
Vertical measures: 96 sor
top of skull to hair line 3 In actual practice the thighs occupy the same vertical
face 12 area as the lower abdomen (here covered by a distended
neck 3 belly), and the vertical length of the calves is shortened
chest 12 by their slanted position.
stomach 12
lower abdomen 12 Horizontal measures (half of the am, span):
hips 4 chest 12

52 SKETCHING AND THE THEORY OF ICONOMETRY