Inscriptions on Art
(with some O.T. Edicts, official documents)
Compiled by Dan Martin
for educational purposes and for free distribution only.
I only yesterday attended, remotely via Zoom, a very fine lecture by Yannick Laurent, part of a lecture series in Tibetan and Himalayan Studies at the Humbolt University, Berlin. Its title: “Himalayan Bronzes and Epigraphy: From Early Collections to Modern Fakes.” Along the way the speaker, who teaches in University of Bern, voiced a complaint about there not being any corpus of Tibetan art inscriptions. I thought to myself that even if my listing isn't likely to suit anyone's high standards — I've several times changed my style during the years it was compiled, and have never succeeded in making much order out of it — I should let it go out into the world as it is, since some researchers will find it useful as a search file.
This file has several parts. The 1st part groups together literary sources for the history of Tibetan art. The 2nd part is a collection of inscriptions of all kinds. It is designed as a handy search file, for use of persons with interests in art, language and history. I think it is especially useful in the attempt to understand the terminology typically used in art inscriptions (or at least the opportunity to see the term used in other inscriptional contexts, which can prove quite useful sometimes). Be aware that my standards of transcription have changed over the years, and I have often regularized alternative systems used in source works into ordinary Wylie without comment. Ideally, I should have always typed out inscriptions with correct spelling in the way I believe they must be read, while also supplying a more scientifically accurate account of what the actual readings are, misspellings, abbreviations and all. If I had it to do over today, I would have consistently used Sanskrit diacritic marks. As it is they are haphazard, and often omitted.
For a bibliography of Tibetological literature on inscriptions, see
http://www.univie.ac.at/Tibetan-inscriptions/sub.bibliography.htm
For studies of Tibetan inscriptional materials in general, see the volume edited by Kurt Tropper & Cristina Scherrer-Schaub, Tibetan Inscriptions, Brill (Leiden 2013). This file does not follow 'standard procedures' detailed by Cristina Scherrer-Schaub in her contribution to that same publication, and not because I think they ought to be disregarded, simply that I haven't followed them, and this is reason enough to emphasize that this file is meant as an access key to the inscriptional material, and the original inscriptions ought to be referenced whenever possible!
David Jackson, in his book Mirror of the Buddha, pp. 21-22, nicely lists the four main types of inscriptions (with thangka paintings):
1. labeling inscriptions.
2. dedicatory inscriptions.
3. record of consecration.
4. color codes.
A general note: This file is intended to be used as a kind of word-index to the various sourceworks. It does not take the place of those sourceworks. The original sourceworks simply must, in every case, be consulted directly. In particular, Old Tibetan inscriptional material has been somewhat 'normalized' here; reverse gi-gu is not represented as such, the original line-breaks have not usually been preserved, I haven't always employed the optimal textual sources, there are certainly some typographical errors and so forth, I have often corrected spellings without comment according to my own lights. Included here are first of all Old Tibetan inscriptions and edicts, but also, in the last and largest part, random inscriptions found on artworks of all types and time periods. I have sometimes given inscriptions not only in their 'texto' form, but also in a form 'corrected' by myself (this was done in order to aid computer word searches, which it certainly does!). Not everything included here is technically an 'inscription', since official documents and other writings that are somehow non-books may be found here as well.
If you see something here that you think should not be here, let me know and I will fix all problems immediately.
Reting Paintings
Note: Before you are listings of paintings that were kept at Reting Monastery from a guidebook to that same monastery, followed by listings of artworks from other literary sources, then edits and long stone inscriptions from Old Tibetan era. Useful for finding references to early Kadampa art, words typically used in thangka inscriptions and so forth.
Source: Lhun grub chos 'phel, Rwa sgreng dgon pa'i dkar chag, pp. 121-138:
da ni sku rten bris ma rnams kyi lo rgyus rags rim tsam zhu ba la / thog mar jo bo'i sku 'dra dbu yon ma che bar grags pa 'di ni / jo bos byang chub kyi thugs sbyong ba'i 'dra 'bag tu dge bshes ston pa [122] rin po che nas bzhengs mdzad par / skya ris btab nas gzigs su phul bas jo bo'i zhal nas / a re kho bo 'di lta bu yod dam gsungs nas thugs mnyes mnyes mdzad cing rab tu gnas pa jo bo rje nyid kyis lan mang du gnang ba'i byin rlabs kyi gzi 'od lham mer bzhugs shing / glang ri thang pa rdo rje seng ge'i zhal nas / byang rwa sgreng gi rten gsum rnams kyi nang nas 'dam du bcug na jo bo'i sku 'dra dbu yon ne ba de 'dam / de ci'i phyir zhe na jo bo dngos dang khyad par med pa'i phyir ro // zhes gsungs so //
'di'i zhal lan gcig mthong ba dang / ser bus phog pa tsam gyis kyang 'khor ba dang ngan song las thar ba gdon mi za gsungs shing / phyis su yang 'jam mgon bla ma tsong kha pa chen pos dgon pa gong du gdan drangs te gsol ba btab pas jo bo rje la thub pa'i dbang po nas nam mkha' rgyal mtshan bar gyi lam rim brgyud pa'i bla ma rnams kyis zhal mngon sum du gzigs / khyad par du jo bo rje dang po to ba / sha ra ba rnams zla ba gcig gi bar du zhal gzigs shing dams pa dang rjes su bstan pa mang du stsal nas mthar po to ba dang sha ra ba sogs jo bo rje la thim te a ti shas phyag spyi bor bzhag nas khyod kyis bstan pa la bya ba rgya cher bgyis dang byang chub sgrub pa dang sems can gyi don byed pa'i grogs bdag gis bya'o gsungs nas sku 'di nyid la thim pa sogs ngo mtshar che zhing byin rlabs kyi tshan ka shin tu myur ba dang / bris sku rnams kyi nang nas [123] rab dang mchog dang gtso bo dang phul du byung bar grags so //
jo bo'i sku thang dbu yon ma chung bar grags pa 'di ni / jo bo rje dpal ldan a ti sha de nyid snye thang du gzhan don la gshegs rgyu dgongs pa gtad zin nas / rnal 'byor pa chen po la khyod rang rgya gar du song nas rdo rje gdan gyis gtsos pa'i gnas chen khag dang dpal ldan bla ma dam pa rnams kyi drung du gser dang 'phrin yig la sogs phul zhig gsungs par / rnal 'byor pa chen pos bla ma yang sku na mthon por phebs shing dgongs pa gtad tshul sogs la brtag na phyin chad khyod sku yid bzhin nor bu ma mjal na mi rung zhus par / jo bo'i zhal nas / blo gtad thug pa grogs kyi mchog / bya ba yin pas / da lan khyod cis kyang rgya gar du song la gser dang yi ge 'di rnams 'bul yul so sor skyol cig / khyod da lan ma phyin na kho bo dang mjal yang don gyis ma mjal ba yin / khyod gang du 'dug kyang kho bos byin gyis rlobs pas cis kyang song gsungs par / rnal 'byor pa chen pos / bla ma rje btsun chen po bka' drin can bdag bsdad pa la mi mnyes 'gro ba la mnyes na bka' gcog tu ga la rung 'gro ba lags so zhus pas / jo bo rje'i zhal nas / bla ma mnyes pa grub pa'i mchog // nad med pa ni bde ba'i mchog // blo gtad thug pa grogs kyi mchog // ces bya ba yin pas da lan khyod kyis gser dang yi ge 'di rnams rdo rje gdan [124] gyis gtsos pa'i gnas chen rnams dang bla ma rnams kyi drung du skyol cig / khyod gang du 'dug kyang kho bos byin gyis rlobs pa yin / kho bo dran par gyis gsungs nas jo bo nyid kyi shangs tshal phyung nas des skya bris btab te lha bzo la gtad pas lha bzo bas gdugs dang sham bu med pa la sham bu btags / mandal ljang gur 'dug pa la ljang ser du sgyur ba de ma gtogs jo bo rang gi phyag ris yin par grags /
de nas rnal 'byor pa chen pos rgya gar du byon te tshur phebs skabs thang dpal mo dpal thang du bod kyi tshong pa mang po dang 'phrad pas / rnal 'byor pa chen pos deng sang bod du kha skad ci 'dra yod ces dris par / kha skad cher mi 'dug a ti sha mya ngan las 'das 'dug zer bas / kha skad chung ngur mi 'dug chen por 'dug gsung nas / de ma thag tu sku di 'khar gsil gyi rtse mor bkram nas gsol ba btab pas / jo bo rje nam mkhar dngos su byon nas rnal 'byor pa chen pos kho bo'i don du dka' ba chen po spyad ang gsungs / de'i dus su zhus lan rnams gzigs su phul ba'i mthar jo bo sku 'di nyid la dngos su thim /
