Footprints & Handprints

肃火斤

Paintings of hand and footprints of famous Buddhist teachers, predominantly Kagyu, Gelug and Nyingma.

The Tibetan custom of having drawings done based on the physical outline of a teachers feet appears to be an oral instruction coming down from Gampopa Sonam Rinchen. The most famous early text describing this practice was written by Pagmodrupa Dorje Gyalpo - a direct student of Gampopa. A number of early paintings are known that depict the feet of Drigung and Taglung teachers. Currently there are only about four paintings known - in the East or the West - depicting a Karmapa with footprints.

Note that with some Karmapa Guruyoga paintings the lineage Karmapas are depicted with the palms of the hands and soles of the feet directed towards the viewer.

Following after the use of footprints, handprints begin to appear and be incorporated into the composition of paintings. Although somewhat later, they become popular with the Gelug Tradition in the 17th century.

Although with a different meaning, handprints are also found on the backs of paintings placed there as a blessing - as part of the sanctification of a work. This manner of blessing appears to have been done by all traditions of Himalayan Buddhism but with the very different intention than that of the footprints placed on the front of a painting.

The Nyingma Tradition appears to have adopted the practice very late, possibly following the example set by the 5th Dalai Lama and Desi Sanggye Gyatso in the 17th century. So far there are no examples on the Himalayan Art Resources website of Sakya footprint compositions, or any affiliated schools. Historically it is a Kagyu tradition supported by early Kagyu writings later taken up by the Gelug hierarchs and painters.

附件01.

Teacher (Lama) - Karmapa 3, Rangjung Dorje

Tibet

1300 - 1399

Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist Lineages

Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton

Collection of Private

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附件02.

Teacher (Lama) - Pawo 3, Tsuglag Gyatso

Tibet

1600 - 1699

Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist Lineages

61.26x44.45cm (24.12x17.50in)

Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton

Collection of Rubin Museum of Art

Tsuglag Gyatso, the 3rd Nenang Pawo Rinpoche (1567/68-1633) surrounded by depictions of his previous incarnations. He was a principal student of the 9th Karmapa Wangchug Dorje and later became the teacher of the 10th Karmapa Choying Dorje.

At the top center is Shakyamuni Buddha with Shariputra on the proper right side and Maudgalyayana on the left. Descending on the left are Amitayus - the Buddha of Infinite Life, Shantarakshita, Atisha, Dromton, and Chen Ngapa. Descending on the right are White Tara, Maitripa and Shantideva, Buton (?), ... , and Putowa.

At the bottom center is the deity Hevajra with the Tibetan teacher Marpa Goyag at the proper right and Mar Goleg at the left.

The inscription along the bottom margin of the painting states that the subject of the painting is the teacher Lobpon Pawo along with his previous incarnations.

Jeff Watt 7-2000. Updated 10-2005

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附件03.

Mongolia

1800 - 1899

Buddhist Lineage

78.74x54.61cm (31x21.50in)

Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton

Collection of Rubin Museum of Art

肃火斤

附件04.

Teacher (Lama) - Tsongkapa

Tibet

1800 - 1899

Gelug Lineage

Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton

Collection of Tibet House Museum, New Delhi

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