Embroidery of Green Tara

CHINA; Qing dynasty

This embroidery of Green Tara was created during the rule of Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1736–1795) of the Qing dynasty.
Green Tara wears a golden crown that partially covers a high topknot. She has a round face, long thin eyebrows, tiny lips, and extended earlobes. She has a multi-layered nimbus and mandorla. Her upper body is bare and she wears necklaces, armlets, and bracelets. A stole is draped around her shoulders and falls down to her knees. She wears a jeweled belt and a long dhoti. Her left hand performs the sharanagamana (refuge-granting) mudra and holds a blue lotus, while the right hand forms the varada (wish-granting) mudra. She sits in the half lotus position on a lotus throne.
Green Tara is flanked by mountains with clouds floating above, together with the sun and moon. In front of Tara is a lotus pond in which a lotus supports a plate with a shining wish-fulfilling jewel. On each side, there is a conch shell and a drum.