de nas rnal 'byor pa chen pos /
bha ga lar bltams dge slong gang //
mar me mdzad dpal ye shes zhes //
rig pa'i gnas lnga kun la mkhas //
bslab pa gsum dang yang dag ldan //
sgrub la brtson mdzad 'bad rtsol gyis //
rang dang lha yi zhal mthong ba'i //
gzhan gyi don la rtag dgyes pa //
bdag cag rnams kyi bla ma lags // [125]
a ti sha la phyag 'tshal lo //
zhes pa'i bstod pa sogs mdzad cing / jo bo dngos dang dbyer ma mchis pa'i mthong ba don ldan du bzhugs pa lags so //
thub pa dang seng ldeng nags sgrol 'di gnyis ni jo bo rje dpal ldan a ti sha'i yab rgyal po dge ba'i dpal dang / yum padma 'od zer can rnam gnyis kyi thugs dam gyi rten du bzhengs te / bu mo lo brgyad ma gcig gis ras 'thag / khye'u lo brgyad pa gcig gis skya ris btab nas tshon bkye ba sogs ya mtshan shin tu che zhing / de nyid sprul pa'i khye'u dang bu mo yin par grags shing rab gnas kyang bla ma gser gling pa chen pos lan mang mdzad par yongs su grags so //
yi ge drug pa 'di ni / rnal 'byor ma me ha ras u rgyan gyi yul du bzhengs te padma sambha wa'i phyag nas bzhugs shing thugs dam gyi rten mdzad de rim par brgyud nas gser gling pa chen po'i phyag tu byon / des jo bo la gnang / jo bos rnal 'byor pa shes rab rdo rje la gnang / rnal 'byor ma me ha ra nas rnal 'byor pa shes rab rdo rje yan rnal 'byor pa bcu gsum la zhal dngos su gzigs shing phyis su shes rab rdo rje rwa sgreng du phebs dus dgon pa gong du khong rang gi spyil bu'i nang du lha 'di gdan drangs te gsol ba 'debs pa'i skabs su / sku mched gsum rog ngom rgur du 'tsho ba la spyan drangs te byon pas / shes rab rdo rje phyir phebs pa dang / [126] 'bum chung ki ru na mjal bas / shes rab rdo rje'i zhal nas / khyed rang gi lha rtsis po che de ya gir bzhugs 'dug gsungs / khong la rkang mgyogs kyi rdzu 'phrul yod pas gsang phu dang rwa sgreng gi bar la dro lam re res phebs pa yin / sku mched gsum dgon gong gzims khang du phebs tsa na / lha 'di ma sgril bar bzhugs gda' skad do //
der po to ba'i zhal nas / rnal 'byor pa de ni bris sku la ltos mi dgos pa'i rgyud tshod la slebs ang gsungs / spyan snga ba'i zhal nas / rnal 'byor pa de ni rnam pa thams cad du rang nyid lhar gzigs pa zhig yin ang gsungs / phu chung ba'i zhal nas / rnal 'byor pa de ni chags med zhen med cig yin ang gsungs / phyis su stab kha ba chen po sku gshegs khar jo bo'i thugs dam gyi rten 'ga' shas yar gdan drangs pa dang lha 'di yang gdan drangs te gsol ba shugs drag btab par / deng sang sems can la ci mkho gsungs / stab kha ba'i zhal nas / deng sang sems can rnams la char pa mkho bar 'dug pas / jo bo nga'i sems can rnams la thugs rjes char pa dbab tu gsol zhus par skad cig gcig gis char babs pas stab kha ba'i char 'bebs ma dang / lha 'di gang du gdan drangs par 'bri re 'bul bas jo bo 'bri 'dod mar grags shing lhag par du sems can gang dang gang gis 'di'i zhal lan gcig mjal bas kyang ngan song du mi skye ba sogs phan yon shin tu che bar gsungs so // [127]
sgrol ma dkar ljon 'di gnyis kyi byung ba brjod pa ni / phyag dar ston pa dang yongs rdzogs rnal 'byor pa rnam gnyis dngul gdugs can gyi ched du dngul sgrub sar bal yul du byon te bsgrubs zin nas thang dpal mo dpal thang du tshur phebs pa'i nub mor rmi lam du rje btsun ma byon nas sang khye'u ras 'tshong mkhan zhig 'ong bas de nyos nas nged la phul na lam du 'jigs pa dang bag tsha ba bgyid mi dgos pa gnyer kha rang gis byed pa yin gsungs / nang par khye'u zhig gis ras yug gcig khyer nas byung bar nyos te dngul gyi ljang pa dang lhan cig dril nas rje btsun ma'i na bzar bsngos te tshong pa tshan gcig dang 'grogs nas byon pa'i nub mo gcig la jag pa byung nas tshong pa rnams bcom par dngul gyi ljang pa rnams ka pa la'i dbyibs can byad gad skyibs su bzhag pas / jag pa rnams kyis de la 'goms nas song ngo //
rwa sgreng du phebs nas de'i lo rgyus rnams ston pa rin po che la zhus pas / ston pa rin po che'i zhal nas / rje btsun ma de dkar sngon gang du gda' gsungs par / dkar sngon ni shan ma phyed / skyabs ni dngos su skyabs byung zhus pas / da 'o na ras der sgrol ma dkar sngon gnyis ka bzhengs gsungs nas de ltar grub 'phral ston pa rin po che nyid nas rab tu gnas pa lan mang mdzad de 'di ri mo'i rnam pa dod tsam yin yang sprul pa'i sku dngos dang khyad par med gsungs pa sogs bsngags brjod chen po gnang ba yongs su grags so // [128]
rje btsun ma'i sku 'di ni bla ma nâ ro pa'i thugs dam gyi rten yin la khong rang gis rab gnas mdzad cing gsol bar btab pas / nâ ro pa chen po la zhal mngon sum du gzigs shing gsung gi snang ba thogs med du stsal / des jo bo la gnang / jo bos rnal 'byor pa chen po la gnang bas mtha' bzhi sgom pas sgril nas lha phon gyi gseb tu bzhugs par / sangs rgyas dbon ston rwa sgreng du byon skabs bla ma nâ ro pa'i rje btsun ma ga re red gsungs par / gang du bzhugs sam zhus pas / lha phon gdan drongs shig gsungs nas gdan drangs pas lha phon gyi gseb nas phyag gis tog te bzhes nas dbu thog tu bzhag ste kha sang nga nâ ro pa chen po so tsa mor mjal dus na nga'i jo mo don grub ma dkar mo gnas mchog rwa sgreng na bzhugs yod gsungs / dge 'dun rwa sgreng ba rnams da phyin chad lha 'di ma sbed par khroms shig gsungs pa sogs ngo mtshar rmad du byung ba'i byin rlabs can lags so //
gshin rje gshed ma he la chibs pa 'di ni / jo bo'i bla ma gshin rje gshed kyi rnal 'byor pa chen po'i thugs dam gyi rten yin zhing sngon ma ga dha na du ru ka'i dmag byung ba'i dus su bla ma gshin rje gshed kyi rnal 'byor pas lha 'di'i mdun du mchod gtor zhig bshams nas gsol ba btab te bag phye'i zan la bya rog gi gzugs bcos te dmigs pa la man mkhar khebs pa zhig gnang nas bya rog [129] gi gshog pas dmag thams cad bsdus nas chu bo gangga'i pha rol tu btang ngo // de'i dus su ma he 'di la rtsod pa thal lcag gis bsnun pas ma he 'dis rwa yog yog byung skad dang thal lcag gi rjes da lta yang gsal bar yod pa kun gyi 'dren byed kyi yul du gyur / 'di bla ma gshin rje gshed kyi rnal 'byor pas jo bo la gnang / jo bos dge bshes khu la gnang / khu'i dbon po gcig gis dge bshes sha ra ba la phul / sha ra bas rwa sgreng du phul te khong rang gi thugs dam gyi rten du mdzad pa'i byin rlabs shin tu che bar grags so //
yang gshin rje gshed kyi sku 'di ni / 'brom rin po ches jo bo la gshin rje gshed kyi sgrubs thabs zhus par / lha 'di yar grus byed pa cig yod nga'i bla ma gshin rje gshed kyi rnal 'byor pa la zhal dngos su gzigs kyang ngas ma mjal khyod kyis sgrubs dang mjal yong gsungs nas stsal bas de bzhin du sgrubs par mdzad pa'i ring or ma lon par zhal gzigs pa byung zhing jo bo nyid kyis rab gnas lan mang mdzad pa lags so //
parna sha ba ri 'di ni / spyan snga rin po ches / spyir bod kha ba can pa dang / sgos dge 'dun rwa sgreng pa bsrung ba'i lha gcig dgos gsungs nas bzhengs shing rab gnas kyang khong rang gis dam tshig pa dang ye shes pa dbyer med du byin gyis rlabs pa mdzad cing lha 'di yul gang du gdan drangs pa'i sa phyogs kun tu mi nad dang phyugs [130] nad sogs rgud tshogs gang gis kyang mi tshugs pa mngon sum gyis grub pa lags so //
'jam dpal rdo rje'i gser thang 'di ni / ston pa rin po ches 'jam dpal rdo rje'i sku tshab tu bzhengs shing jo bo rje'i phyag nas 'khrul med bzhugs pa sogs gzi byin lhag par 'phel ba'o //
bcu gcig zhal 'di ni / rgyal po bde spyod bzang po'i thugs dam gyi rten dang dpal mgon 'phags pa klu sgrub kyi phyag nas bzhugs //
phyag na rdo rje 'di ni a me sman rgan gyi thugs dam gyi rten dang 'brom rin po che'i phyag nas bzhugs //
rnal 'byor pa chen po'i snang brnyan 'di ni / g.yag sgom rin chen 'bar gyi thugs dam gyi rten dang rnal 'byor pa nyid kyi phyag nas bzhugs //
jo bo yab sras zhal sprod 'di ni / phu chung ba'i thugs dam gyi rten dang khong rang gis rab gnas lan du mar gnang ba'o //
jo bo rje'i thugs dam gyi rten sgrol ma 'jigs pa brgyad skyob ma 'di ni / rnal 'byor pa chen pos rgya gar du bzhengs su btang ste / shar phyogs sems dpa' mkhas pa'i chos grol mdzad dang / nâ lantra la bzhugs pa'i sgrol ma rang byon dang / ma ga dha na byang chub chen po'i drung du mchod rten brgyad pa bzhengs te tshur byon nas jo bo rje snye thang du [131] bzhugs skabs rab gnas brgya rtsa brgyad mdzad cing gsol ba btab pas / jo bo rje la dam pa'i chos gsungs pas gsung byon ma yin no // jo bos dge bshes ston pa la gnang nas 'di la gsol ba thob dang khyod kyi dod don thams cad 'grub nas 'ong gsungs pa sogs byin rlabs can du grags so //
