Medicine Buddha Lineage Tree

CHINA, Tibet; Qing dynasty

The blue Medicine Buddha sits on a lotus throne in the center of the painting. The Buddha has an urna between the eyebrows and a usnisa topped with a jewel. Delicate patterns cover the orange monastic robe. The aureole and the nimbus are filled with fine curving lines. Auspicious creatures, flowers, and colorful patterns form an arch around the Buddha. At the bottom of the painting, wrathful Dharma protectors are depicted surrounded by flames.
The rest of the picture is covered with portrayals of more than 30 famous Tibetan doctors, beginning with great physicians from the time of the Tibetan Empire (circa 7th–9th century) and continuing up to the 17th century. The innovative healer Yuthok Yonten Gonpo is among the figures depicted. Traditional Tibetan medicine combines a detailed knowledge of anatomy and analysis of symptoms with an understanding of the energies within the body and the deep-rooted causes of suffering. The thangka is a representation of this synchronicity of spiritual and physical healing.