Tsatsa with Panchen Lama

CHINA

This clay tsatsa was made in the early 20th century and, according to the Japanese inscription on the back, it was a gift from the Seventh Panchen Lama to Japanese monk Ekai Kawaguchi during his visit to Tibet in 1914.
The rectangular tsatsa depicts the Panchen Lama seated on an upright lotus throne in the center. He wears a ceremonial hat and is dressed in a monk’s robe. Behind, there is a nimbus and a mandorla.
Sakyamuni Buddha appears in the top left corner, seated on a lotus throne performing the bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra. In the top right corner, the Four-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva performs the anjali (reverence) mudra. In the bottom left and right corners, there are White Tara and Acala, respectively. An indecipherable line of Tibetan text appears along the bottom.