rje btsun mi g.yo ba 'di ni / skya ris jo bo nyid kyis mdzad de stang stabs gcig kyang mdzad nas drang srong khros pa'i cha byad can bya ba 'di lta bu zhig 'tshal ba yin gsungs te rab gnas dam ye dbyer med du mdzad do // de nas rnal 'byor pa chen po'i thugs dam gyi rten mdzad cing byang rwa sgreng gi mi g.yo ba me ris ser po can du grags pa 'di yin no //
smra gur zhal sprod 'di ni smra ston gyis rab gnas mdzad pa zhig go //
'od zer can ma 'di ni / spyan snga ba'i thugs dam gyi rten dang dge bshes ston pa'i phyag nas bzhugs so //
sgrol ma gser gzungs ma 'di ni / sha ra ba'i thugs dam gyi rten dang khong nyid kyis rab gnas mdzad pa sogs byin can zhig go //
'chad kha ba'i sku brnyan 'di ni khong nyid kyis rab gnas bzhugs so //
thub dbang gi sku 'di ni li yi rgyal pos jo bo la zhu yig [132] gzigs rten du phul ba lags so //
spyan ras gzigs bcu gcig zhal 'di ni / chos rgyal khri srong lde btsan gyi thugs dam gyi rten dang slob dpon padma sam bha wa'i phyag nas bzhugs so //
thub pa lanydza ma 'di / byang sems rwa sgreng pa'i thugs dam gyi rten byin can du grags so //
jo bo mchod grwa che ba 'di ni / 'od 'jo ba phyi ma'i thugs dam gyi rten dang / khong rang gi phyag nas bzhugs /
chug ba 'di ni karma pa'i thugs dam gyi rten du lo tsâ ba'i gsung bzhin rong pas bzhengs te khong rang gi phyag nas bzhugs so //
'jam dbyangs dkar po 'di ni bya yul ba'i thugs dam gyi rten dang khong rang gi phyag nas bzhugs so //
mi bskyod pa'i stong sku 'di ni / 'od 'jo ba'i thugs dam gyi rten yin la / dgon pa ba yan gyi bka' gdams kyi skyes bu dam pa ji snyed byon pa rnams kyis rab gnas lan mang mdzad par grags so //
bya 'dab shar ma 'di ni / mkhan po ye rgyal gyis / dge bshes ston pa ba la 'dra 'bag gcig bzhengs rgyur zhu ba phul bas / mi'i gzugs bris nas ci byed / 'bri na de bzhin gshegs pa'i sku gcig bzhengs gsungs par / yang dang yang du zhu ba nan gyis phul stabs / [133] da 'o na bla ma'i sku 'dra 'bri ba la sla chos kyis mi yong / mi'i gzugs la lha'i byad thon pa zhig dgos gsungs nas / yar tshes brgyad kyi nyin na bza' spyang dkar gyi slog pa de sku la gsol / rum gdan steng du nyi mthongs su bzhugs nas skya ris 'debs bcug pas legs par grub 'phral rab gnas kyang ston pa rin po che nyid kyis lan mang du mdzad do // slob dpon ratna dhwa dza'i zhal nas 'di ston pa dngos dang khyad par med gsungs pa sogs ngo mtshar shin tu che ba lags so //
bya 'dab nub ma 'di ni jo legs kyi thugs dam gyi rten dang khong rang gi phyag nas bzhugs so //
gser gungs ma 'di ni rje btsun gzhon nu ye shes kyi thugs dam gyi rten du mdzad cing sha ra ba dang dgon 'od 'jo ba sogs kyis rab gnas lan mang mdzad par grags so //
bcu gcig zhal 'di ni stab kha ba'i zhal gzigs mar grags shing khong gis phyag nas kyang mdzad do //
mdzad bcu 'di stod lung pa'i thugs dam gyi rten dang spyan snga bas rab gnas mdzad pa lags so //
thub dbang 'di ni 'chad kha ba'i thugs dam dang khong gis rab gnas mdzad pa bzhugs so //
sha ra ba'i sku 'bag 'di ni khong rang gi shangs tshal gyis skya ris [134] btab cing stab kha bas rab gnas mdzad do //
bcu gcig zhal 'di ni gos sa mo'i sku tshab dang / sgrol dkar 'di ni rga lo tsâ ba'i thugs dam gyi rten grags can zhig go //
'od zer can ma 'di ni spyan snga ba'i thugs dam gyi rten dang khong rang nyid kyi phyag nas bzhugs //
ston pa rin po che'i sku brnyan 'di ni rnal 'byor pa a mes kyi thugs dam gyi rten dang dge bshes ston pa'i phyag nas bzhugs //
yi ge drug ma'i sku 'bag 'di ni sha ra bas ras chog mdzad de dgon pa bas rab gnas mdzad / rje btsun rme ru ba'i thugs dam mdzad do // yang yi ge drug ma 'di lcang le gu med kyi thugs dam dang sha ra ba'i rab gnas bzhugs so //
'jam dpal dpa' bo 'di ni / 'brom nya pa dbang phyug mgon gyi thugs dam gyi rten dang bshes gnyen pa'i rab gnas bzhugs //
yi ge drug ma chung ba 'di ni yon btsun bsod she'i [bsod nams shes rab kyi] thugs dan dang sha ra ba'i rab gnas bzhugs so //
yi ge drug ma lanydza ma 'di sdings po ba'i thugs dam gyi rten dang po to ba'i rab gnas bzhugs /
seng ldeng nags sgrol 'di smyug rum pa'i thugs dam gyi rten dang [135] dgon pa ba'i rab gnas bzhugs /
mi g.yo ba'i sku 'di ni 'od 'jo ba'i thugs dam gyi rten dang khong rang gis phyag nas bzhugs /
jo bo yab sras rdul mi chags pa 'di ni dgon pa ba'i thugs dam gyi rten mdzad /
byang chub chen po 'di ni slob dpon sna ra ba'i thugs dam gyi rten yin /
jo bo lha sa ma 'di ni sum pa shes rab blo gros kyi thugs dam gyi rten mdzad / stod lung pa'i jo bo / smra ston gyi thugs dam gyi rten jo bo yab sras / rnal 'byor pa bzhi / mdzad bcu / snubs mchod gnas kyi sman rgyal / mar pa dge bsnyen gyi sangs rgyas stong rtsa gnyis sogs byin rlabs can bsam gyis mi khyab pa sha stag go /
dam tshig gsum bkod pa'i rgyal po 'di ni rnal 'byor pa chen po dang / dgon pa ba gnyis mnga' ris mthon mthing du jo bo rje dang mjal dus dam tshig gsum bkod pa'i sgrub thabs zhus par jo bo'i zhal nas khyed gnyis nga'i zan za byed na ster gyi de min na sgrub thabs mi ster gsungs pas / khong gnyis kyis bla mchod byed par khas blangs te sgrub thabs zhus nas bris sku 'di bzhengs te rab tu gnas pa jo bo yab sras gnyis kas mdzad de bsnyen pa stong phrag brgyad bskyal ba dang zhal stabs su gzigs pa'o // [136]
thugs rje chen po yi ge drug ma gtso 'khor gsum pa 'di ni / rnal 'byor pa chen pos dbu rtse ka ba bcu drug ma na gzim khang mdzad nas rwa sgreng gi gdan sa mdzad dus zhal gzigs pa dang / dang por bo dhi tsi ta'i phreng ba brgya rtsa brgyad pa zhig yod pa de phyag tu phul / de nas chos gos rgya gar ma phul bas de rnams dar cig phyag tu bsnams te bzhugs / bya 'dab 'og ma'i dbyangs rta de yang de yi dus su mdzad cing stod lung pas phyag 'bul du phyin tsa na rigs kyi bu da nang ni yi dam thugs rje chen pog tso 'khor gsum nam mkha' la bzhugs te dpung pa g.yas g.yon gyi steng na sprin re yol le yod pa / yi ge drug mas g.yon nas gus pa 'bul ba'i tshul du bzhugs pa / nor bu 'dzin pa g.yas nas gus pa 'bul ba'i tshul gyis bzhugs pa dngos su mjal bas nga yang ha cang dga' ba zhig byung gsungs par / de la ston pa rin po che nas mkhyen bzhin du byon pa dang / rnal 'byor pa chen pos bzhugs gdan bshams te / dge ba'i bshes gnyen rin po che bzhugs gdan 'di'i steng du bag phebs par bzhugs te ja sun cig kyang gsol bar zhu zhus pas / ston pa rin po che'i zhal nas nga khyod can du ja sun 'dod nas 'ongs pa min / rgyud la byang chub kyi sems yod na yi dam lha'i zhal mthong ba chos nyid yin / khyod de la rlom sems ma skye gsungs / zhal gzigs pa'i bris sku bzhengs nas rab tu gnas pa ston pa rin po ches mdzad de rnal 'byor pa'i [137] thugs dam gyi rten bya 'dab 'og mar grags so //
jo bo'i zhabs rjes ma 'di ni dge bshes nag tsho lo tsâ bas jo bo chen po'i zhabs rjes zhus nas bzhengs / rab tu gnas pa jo bo nyid kyis mdzad / lo tsâ ba'i thugs dam gyi rten rong pa phyag sor ba'i phyag tu byon nas rwa sgreng du phebs pa'i byin rlabs can no //
rnal 'byor pa'i sku 'di ni g.yag sgom rin chen 'bar gyis rnal 'byor pa chen po'i 'dra 'bag tu bzhengs nas rnal 'byor pa nyid kyis rab tu gnas pa mdzad do //
jo bo lha sa ma zhes bya ba 'di ni / dge bshes stab kha ba lha sar byon te jo bo la ras zhig gsol ste gsol ba btab pa'i nub mor mi mdog kdar po spyi blugs bsnams pa zhig gis skya ris btab pas khong gi zhal nas bsnyen pa yi ge bcu pa kho na la byas pa yin te thugs rjes su 'dzin par snang gsungs / dge bshes stab kha ba chen po la zhal gzigs shing de nyid kyis rab tu gnas pa bzhugs shing byin rlabs thugs rje chen po dngos dang khyad par ma mchis par grags so //
gzhan yang bla ma se btsun gyi thugs dam gyi rten jo mo btsun de dkar mo dang rnal 'byor pa phyag khri mchog gi thugs dam gyi rten rje btsun sgrol ma dang 'brom gyi lha chen rdul mi chags par grags pa dang / gzhan yang spyan snga ba / po to ba / 'od 'jo ba dar ma grags / sha mkha' ra padma badzra sogs la zhal gzigs pas dpal mgon lho nub ma'i sku thang 'di ni [138] bka' gnyan zhing byin rlabs kyi gzi byin 'bar ba ngo mtshar dpag tu med pa 'di dag la yang re re nas lo rgyus mang po yod kyang 'dir bris pa mi lang ngo //
mdor na bris sku stong phrag gsum dang drug brgya lhag tsam bzhugs pa thams cad kyang byin rlabs kyi gzi 'od lham mer gsal ba sha stag bzhugs pa lags so //
* * *
Source: Dkon mchog bstan 'dzin, Bzo gnas skra rtse'i chu thigs, Krung go'i Bod kyi Shes rig Dpe skrun khang (Beijing 1994), p. 136. This is a passage listing the most important thangkas in Tibetan history.
