Page 208 - Bonhams NYC Indian and Himalayan Art March 2019

951
A COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF TONPA SHENRAP
TIBET, CIRCA 15TH CENTURY
Himalayan Art Resources item no.61921
7 1/2 in. (19 cm) high
$30,000 - 50,000

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.

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