Tradruk Monastery: Thangka with Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

CHINA, Tibet, Lhoka

This thangka of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is hung at Tradruk Monastery. The thangka is made of 2,000 pearls in different sizes sewn on an outline drawn on red cloth. Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva wears a five-leaf crown and has thick eyebrows and large eyes. The head and body are surrounded by a nimbus and a mandorla. Inside the mandorla, there is a long-stemmed lotus on either side. Avalokitesvara sits on a lotus throne in royal ease position with the left hand on the ground and the right hand on the knee. Above the Bodhisattva, there is a canopy with floating clouds on either side. The entire image is made of white pearls, except for the eyebrows, eyes, mouth, nose, necklace, and belt, which are made with turquoise and coral pearls.
The simple yet sophisticated thangka compellingly reveals the compassionate nature of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.