spyir thang ka ni bod kyi bzo dngos kyi grub cha gtso bo zhig yin la khyab rgya che ba tsam du ma zad / rin thang gzhal du med pa'i bo rig pa'i dngos po mang po bzhugs te / dper na lha ldan sprul pa'i gtsug lag khang du bzhugs pa'i thang sku'i rten gtso rgyal po srong btsan yab yum gyi thang rnying me thub ma dang / dwags lha sgam po'i rje btsun tsong kha pa'i thugs dam gyi rten bris thang thub pa gso sbyong ma dang / lho brag sku skye bstan 'dzin nor bu bris pa'i rgyud bzhi'i thang ka brgyad cu sogs dang / sde dge dpal spungs dang dbang po lha steng gi thang nag sgyu rtsal rin thang bral ba rnams dang / dga' ldan gser thang chen mo dang / khams sde dge dpal spungs dgon du bzhugs pa'i bka' brgyud gser phreng gi gser thang sogs gser thog bzhag gam gser leb byugs kyi thang ka rnams dang / bkra shis lhun po'i pan chen sku phreng rim byon gyi rnam thar gyi 'tshem thang bzo rtsal 'gran la dang bral ba rnams dang / 'bri mthil 'og min byang chub bling gi a phyi dkor mdod chen mo'i nang du rgya nag gong mas karma pakshi la phul ba'i rgyal ba mi pham mgon po'i gos sku lhu lag bcu gcig yod pa bod tsam na che ba sogs 'tshem thang gi rigs dang / bla brang bkra shis 'khyil du bzhugs pa'i sku skye bstan 'dzin rgya mtshos bzhengs pa'i byams pa'i gos sku chen mo / dar mdo rdo rje brag gi gu ru mtshan brgyad kyi gos sku chen mo sogs dgon sde khag gi gos sku chen mo dang / sku 'bum gyi gos sku 'bur ma'i gnas bcu'i thang ka khag dang / khra 'brug sgrol ma lha khang du mu tig gi thang ka spyan ras gzigs sems nyid ngal gso'i sku thang dang / 'bri mthil 'og min byang chub gling gi mu tig thang ka sogs mu tig las bsgrubs pa'i thang ka rnams dang / dpal spungs kyi rje btsun mi la'i sku thang chu ris ma dang / khams dkar mdzes stong 'khor dgon gyi gnas brtan chu ris ma sogs snag mdangs 'ba' zhig las grub pa'i thang ka khag dang / mtshal thang ni bod khams kun tu khyab pa dang / gzhan yang sngon byon mkhas grub rnams kyis phyag sor 'du byed las byung ba'i thang sku rtsa chen yang mang ste / dwags lha sgam po'i sgam bde rtsi'i gzim chung du bzhugs pa'i sgra sgyur mar pa'i phyag bris nâ ro'i sku thang dang / dwags lha sgam po'i mgon khang du mnyam med dwags po lha rje'i phyag bris mgon po gtso 'khor dang bcas pa ye shes pa mngon sum bzhugs par grags pa dang / dga' ldan byang rtse'i gim khang du mkhas grub rje'i phyag bris gshin rje gshed dmar gyi sku thang dang / dgon lung rgyud khang du rgyal dbang dge 'dun grub kyis phyag bris sgron gsal dpe mkhas grub rjes rab gnas mdzad pa dang / dgon pa de'i lha mo bla brang gi nang rten gtso bo lha mo'i sku thang sman thang pa'i phyag bris dang / khams dpal spungs dgon du bzhugs pa'i si tu chos kyi 'byung gnas kyi phyag bris skyes rabs dpag bsam 'khri shing sogs dang / sku 'bum du bzo rgyal bi shwa karma'i rnam 'phrul du bsngags pa che shes blo bang bshes gnyen gyi phyag bris thang ka khag sogs bgrangs kyis mi lang pa bzhugs pa las dpe brjod kyi tshul du 'ga' zhig bkod pa las / zhib mo dgon pa gcig gi thang ka yang ngo sprod dka' na / gangs can yongs kyi thang sku ni de bas kyang brjod par mi nus so // //
* * *
Shakabpa, Bod kyi srid don rgyal rabs (Tibetan-language version of the history book), p. 103:
lag shes /
bod nang lag shes mi 'dra ba ji snyed cig yod pa'i nang nas thang sku bzhengs pa / gser zangs dang / khro li / 'jim pa / shing sogs kyi sku dang / mchod rten / blos blangs dang / rdul tshon gyis dkyil 'khor bzhengs pa / gser dngul / mtshal / snag tsha sogs kyis gsung rab 'bri ba dang / ma phyi shing par du brko ba sogs ni skad grags che shos kyi lag rtsal zhig yin zhing / sku gsung thugs rten bris 'bur gyi rtsa ba'i 'byung khungs ni / rgya gar dang / bal yul / rgya nag / li yul sogs nas yin zhing / bod la thog ma'i srol 'byed kyang chos kyi rgyal po srong btsan sgam po'i [104] sku dus tsam nas byung 'dug //
de yang ge re'i brag la yig drug dang / spyan ras gzigs / sgrol ma / rta mgrin bcas kyi sku rang byon du byung ba rnams bal po'i bzo bos 'bur du byas pa dang / khra 'brug bkra shis byams snyoms lha khang gi rten gtso rnam snang gtso 'khor gsum dang / lha sa brag lha'i shâkya mu ne sogs kyang bal po'i bzo bos brag las 'bur du brkos pa dang / ra sa 'phrul snang gtsug lag khang gi rten gtso thugs rje chen po rang byung lnga ldan yang bal po'i bzo bo khro bo zhes pas bzhengs pa / de bzhin rgya bza' kong jo lhan du rgya'i bzo bo mkhas pa yod pas lam du sde ma'i brag la rgyas pa 'bum dang / bzang spyod smon lam / bya dur slang snar byams sku khru brgyad cu ma {{*140: mdo smad chos byung deb ther rgya mtshor 545/5 par de lang gru'u phyogs su yod gsungs khang / kah thog mkhan po ngag dbang dpal bzang gi rnam thar sgyu ma'i rol gar 136-na-6 par brag rkos byams sku de brag g.yab byams ldan mdu la yod tshul gsungs / yang si tu bstan pa'i nyin 'byed kyi rang rnam dri bral shel gyi me long 31-na-4 par ldan khul 'bis zer ba'i lung pa'i nang rgya bza' kong jos bzhengs pa'i rnam snang gtso 'khor gyi sku dang / legs sbyar gyi sher snying / bzang spyod smon lam sogs brag la brkos pa mjal / zhes gsal ba dngos gnas de gang yin zhib 'jug mdzod / }} rgyas btab ra mo che'i gtsug lag khang sogs bzhengs /
mnga' bdag khri srong lde'u btsan gyi sku dus rgya gar dang / bal po'i bzo bo mang po bos te bod kyi rdo la lha bzo thub min brtag pa'i phyir gzhong pa'i brag la sha ba'i gzugs brkos / zur mkhar gyi mdar mchod rten rnam pa lnga dang / bal po'i rdo bzo dang / bod kyi rdo bzo nas bsam yas kyi rten gtso thub dbang gtso 'khor rnams rdo brkos las bzhengs pa dang / de bzhin bal bod kyi lug bzo mkhas pas dge rgyas li ma lha khang gi rten snang ba mtha' yas gtso 'khor dgu dang / cong dril bcas gong dkar lug stod lug smad gnyis la lug tu blugs shing / {{*141 sba bzhed 23/ba/ nang gsal zhing / tsong dris gyi bar dang / smon tshig yig cha phyogs bsdus /}} cong dril gyi thod kyi mtha' skor du / jo mo rgyal mo btsan yum sras kyi phyogs bcu'i dkon mchog gsum la mchod pa'i slad du cong 'di bgyis te de'i bsod nams kyi stobs kyis btsan po khri srong lde btsan yab sras [105] stangs dpyal [stangs dbyal] gsung dbyangs drug cu'i sgra dbyangs dang ldan te bla na med pa'i byang chub sgrub par smon to / zhes sngar snga mo'i yi ge 'phreng gnyis 'khor mar 'khod 'dug pa cong dril de ni spyi lo brgya phrag bdun pa'i nang bzos pa 'khrul pa med cing / dge rgyas li ma lha khang dang / rdo rje spre chung gi lag dpon byas bzhengs pa'i mchod rten sngon po'i rtsig pa'i rmig 'dag rnams khro dang / zhwa nye lug tu blugs 'dug / gong gi cong dril de 'dra ba gcig khra 'brug dang / gcig yer par mthong myong yang / de tsho'i zhal byang la zhib 'jug dang / par rgyag rgyu sogs ma byung bas sems phangs / cong dril de gnyis ni phal cher srong btsan sgam po'i sku dus tsam la lug tu blug pa min nam snyan /
mnga' bdag khri ral pa can gyi sku dus 'on cang du bkra shis dpe med dge 'phel lha khang thog sa dgu pa can bzhengs skabs / bod kyi bzo rigs mkhas pa yongs rdzogs thog / rgya dkar nag / bal yul / li yul bcas nas bzo rigs mkhas pa mang po bos te brag brkos dang / li sku / 'jim sku / lder bzo mang po'i srol gtod pa nas bzungs bod kyi lag shes mkhas pa rnams kyis kyang rim pas sku gsung thugs rten gyi cha tshad dang / bris tshugs / rnam 'gyur / tshon mdangs sogs la yar rgyas dang bzo khyad mi 'dra ba rim pas thon / sngar thub dbang sku yang rdo rje gdan gyi thub pa'i snang brnyan la dri bzang byugs te ras dkar la par btag pa la gzhi byas te thub dbang gi sku bal bris ma mang po dar /
snga dus bod la bris 'bur la mkhas pa mang po zhig byung yod pa'i nang nas / phyis ri mo'i bris char tshad du byed pa ni / rdo pa bkras rgyal dang / yar stod byi'u sgang pa / rdo pa bkras rgyal gyi slob ma lho brag sman thang pa sman bla don grub dang / gong dkar sgang stod mkhyen brtse / gzhan yang sprul sku chos dbyings rgya mtsho dang / bla ma sangs rgyas lha dbang / karma pa bcu pa chos dbyings rdo rje sogs yin pas de dag lo dus nam byung / ri mo'i rnam dbye sogs la cung zad zhib pa / de yang lha bzo mkhas [106] pa bkras rgyal zhes par slob ma slob dpon las mkhas pa gnyis byung ba / Lho brag sman thang du sman bla don grub {{*142: klong rdol gsung 'bum ma 7-na-6 par sman bla don grub rgya mtsho gsungs}} 'khrungs pa dang mnyam du sman thang gi mtshal kha yang thon / na thog tshar ba dang / rang gi chung ma dang ma mthun par yul khyar nas byon pa yar 'brog stag lung du pir snod dang / bris dpe zhig rnyed pas bris la blo kha phyogs / gtsang sa skya sogs la bris shes e yod la phyin mthar rdo pa bkras rgyal dang thug pas ri mo gsan mkhyen gyi tshul mdzad / rang gi skye ba sngon ma rgya nag tu 'khrungs dus bris pa'i si thang rgya mdzad chen mor grags pa de gzigs tsam gyis sngon gnas rjes dran gyi tshul bstan pas rgya bris dang nye ba'i ldan lugs kyi ri mo thugs la bkra lam gyis shar / rgyud sde gnyis dang bstun sku gzugs kyi cha tshad yid bzhin nor bu zhes pa'i yig cha {{*143: g.ya' sel 255-na-1}} mdzad / ces gsal ba sman thang pa'i lo dus gsham nas ra 'phrod byung ba ltar rtsis pas rdo pa bkras rgyal ni rab byung bdun pa'i nang la byung ba sems dgos shing / sman bla don grub ni rgyal mchod dge 'dun grub pa'i sku tshe'i dkyil tsam mam / spyi lo 1440 nang byung 'dug cing / lo rgyus la lar sman thang pa khu dbon zhes dang / la lar sman thang pa yab sras zhes thon 'dug pa khu dbon zer ba ni khu bo sman bla don grub dang / dbon po sman thang pa zhi ba 'od ces pa zhwa dmar bzhi pas shing 'brug 1484 lor lho 'brug nas sras mkhar du phebs skabs lha khang la zhabs tog ngan par gzigs te gzim chung du skyes mchog 'khor bcas dang / sngags sku rnams sman thang pa zhi ba 'od 'brir 'jug tshul gsal ba dang / sras ni sman thang pa 'jam dbyangs zhu ba de yin pas rim pas gsham du gsal zhing /
