Tangka
20th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This scroll painting or tangka depicts the ‘Wheel of Existence’ (phonetic Tibetan: Sri pai khorlo; transliterated Tibetan: Srid pai ‘khor lo). Such wheels are often found as wall paintings outside Tibetan temples. It shows the six worlds of existence into which sentient beings are born, depending on their good or bad karma built up during life. At the centre of the diagram are the three qualities that cause rebirth. The cock represents desire, the snake hatred and the pig ignorance. Around the outside of the wheel are the 12 Nidanas representing the 12 stages by which rebirth and death take place. The wheel is held by the wrathful Yama, ‘Lord of Death’.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tempera on cloth |
| Brief description | Thang-ka; tempera on cloth; Wheel of life, Tibet; 20th century. |
| Physical description | Thang-ka; tempera on cloth; |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mrs Dora Creagh |
| Object history | Formerly owned by Captain Creagh, Commander of the military escort to the British Trade Agent in Gyantse, 1909-1911. |
| Historical context | A scroll painting or tankga depicting the "Wheel of Existence" Tib. Sri pa khorlo, from Gyantse monastery, Tibet. This picture is a type of teaching diagram that shows the six worlds of existence within which sentient beings are born as the result of their individual karmas. It is usually found as a wall painting outside the entrances to temples in Tibet. At its centre are the cock representing desire, the snake hatred and the pig, ignorance which combined keep the wheel of existence turning on its axis and beings being re-born. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This scroll painting or tangka depicts the ‘Wheel of Existence’ (phonetic Tibetan: Sri pai khorlo; transliterated Tibetan: Srid pai ‘khor lo). Such wheels are often found as wall paintings outside Tibetan temples. It shows the six worlds of existence into which sentient beings are born, depending on their good or bad karma built up during life. At the centre of the diagram are the three qualities that cause rebirth. The cock represents desire, the snake hatred and the pig ignorance. Around the outside of the wheel are the 12 Nidanas representing the 12 stages by which rebirth and death take place. The wheel is held by the wrathful Yama, ‘Lord of Death’. |
| Bibliographic reference | Lippincott, Kristen, with Umberto Eco, E.H. Gombrich and others. The Story of Time. London: Merrell Holberton in association with National Maritime Museum. ISBN 1 85894 072 9 / 1 85894 073 7. p.238, no. 259. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.262-1916 |
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| Record created | January 14, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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