Page 76 - Bonhams NYC Portraits of the Masters Bronzes march 2017

3261
A LARGE GILT COPPER ALLOY REPOUSSÉ FIGURE OF
NAZA DRAGPUGPA SONAMPEL
TIBET, CIRCA 17TH CENTURY
Inscription translated, ‘I prostrate to Dragpukga [“Master of the Rock Cave”], who was
enriched by the glory of the two goals [of oneself and others], well born from the two
assemblies of merit and primordial awareness, and who was diligent in single-pointed
meditation. Eighth on the left’.
Himalayan Art Resources item no.2276
16 1/4 in. (41 cm) high

US$100,000 - 150,000

西藏 約十七世紀 銅鎏金錘疊那札嘉普巴索郎培像

Naza Dragpugpa Sonam Pel (c.1277-1350) is the 17th lineage holder of the lamdre
teachings. He received the tantric cycle from Shangton Khonchog Pel (c.1250-1317)
and transmitted it to Pelden Tsultrim (1333-89), a teacher of Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo
(lot 3266), who founded Ngor Monastery in 1429. The bronze’s inscription includes
instructions on where to place it within the lineage set it originated from.
A highly respected teacher, Sonam Pel did not have a particularly political monastic
career. He cultivated a reputation for prolonged solitary meditation, earning him the
epithet ‘Dragpugpa’ (‘Master of the Rock Cave’). Among his illustrious students were
the 13th Sakya Tridzin (throne-holder) of Sakya Monastery, who received high imperial
recognition from the Yuan emperor Toghon Temur (r.1333-70), and the 14th Sakya Tridzin,
Lama Dampa Sonam Gyeltsen (1312-75), considered to be one of the foremost Sakya
masters. Lama Dampa taught two students who would later contribute significantly to the
end of the Sakya’s rule over Tibet within his lifetime, Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) and the Tai
Situ Changchub Gyaltsen (1302-64), the latter establishing the subsequent Phagmodrupa
dynasty.
Published
Portraits of the Masters, pp.252-3, no.67.
Published & Exhibited
Monasterios y Lamas del Tibet, p.201, no.163.

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