rdo pa bkras rgyal gyi slob ma mkhyen brtse chen mo yang / rab byung brgyad pa'i nang gong dkar 'phying ru sgang stod thod dkar du 'khrungs shing / gong dkar rdo rje gdan gyi ldebs bris phal che ba yang [107] khong gi phyag bris yin par grags / de yang / zhwa dmar bzhi pa chos grags rgya mtsho'am / chos grags ye shes (1453-1524) nas rab byung brgyad pa'i chu phag 1503 lor yangs pa can gyi dgon pa phyag btab pa'i skabs su / steng 'og thams cad kyi ri mo'i bkod pa khyad pa can rnams sman thang pa don grub yab sras dang / mkhyen brtse pas {{*144: karma kam tshang rgyud pa'i rnam thar rab 'byams nor bu zla ba chu shel 'phreng ba 311-ba-6 /}} bris zhes gsal ba dang / de kha'i mu 'thud du / mdun gyi ne'u thang la gos sku'i tshad kyi ras bkram pa'i steng / sman thang pa 'jam dbyangs pas gos chen gyi lham gyon / lag tu sol pir yu ba can bzungs bas thub chen gyi sku bris te tshon yig btab nas ji lta ba gos chen kha mdog so sor dras nas bsgrigs pa'i gos sku khyad par can bzhengs / zhes gsal ba dang / 'brug pa kun mkhyen padma dkar po'i (1527-1592) rang rnam du'ang {{*145: sgyu ma chen po'i zlos gar 83-ba-6 dang 88-ba-5 /}} gong dkar rdo rje gdan nas mkhyen brtse dpon po rgyud la dogs gcod du rkang gtad slebs pa la chos dang / dogs gcod kyi re ba bskangs / zhes dang / mar tsam na bsam grub rtser sku mdun zhing (zhing shag pa tshe brtan rdo rje) gis 'bod mir sman thang pa 'jam dbyangs dpal brdzang byung / zhes gsal bar gzhigs tshe sman bla don grub dang / dbon po zhi ba 'od / don grub kyi sras 'jam dbyangs / gong dkar mkhyen brtse chen mo {{*146: si tu'i rang rnam dri bral shel gyi me long 45-ba- nang stang stod mkhyen brtses bris skus ma tshad / 'jim pa'i sku bzo ba la mkhas pa yin hes gsungs /}} bcas skabs de tsam la byung ba dang / ri mo yang sman ris (e ris) dang / mkhyen ris (gzhung ris) zhes bzhed srol tsam las / don la gnyis ka rdo pa bkras rgyal gyi slob mar brten ri mo'i gzhung ni sman ris yin kyang / zur khyad phran bu re yod tshul ni / bdag gis skyabs rje yongs 'dzin khri byang rdo rje 'chang chen por ri mo bris tshugs skor zhu yig phul ba'i bka' lan du / sman bla don grub kyis / [108] dus 'khor dang / sdom 'byung gi rgyud rtsa 'grel sogs kyi rjes su 'brangs nas sku gzugs kyi tshad rab tu byed pa yid bzhin nor bu bya ba sa bcad bdun gyis gtan la phab pa mdzad de / de las dar ba rnams la sman lugs zhes grags / yang gong dkar sgang stod nas mkhyen brtse chen mo zhes pa'i lha bris mkhas pa byon te de ni sman thang pa dang / ri mo'i lugs cung mi mthun 'dra bas mkhyen lugs zhes grags pa dang / gzhan yang yar stod du 'khrungs pa sprul sku byi'u sgang pa zhes mkhas pa zhig gis rgyun sman mkhyen gnyis dang / ri mo'i srol cung mi mthun pa bcas lugs srol gsum du gyes / zhes phebs pa dang / rgyal mchog lnga pa chen pos rdo rje 'phreng ba'i thang sku bzhengs gnang skabs zhi ba'i rigs rnams sman thang pa'i lag rgyun dang / khro bo dang / dkyil 'khor gyi rigs mkhyen brtse'i lag rgyun legs tshul gyis bris 'jug gnang gsal 'dug pa nas sman mkhyen gnyis dbar bris tshugs cung zad mi 'dra ba yod pa dang /
yang / yar stod byi'u sgang pa ni / phal cher rab byung bzhi pa dang / lnga pa'i nang byung ba zhig min nam snyam / khong gi lo rgyus zhib pa ma brnyed kyang / sa skya dang / shel dkar / byang ngam ring / rdzong kha sogs la byi'u sgang pa'i bris shes jo bo yab sras dang / sa skya pandi ta / tshe dpag med / kun rigs / mgon po ber dang / zhal / lha mo'i zhal thang bris rnying 'dra mjal ba dang / lhag par rgyal rtse dpal 'khor chos sder sa zla'i dus chen skabs 'grems gshom byed pa'i spyan ras gzigs kyi gos sku de dang / sku 'bum nang gi ldebs ris kun tu bzang po gtso 'khor sogs phal cher bal bris 'dra ba la / gtso lha che zhing / lha mgron rnams ri mig gam / sgo khyim chung ngu'i nang bzhugs pa / tshon li khri shas che la / na bza' sogs la gser ris zhib cha che pa / khro bo rnams bong thung ba / dbu dang / sus pa che ba / sku mdog mthing nag yin tshe dpyad dkar po'am / sngo sangs kyis 'then pa / rus pa'i rgyan drug la zhib tshags ha cang che ba zhig yin / bo dong dpal ldan chos kyi rgyal mtshan phyogs las rnam rgyal 1376-1451 phyag bris la [109] shin tu mkhas pas dpal sa ra ha'i bris sku 'gran zla dang bral ba zhig yod pa sa skya'i nang rten la bzhugs par grags pa de bzhin bal bris byi'u sgang pa'i bris tshugs lta bur yod tshul thos /
'gro mgon chos rgyal 'phags pa'i (1235-1280) slob ma tsha ba rong pa bsod nams 'od zer zhu ba rten gsum bzhengs pa la shin tu mkhas pa zhig byung ba des sku rten bzhengs tshul yon tan 'byung gnas zhes bya ba zhig dang / gzhan yang bu ston thams cad mkhyen pa / brag nag pa / stag tshang lo tsâ ba shes rab rin chen sogs kyis lha sku dang / mchod rten sogs kyi cha tshad yig cha mang po mdzad yod pa dang / sde dge dge bshes bstan 'dzin phun tshogs zhes bzo rig pa'i gnas kun la byang chub pa zhig byung ba khong gis rig pa bzo'i gnas kyi las tshogs 'dod rgu'i pra phab ces pa zhig kyang mdzad yod / rgyal mchog gsum pa bsod nams rgya mtsho'i (1543-1588) sku dus sprul sku 'phreng kha ba dpal ldan blo gros bzang po zhes sman lugs ri mor shin tu mkhas grags zhig byung ba khong gis lha sku'i cha tshad mdo rgyud gsal ba'i me long zhes pa zhig kyang gsungs yod / klong rdol bla ma rin po ches sprul sku ri mkhar ba dang / sprul sku 'phreng kha ba {{*147: klong rdol gsung ma 7-na-6 /}} zhes so sor gsungs kyang / a khu shes rab rgya mtshos / gtsang stod rta nag ri mkhar sprul sku 'phreng kha ba dpal ldan blo gros {{*148: bod kyi dpe ryun dkon pa'i dpe tho /}} zhes gcig rang yin pa lta bu gsungs 'dug pas zhib 'jug byed dgos 'dug /
7rgyal mchog lnga pa chen po'i (1612-1682) sku dus lho brag bstan 'dzin nor bu dang / zur chen chos dbyings rang grol / sna rtse stag lung dpal mgon dang / sde srid sangs rgyas rgya mtshos rgyal ba'i 'khrungs rabs smad byung skal pa ma gra tshar bris mkhan dbu chen sman thang pa mgon po tshe dbang / pho brang phun tshogs / lha sa rags kha ba 'jam dbyangs dbang po [110] sogs ri mor mkhas grags tshang ma sman lugs yin par bzhed cing / sprul sku chos dbyings rgya mtsho zhu ba'i ri mo mkhas pa de yang / phal cher mkhyen ris dang / sman ris gnyis su med pa zhig gi thog / skabs re bzo khyad dpe gsar dag kyang gnang gi yod pa 'dra zhing / khong ni rgyal mchog lnga pa chen po'i sku dus byung zhing / po tâ la'i tshoms chen gyi logs bris su bod du 'gro ba mi byung tshul dang / 7rgyal ba'i 'khrungs rabs rnams sprul sku chos dbyings rgya mtsho sogs kyis bris pa dang / bka' 'gyur lha khang du lam rim bla brgyud bris rtsis la ma dpe byi'u'i ri mo zhig gtad pa'i de lugs kyis bris 'dug pa / sprul sku ba rnams ma goms pa'i skyon gyis lugs gnyis gang la'ang ma gtogs pa'i bris gsar {{*149: du kû la'i gos bzang KA 142-na /}} byung zhes gsal bas sman mkhyen gnyis las zur khyad cig gnang ste kar bris kyi srol de mdzad pa min nam snyam yang kar bris skor zhib cha rim pas 'og tu gsal zhing / pan chen blo bzang chos rgyan gyi rang rnam du / sprul sku chos dbyings rgya mtsho zhu ba'i pir thog mkhan pos shing bya 1645 dben dgon nyams gso'i log bris dang / me phag 1647 bkra shis lhun por rgyal ba blo bzang don grub dang / mkhas grub sangs rgyas ye shes kyi rnam thar {{*150: rang gi spyod tshul gsal ba ston pa 134-ba-1 /}} ras bris rnams bris zhes gsal /
bla ma sangs rgyas lha dbang ni / 7skyabs rje yongs 'dzin khri byang rdo rje 'chang chen por dgongs skor zhus pa'i bka' lan du / karma pa brgyad pa mi bskyod rdo rje'i (1507-1550) dngos slob tu gyur zhing / sman lugs rnying ma'i ri mo'i rjes 'brang bla ma sangs rgyas lha dbang zhes ldan khog tu byung zhing / de'i nying slob lta bur lha bzo rta mgrin mgon po sogs byung zhes phebs pa dang / 'bras ljongs rum steng dgon du karma grwa tshang gi mkhan po khra mgu rin po cher kar bris skor bka' 'dri zhus par / karma sgar bris sam / kar bris ni / karma pa brgyad pa mi bskyod rdo rjes ri mo'i thig rtsa nyi ma chen po [111] zhes mdzad cing / bcu pa chos dbyings rdo rje phyag bris legs pas rgya dkar nag gi bris las shing dang / me tog / khang bzang sogs dpe bzhes te karma sgra bris sam / kar bris zhes pa'i srol mdzad pa min nam bsams kyi yod pa dang / de yang kar bris dang / gzhung bris kyi dbye ba ni / kar bris kyi zhi ba rnams zhal dang / spyan chung bas zhi nyams che zhing / gzhung bris kyi zhi ba rnams zhal dang / spyan che bas khro nyams cung zad yod tshul brjod srol yod ces gsungs byung bar brten karma pa brgyad pa mi bskyod rdo rje'i rnam thar du zhib skabs ri mo'i skor zhib pa zhal ma gsal yang / bcu pa chos dbyings rdo rje (1604-1674) dgung lo chung dus nas phyag bris legs po yod pa'i thog / lho brag chu khyer gyi sprul sku tshe ring la sman rnying gi ri mo gsan sbyong mdzad / bod yul du si thang las snga ba klu mes kyi thugs dam rten yer pa rwa ba mar grags pa'i gnas bcu'i bris thang