The Tibetan Iconography of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Other Deities

Buddhism developed throughout the centuries to include a bewildering diversity of deities in an ever-increasing number of pantheons. It began with a few distinctive symbols, such as footprints, the Bo tree, or stupas, in pre-Christian Indian art. It's interesting to note that there are currently as many Buddhist pantheons as there are nations, internal regions, or sects within those nations. One of these several Buddhist pantheons, Chou Fo Pu-sa sheng Hsiang Tsan, is the subject of this article and is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Lamaist art. It is a unique collection of 360 woodcuts/xylographs that was created by Rol. pahi.rdo.rje, alias Lalitavajra, an imperial preceptor of Emperor Chien-lung (1736-1795). The images depict various forms and manifestations of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, tantric and tutelary deities, arhats, sages, teachers, dharmapalas, and protective divinities