dang / si'u spyan ras gzigs sems nyid ngal gso'i sku thang / snar thang du mchims nam mkha' grags kyis 'phags pa'i gnas brtan bcu drug gdugs tshod du spyan drangs pa'i lugs kyi gnas bcu sogs la dpe mdzad de bris thang shin tu mang po phyag bris mdzad pa dang / rgya nag dang nye ba'i 'jang yul sogs su yun ring bzhugs te rgya bris dang nye ba'i ri mo'i bris srol mdzad pa'i lo rgyus dang / rgyal rong tsha ko rgyal pos gdan drangs / 'bo gangs dkar du 'brug lo'i lo gsar gnang / skabs der rje 'dis snyan ngag dang / ri mo 'bri ba ni bod yul du kho bo las lhag pa mi yong / kho bo spyan ras gzigs dgyes pa'i mi zhig yin /'dam bu'i gling 'dir ri mo bri bar 'ongs pa yin gsungs pa {{*151: rab 'byams nor bu zla ba chu shel 'phreng ba 184-na-7 /}} sogs phyag bris mkhas pa'i zhal bzhes gnang 'dug pa nas karma sgra bris sam / kar bris ni bris mkhan gzhan nas mdzad pa'i yig cha'i khungs skyel ma byung phyin / rje 'di pas srol gtod mdzad par cha 'jog byed thub bam snyam / chos dbyings rdo rje'i phyag bris mtshan byang 'khod pa'i mi la bzhad pa rdo rje dang / [112] tshe ring mched lnga'i zhal thang bris rnying chung ngu gnyis lho brag nyi lde dgon gi nang rten du bzhugs pa de dang / bar lam ldi li'i bod khang nang / gnas nang dpa' bo rin po che'i rten gras grub thob brgyad bcu'i zhal thang kar bris 'gran zla med pa zhig mjal ba / de tshor sa stong che zhing / yul ljongs dang / ri dang nags tshal sogs mang la / gser bris zhib tshags che ba dang / tshon phal che ljang shas dang / skya shas che bas mjal tsam nyid nas sman lugs dang dbye ba lam seng 'byed thub pa zhig yod /
kun mkhyen 'jam dbyangs bzhad pas mdo smad bkra shis 'khyil du / shing khyi 1715 lor bkra shis sgo mang gi chos sde chen po phyag btab pa'i tshe khang bzo'i rdo shing dang / rten bzhengs kyi bzo bo mkhas pa rnams dbus gzhung la skyabs zhus kyis gtong gnang mdzad khongs lha bris mkhas pa bde chen gsang sngags mkhar pa'i tshe 'phel zer ba zhig byung ste des mdo smad a mdo rib gong [reb kong] khul du sman lugs kyi bris rgyun spel khyab rgya che byas yod pa dang / bya btang tshogs drug rang grol gyi lha bris slob dpon gling rgya'i lha bzo bstan pa dar rgyas zhes skad grags can zhig byung ba dang / rgyal mchog dgu pa'i sku dus mdo smad rnga pa dang / 'gu log khul du lha bris mkhas pa gur khu dbon zhes skad grags can zhig kyang byung ba'i lo rgyus 'dug / bar skabs lha bris mkhas pa 'bras spungs klu 'bum dge bshes / rgyal rtse lcog ro nas khyung pa / lha sar zur 'phyongs dbu chen zam gdong skal bzang / skas gdung dbu mdzad / 'phags lha'i dkon gnyer ye shes rgya mtsho / dga' gling shar dpal 'byor / dpal 'byor rgyal po / chab mdo phur bu lha bzo dang / tshe dpag lha bzo sogs bris pa skad grags can mang po byung ba red / bris sku'i cha tshad kyi skor la byang bdag pa rnam rgyal grags bzang / sde srid sangs rgyas rgya mtsho / jo nang pa ta ra na tha / si tu chos kyi 'byung gnas / kong sprul yon tan rgya mtsho sogs nas kyang mdzad yod pa so so'i gsung 'bum la gzigs na mkhyen par 'gyur ro //
bod nang bos pa li ma'i sku che shos shig ni mnga' bdag 'od srung [113] gis bzhengs pa'i {{*152: si tu bstan pa'i nyin 'byed kyi rang rnam dri bral shel gyi me long 65-ba-2 /}} sne gdong bya sa'i rnams nang thog tshad gnyis ma de yin nam snyam / de lug mkhan bzo bo'i ming sogs ma shes kyang / lug blug yul ni shel brag gi rgyab ri der thab rgyab shul dang / lug kong sogs kyi shul yod tshul gnas bshad du shod srol yod / bka' gdams gdung rten phal che ba jo bo rje'i (982-1054) sku dus tsam la rgya gar shar nub nas byung zhing / 'brom ston rgyal ba'i 'byung gnas kyi dngos slob spyan snga ba tshul khrims 'bar gyis jo bo'i 'bral spang pad spungs la dpe mdzod de rin po che 'ba' zhig las bal po dang / bod kyi bzo bo mang po bos nas li ma'i bka' gdams gdung rten grangs las 'das pa bzhengs / satstsha mdzad pa phyogs gcig tu spungs na ri de'u tsam 'ong zer / bod nang sku rten bzhengs mi'i nang nas mang shos su byed / sgom pa tshul khrims snying po nas rje sgam po pa'i thugs bzhugs pa'i gser gyi bkra shis sgo mang dang / bka' gdams gdung rten thog tshad ma mang po bzhengs pa dang / de bzhin snar thang / gdan sa thel dang / 'bri gung thel sogs la gser dngul gyi bkra shis sgo mang / li ma'i thub chen dang / bka' gdams gdung rten thog tshad ma de tsho'i sku dpung dang / pad gdan la khro lung rang grub ma lcags kyi a long can mang po bzhengs gnang mdzad yod pa de tshor zhib tshe thag ring zhig nas gdan drangs pa'i rnam pa gsal po 'dug //
karma pakshi'am /
* * *
First and second edicts of Khri srong lde btsan.
Source: Mkhas pa'i Dga ston (PRC ed.), vol. 1, p. 370-376. These are the extensive edicts from the time of Khri srong lde btsan. The abbreviated edict found on the Bsam yas Rdo ring is found at the end of this passage. Some words on these documents may be found in Dung-dkar 179-180.
{{Note that the 2nd edict give here has been edited & translated (with refs. to earlier text editions & translations by Richardson & Tucci, Tombs, pp. 95-97) by W. South Coblin in Epstein & Sherburne, eds., Reflections on Tibetan Culture.}}
Ö lha khang brtsigs pas dbur stod zhwa'i lha khang zhes grags shing legs par zin nas dam can la gtad / yul gru de yang myang ban dbang bar rdo ring la bka' gtsigs brkos so //
sngon ma zhang grom pa skyes la sogs pas chos bshig pa thugs la bcags nas phyin chad de lta bu mi 'byung ba'i phyir bod sus kyang chos mi bshig pa'i bka' gtsigs bcas / dbu snyung bzhes mna' bsgags te de 'dra ba lan gnyis mdzad pa'i bka' gtsigs dang po ni /
+ btsan po khri srong lde btsan gyi sku ring la / shog bu mthing ga la gser gyis bris nas / gser gyi sgrom bur bstsal ba'i bka' gtsigs kyi yi ge bsam yas lhun gyis grub pa'i gtsug lag khang gi dkor mdzod du bzhag pa las dpe bgyis te bris pa /
+ dkond cog gsum nam du yang mi btang ma zhig bar dgyi ba'i gtsigs sgrom bu nang na mchis pa'i dpe / de bzhin gshegs pa'i bka' las byung ba don thog tu sbyar na yang dag pa nyid khong du ma chud pas khams gsum yang sdug bsngal gyi gnas su gyur / thams cad kyang gna' nas ma skyes pa med / skyes nas ni don dang don med par spyod / de nas kyang shi bar 'gyur / shi nas kyang gnas bzang ngan du phyir skye / de la legs su ston pa ni sangs rgyas / mngon par dmigs pa ni chos kyi yi ge / dge bar mtshon pa ni dge 'dun rnams te / gtan gyi skyabs dang gling du bzang ngo / dkond cog gsum ni byin du cher che ste / [371] yab mes snga ma kun gyi ring la yang gdung rabs re re zhing lugs su mdzad de / gtsug lag khang gsar rnying dngos yod pa yin / btsan po yab dgung du gshegs pa'i phyi nas / pan pun khyer ba'i dpe tshul yod pa nas / gtsug lag khang lhun gyis 'grub tu / lug gi lo la dpyid zla ra ba'i tshes bcu bdun la rten btsugs pa'i tshe / da nas phan chad / bod yul du dkond cog gsum rten bcas te / sangs rgyas kyi chos mdzad pa mi gzhig par btsan po yab sras dang sras kyi yum gyis dbu snyung bzung zhing yi dam bcas pa dang / phyi nang gi blon po che phra mtha' dag bro stsal ba'i gtsigs kyi yi ger bris pa'o //
+ ra sa'i 'phrul snang gtsug lag khang dang / rgya btags ra mo che'i gtsug lag khang dang / khams gsum mi ldog sgrol gyi gtsug lag khang la stsogs te / bod kyi rigs su bla nas / dkond cog gsum gyi rten btsugs te / bod las kyang thar par gzud cing / sangs rgyas kyi chos mdzad pa 'di nam du yang / mi gtang ma zhig bar bgye'o // bod las kyang thard par gzud do /
+ gtsug lag khang de rnams su dkond mchog gsum gyi yo byad sbyor ba'i rkyend kyang ran pa 'ong bar dpags te bla nas phul ba las / nam zhar kyang mi dpra mi bskyung bar bgyis so // da phyin chad gdung rabs re re yang / btsan po yab sras 'di bzhin du yi dam bca' zhing zhal gyis bzhes par bgyi'o // blon po thog thog kyang bro stsal bar bgyi'o /
+ 'di ltar yi dam bcas pa / phyogs bcu'i sangs rgyas thams cad dang / dam pa'i chos thams cad dang / byang chub sems dpa'i dge 'dun thams cad dang / rang sangs rgyas dang nyan thos thams cad dang / gnam sa'i rim pa lha 'o cog dang / bod yul gyi sku lha dang / lha dgu thams cad dang / klu dang / gnod sbyin dang mi ma yin pa thams cad [372] dbang du gsol te / gtsigs 'di las mi 'gyur bar mkhyen par bgyis so // de la gtsigs ltar ma bgyis te / dkond cog gsum gyi sku bslus sam mna' kha dpung bgyis na / sems cad dmyal bar skyes shig // 'di bzhin du mdzad cing bgyis na / thams cad kyang bla na med pa yang dag par rdzogs pa'i byang chub tu mngon par sangs rgyas par shog cig /
+ sangs rgyas kyi chos bod yul du / snga phyir ji ltar byung ba'i bka' mchid kyi yi ge gcig kyang zla la bzhag go /
+ dpe 'di 'dra ba bcu gsum bris te / gcig ni phyag spal [phyag sbal] na bzhag go // gnyis ni phyag rgyas btab ste / ra sa'i 'phrul snang gtsug lag khang dang / brag dmar gyi bsam yas lhun gyis grub kyi dge 'dun la re re bzhag go // bcu ni mthar phyag rgyas btab ste / ra sa'i 'phrul snang gtsug lag khang dang / khra 'brug gi bkra shis lha yul gtsug lag khang dang / pho brang 'khor gyi dge 'dun dang / ra sa'i rgya btags ra mo che dang / brag dmar gyi khams gsum mi ldog sgrol dang / bru sha yul dang / zhang zhung yul dang / mdo smad dang / sde blon ris dang / 'di rnams kyi gtsug lag khang gi dge 'dun pa dpe re re 'chang du stsald to /
[Note translation of preceding 2 paragraphs by Scherrer-Schaub in JIABS 25 (2002) 268.]
+ bro stsald pa la + dbon 'a zha rje / + zhang blon chen po bka' la gtags pa la / + blon chen po zhang rgyal gzigs shu theng / blon stag sgra klu gong / zhang rgyal mtshan lha snang / blon rgyal sgra legs gzigs / blon btsan bzher mdo lod / zhang rgyal nyen zla gong / blon khri gangs rgya gong / gcen mtsho btsan / zhang rgyal tshan le gong /
+ nang blon la / blon gra 'dzi zhang rams shags / zhang a srin / zha snga khri gnyen / blon klu gong / 'ong ka lha mtsho / blon shang btsan / blon srin skyugs / blon 'dus ston / zhang stag tshab / zhang legs 'dus /
+ phyi blon la / zhang bal bu stang / zhang lha gzigs / blon la kun rtse / [373] blon spra bzhin / blon stong thub / blon zla gong / blon gtsug khyung sling / blon lhos po / zhang rgyal snang / blon byin byin / blon long po / blon rtsang lod / blon gnyan kong / stod smad kyi dbang po dang dmag dpon la / blon skyes bzang stag snang / blon snang kong / blon khyi chung / blon klu bzher / zhang mar bu / blon lha mtsho / blon par mi / blon shang rdzong / blon mig khyung chud / blon tang bu / khu rgya brtsan / khu g.yu brtsan / blon mdo gzigs / blon khong khri / blon khong legs / blon rmang la skyes / blon mdo bzang / blon khri gong / chos bod yul du snga phyir ji ltar byung ba'i bka' mchid kyi yi ge gcig kyang zla la bzhag go // brang ti shî la warmas brim [bris?] / zhes byung ngo //
Second Edict of Khri srong lde btsan
{{Note: Tucci, Tombs 98-100 also transcribes this edict, with English translation on pp. 47 ff.}}
bka' gtsigs gnyis pa ni / btsan po khri srong lde btsan gyi sku ring la / chos 'byung ba'i lo drung gi yi ge zla la bzhag pa / phra myen gyis bris te gser gyi sgrom bur bstsal nas / dpal bsam yas kyi dkor mdzod du bzhag pa las dpe bgyis nas bris pa /
+ gna' da 'chad bod yul du dkond cog gsum gyi rten bcas te / sangs rgyas kyi chos mdzad pa'i lo drung gi yi ger bris pa / sgrom bu'i nang na mchis pa'i dpe /
+ btsan po bzhi mes khri srong lde btsan gyi ring la / ra sa'i pe har brtsigs te sangs rgyas kyi chos thog ma mdzad tshun chad / btsan po yab khri lde gtsug brtsan gyi ring la / brag dmar gyi kwa chur gtsug lag khang brtsigs te sangs rgyas kyi chos mdzad phand chad gdung rabs lnga lon no //
+ btsan po yab dgung du gshegs kyi 'og tu zhang blon kha cig gis hur 'dums kyi blo zhig phyung ste / yab mes kyi ring tshund chad / sangs rgyas kyi chos mdzad pa yang bshig go / de nas yang snyad ni lho bal gyi lha dang chos bod yul du bgyi ba'i myi rigs shes / gzhan yang phyind chad bgyid du mi gnang bar bka' khrims bris so /
+ de nas btsan po zha snga [zhal snga] nas lo nyi shu bzhes pa na / [374] thog ma ni phyag spring dang lhas shig ngan te / cho ga ci mdzad pas bshad kyang / dgung zla du mar phyag spring dang ltas ngan nas / sangs rgyas kyi chos bgyid du mi gnang ba'i bka' khrims kyang khrims su mi bgyi bar dor / dkond cog gsum gyi mchod pa yang bgyi zhes bgyis na gzod bzang por gyurd to //
+ de nas dge ba'i bshes gnyen gyis bstangs te chos kyang gsan / yi ge yang spyan sngar brims nas / sangs rgyas kyi chos spel zhing mdzad par sgroms so // de na bod kyi chos rnying pa ma lags la / sku lha gsol ba dang cho ga myi mthun pas / kun kyang ma legs su dogs te / la la ni sku la dmar yang dogs / la la ni chab srid gong gis kyang dogs / la la ni mi nad phyugs nad byung gis kyang dogs / la la ni mu ge langs bab kyis kyang dogs so // {Note: This passage translated in Kapstein, Assimilation, p. 53, with refs. to other translations.}
+ chos nyid kyi nang du brtags na / chos las byung ba ni 'jig rten gyi khams su myed pa na / sems can gyi khams grangs med pa / skye ba rnam bzhi'i nang du skye zhing 'khor ba la gtogs so cog / dang po'i thog ma med pa nas / tha ma'i mtha' myed pa'i bar du / rang gi las kyis de bzhin du srid pa las / lus dang ngag dang yid gsum nas legs par spyad do cog ni dge bar 'gyur / nyes pa spyad do cog ni sdig par 'gyur / legs nyes med pa ni lung du myi ston par 'gyur / gzhan la phar byas pa'i 'bras bu ni bdag la smind te / gnam gyi rim pa'i lhar skye ba dang / sa'i stang [steng] gi myi dang / lha ma yin dang / yi dwags dang / byol song dang / sa'i 'og gi sems can dmyal ba dang / 'di drug du skye 'o cog kyang rang gi las kyis 'gyur ro // 'jig rten las 'das te sangs rgyas bcom ldan 'das su 'gyur ba dang / byang chub sems dpa' dang / rang byang chub dang / nyan thos kyis rim par 'grub pa kun kyang bnsod nams dang ye shes kyi tshogs rang gis bsags pa las 'gyur ro zhes 'byung ngo // dge ba gang [375] zhe na dge ba bcu la bsags pa'o // mi dge ba gang zhe na / mi dge bcu la sogs pa'o // lung du mi ston pa gang zhe na / spyod lam bzhi la sogs pa'o // 'jig rten las 'das pa'i bsod nams dang ye shes kyi tshogs gang zhe na / dge bcu'i steng du bden pa bzhi dang / rkyen dang 'du ba tshogs te byung ba'i yan lag bcu gnyis dang / byang chub kyi phyogs kyi chos sum bcu rtsa bdun dang pha rold tu phyin pa bcu la sogs pa'o // de'i 'bras bu ni mi 'jigs pa bzhi dang / so so yang dag par shes pa bzhi dang / stobs bcu dang / ma 'dres pa'i chos bco brgyad dang / thugs rje chen po sum bcu rtsa gnyis la sogs par 'gyur tu / gtan tshigs zhib tu ni chos kyi yi ge'i nang na mchis so //
+ chos kyi nang nas byung ba 'di rnams rjes bcad na / kha cig ni legs nongs kyis dmyigs 'phral du mngon pa yang mchis / kha cig 'phral du mi mngon pa yang mngon par gda' ba rnams kyi tshul las dpags na / nges par gzung du rung ba yang mchis te / mdo de rnams dang sbyar na / chos 'di gtang ngam mdzad dam ci rigs zhes / 'bangs su mtha' ba rgyal phran 'a zha rje la sogs pa dang / phyi nang gi blon po rnams la bka's rmas / bka' gros su mdzad nas / gcig tu na sangs rgyas bcom ldan 'das kyi bka' lung la bsten / gnyis su na yab mes kyi dpe lugs la 'tshal / gsum du na dge ba'i bshes gnyen gyi mthus bstangs pa dang yang sbyar nas mdor brtags na / myi dge ma legs par dogs pa'i rnams kyang da ltar myi 'gyur gyi steng du / ched che bar bka' gros mdzad do // de lam legs par ni ji tar yi 'gyur ched ni ji ltar che zhe na / chos kyi mdo ni legs su bgyi bas / bla na med pa'i don bsgrub pa lags te / legs pa'i mtha' nongs par mi 'gyur gyis gcig thams cad la yun du dben pa 'di lta'o // tshod dpags tsam gyis dgos pa gzhig du myi rung gis gnyis / yab [376] mes gdung rabs du ma'i bar du mdzad kyang / ma legs pa ma byung ba dang gsum gyis da yang nongs par myi 'gyur la ched che'o zhes // mdzad par bka' gros btul te mdzad do // de lta bas na sangs rgyas kyi chos mdzad pa yang / gcig du na yong gis bzang la gces / gnyis na sngon bshig pa'i dpe byung bas thugs yid dogs te brtan du mi gzhig par dbu snyung bro mna' bor ba yang yi ger bris so // phyin chad kyang gdung rabs gcig cing / yi dam mdzad pa dang blon po man chad kyang bro stsal bar bgyis so // zhes byung ngo //
'di dag ni rgyas pa dkor mdzod du bzhag pa yin la / mdor bsdus bsam yas kyi rdo ring la brkos pa'i gtsigs yin ni /
[Bsam-yas Rdo-ring inscription]
+ ra sa dang brag dmar gyi gtsug lag khang la sogs par dkond cog gsum gyi rten btsugs pa dang / sangs rgyas kyi chos mdzad pa 'di nam du yang myi gtang ma zhig par bgyi'o // yo byad sbyar pa yang / de las myi 'bri myi skyung bar bgyi'o // da phyin chad gdung rabs re re zhing yang / btsan po yab sras kyis / 'di bzhin yi dam bca'o // de las mna' kha dbyung pa dag kyang myi bgyi / myi bsgyur bar 'jig rten las 'das pa dang 'jig rten gyi lha dang myi ma yin pa thams cad kyang phang du gsol te / btsan po yab sras dang rje blon kun gyis dbu snyung dang bro bor ro // gtsigs kyi yi ge zhib mo gcig ni gung na mchis so // zhes byung ngo //
((Note: Another version of the same inscription is found in Tucci, Tombs, pp. 94-5, with translation on p. 43. It has some different readings!)) It is possible to read most of the inscription in the photographs in Precious Deposits I 170-1.
(+(+(+(+(+(+(+(+(+)+)+)+)+)+)+)+)
The Dkar chung Edict
{{Note: There is a different transcription in Tucci, Tombs, pp. 100-104, with English tr. on p. 51 ff.}}
[409] skyi shod du dkar chung rdo rje dbyings kyi lha khang bzhengs / blon 'bangs thams cad la dam pa'i chos mi gzhig cing dkon mchog gsum dbang btsan par bya ba'i bka' khrims bsgrags shing mna' bor du bcug pa'i bka' gtsigs ni /
+ sras khri lde srong btsan gyi sku ring la shog bu mthing ga la gser gyis bris te 'phra myen gyi sgrom bur bstsal nas / bsam yas lhun gyis 'grub kyi gtsug lag khang du yab kyi zla la bzhag pa las dpe bgyis te bris pa /
+ dam pa'i chos nam du yang mi gzhig par / btsan po khri lde srong btsan gyis thugs dam bshes te / dbu snyung bor nas / gtsigs kyi yi ger bris pa /
+ gtsigs ji ltar gnang ba'i gtan tshigs mgo nan la bris pa / bla na med pa'i sangs rgyas kyi chos 'di / bzang zhing ched che ste / mi mdzad du mi rung ni ngan rtags dang gtan tshigs / yab khri srong lde btsan gyi sku ring la / chos nam du yang myi gzhig par gtsigs mdzad pa'i blang nan dang / chos ji ltar brnyes pa'i gtam gyi yi ge las smos cing / chos kyi yi ge nyid zhib tu 'byung ba yin no // 'di ltar sangs rgyas kyi chos 'di bzang zhing cher che ste / myi mdzad du myi rung bar / dang po mes srong btsan gyis mkhyen nas / lha sa'i dpe har brtsigs pa tshun chad / yab khri srong lde btsan gyis / chos rgya cher thugs su tshud nas / bsam yas lhun gyis grub pa la stsogs te / bod khams su gtsug lag khang mang po brtsigs pa dang / btsan po khri srong lde btsan nga'i zha snga nas / chos thugs su chud de mdzad pa phan chad / gdung rabs bdun gyi bar du mdzad kyis kyang / myi dge ba dang ma legs pa med pa las / chos khong du ma chud pa kha cig gis mes khri lde gtsug btsan gyi ring la / brag dmar gyi [410] kwa chur gtsug lag khang brtsigs nas / chos mdzad pa las / yab khri srong lde btsan sku chung ba'i tshe bshig ste / phyin chad chos byed du myi gnang bar / bka' khrims su yang bris pa las / yab khri srong lde btsan gyi sku la dngo' bar gyur nas / slar sangs rgyas kyi chos mdzad pas sman par gyurd te / chos kyang rgya cher mdzad de / nam du yang chos myi gzhig par / gtsigs kyang dam du bris pa las / phyis yab dgung du gshegs pa'i rjes la / nged rje blon gyi snyan du mo dang rmis ltas las dkris te / chos mdzad pa 'di / btsan pho'i / sku dang chab srid la yang dngo' ste ma legs kyis / btsan pho'i / pho brang na dkond cog gsum gyi rten gtsugs pa yang gud du spags te / bkar zhing chos mdzad pa'i myi rigs ces gsold pa dag kyang byung nas / mo dang rmis ltas lta bu brdzun pa'i tshig gis / dkond cog gsum gyi rten dang chos lta bu don chen po spangs par gyurd na / mtha' yun du yang myi dge zhing ma legs / rje blon snga rabs kyis dam gtsigs bzhes pa'i dbu snyung dang yang 'gal nas / snga rabs kyi ring la gdung rabs re re zhing chos myi gzhig par thugs dam bzhe so zhes 'byung ba dang sbyard te / yab kyi ring la dbu snying gtsigs mdzad pa' rnams dang / nga'i thugs la dgongs te / gtsigs gser du bsnan nas / yi ge 'di las byung ba'i rnams / nam zhar 'di bzhin du myi mdzad re zhes / nga'i zha snga nas dbu' snyung por te / thugs dam bzhes / phyi nang gi blon po che phras kyang mna' bor te gtsigs kyi yi ger bris pa'o /
+ thugs dam dang dbu' snyung bzhes te gtsigs su mdzad pas / chos mdzad pa 'di gces spras ci la yang sdig go zhe nam / ma legs so zhes mo dang rmis ltas las sogs te ci'i phyir yang rung ste / dkond cog gsum gzhig re spang re / de skad ces che chung su gsold kyis kyang de ltar mdzad re / btsan pho / dbon sras sku chung ngur bzhugs pa yan chad / [411] chab srid kyi mnga' bdag mdzad pa man chad kyang dge slong las dge ba'i bshes gnyen bskos te / chos thugs su ci chud chud du bslab cing / bod yongs kyis kyang chos slob cing spyad pa'i sgo bcad de / nam du yang bod ya rabs mnor cing bod 'bangs las thard par gzung ba'i sgo mi bgag par / dad pa'i rnams las thar par btsud de / de'i nang nas nus pa las / bcom ldan 'das kyi ring lugs rtag tu bsko zhing / bcom ldan 'das kyi ring lugs byed pa'i rnams / chos 'khor nas bya 'o cog gi bka' la yang gtogs te / chos 'khor gyi las dang dbang byed cing / dge ba'i bshes gnyen byed par mi bsko re / rab tu byung ba'i rnams gzhan gyi bran du mi sbyin / nan gyis mi dbab / khyim pa'i khrin la btags te gyod la mi gdags shing / nged yab sras kyis mchod gnas su gnang ba bzhin du byas te / btsan po'i / pho brang na dkond cog gsum gyi rten btsugs cing / mchod pa yang gud du spang zhing bskar re / mchod gnas su myi bya re / mdor na / btsan pho'i / pho brang dang bod khams na / dkond cog gsum myed pa dang spang ba'i thabs ci yang bya re / yab mes dbon sras gang gi ring la yang rung ste / dkond cog gsum gyi rkyen bcad pa'i rnams kyang / ma dmas ma zhig pa'i chos su mi bya re / 'di ltar rje blon man chad kun gyis mna' bor ba las / btsan pho'i / gdung rgyud las dbu' snyung bzhes dgos pa'am / phyis jo mo'am / chab srid kyi blon po la stsogs pa gsar du bskos shing chud pa zhig yod la / mna's bsgag pa'i rigs pa las / mna' ma bor ba zhig yod na / de bzhin du mna' myi bsgag re /
+ jo ma mched bro stsald pa / jo mo 'bro bza' khri mo legs / jo mo mchims rgyal bza' legs mo brtsan / jo mo cog ro bza' brtsan rgyal /
+ rgyal phran bro bstsald pa / dbon 'a zha rje dud kyi bul zhi khud bor ma ga tho gon kha gan / [412] dkong kar po mang po rje / myang btsun khri bo /
+ chab srid kyi blon po man chad blon po che phra bro stsald pa la / ban de bka' chen po la gtogs pa / ban de bran ka yon tan / ban de myang ting 'dzin /
+ chab srid kyi blon po bka' chen po la gtogs pa / blon chen po zhang 'bro khri gzu ram shags / zhang mchims rgyal btsan bzher legs gzigs / dba' blon mang rje lha lod / dba's blon khri sum bzher mdo btsan / zhang mchims rgyal lha bzher ne shags / rlang blon khri sum rje speg lha /
+ nang blon la / zhang sna nam khri sgra rgyal / zhang tshe spong mdo bzher phes po / zhang tshe spong lha bzang klu dpal / zhang sna nam rgyal legs dge tshug / zhang sna nam lha bzher spe btsan / bran ka blon rgyal bzang 'dus kong / myang blon khri bzang legs 'dus / le'u blon lha bzang byin byin / tong blon stag slebs / zhang mchims rgyal mdo gzigs / rlang blon bsam skyes / zhang tshe spong lha lung sto / zhang sna nam gnyan lod / 'ong ka lha sbyin / 'bring yas blon stag rma / rtsang rje blon khye 'u cung [khye'u chung] / 'bal blon 'bro ma / snya shur blon da tsug snyam /
+ snam phyi pa la / khar ba rje blon btsan slebs / khu stag tshab / zha snga gcan stag lod / byung bo blon rgyal 'byung / shud pu blon khong khri / le'u blon klu gzher / zhang tshe spong klu mtsho sto / pa tsab [pa tshab] blon 'tsho gzigs / myang blon legs btsan / rlang blon gsas slebs / dbang blon lta bo btsan / bran ka blon bsam pa / nyi ba blon ldon kong / shud bu blon stag slebs / zha snga gsas btsan khu thog btsan / sna nam lha 'bangs /
+ dbang po dang dmag dpon dang / phyis blon bka' la gtogs pa la / lha blon khri bzang g.yu brtsan / dbas blon khrom bzher / zhang mchims rgyal stong snya smon btsan / zhang tshe spong khri gzigs spung re tsung / zhang mchims rgyal stag bzher rgyal slebs / zhang sna nam btsan sgra khri slebs / [413] 'brom blon rgyal bzher khar tsi / lha lung blon mang po rje skar kong / zhang 'bro stag bzher pra bal stang / dba's rgyal to re stag snya / cog ro blon lho gong / lang gro blon khrom legs / dba' blon mdo btsan / le'u blon ku rma / zhang 'bro stag dang / mang sgra blon klu rma / zhang mchims rma btsan / rtse 'brom blon sga 'gu / khyung po blon mas kol / pa tsab blon spe ma / 'brom se ri stang / dba's blon 'phan legs / dbas blon khrom legs / ska ba blon mtsho lod / cog ro brtan kong / gnang yul bzung / cog ro khyi btsan / sbrang mo rma / 'bro ldog srong ston / 'brom yang gzigs / ces byung ngo // [end of edict]
bka' gtsigs gong 'og 'di rnams sdebs phul rten sogs kyang rnying pa ngos bshus yin la dam pa'i chos la bka' ba 'di lta bu mdzad do zhes chos kyi che ba dang / rgyal po byang chub sems dpa' rnams kyi yon tan shes shing res dang ba 'phel ba'i dgos pa mthong nas bris pa yin no //
de ltar lo sum bcu so gnyis rgyal sa mdzad / rgyal khrims chos bzhin du bskyangs pas bod 'bangs bde ba la bkod de dgung lo lnga bcu nga bzhi pa me mo bya'i lo la sbrags kyi phur 'das so //
(+(+(+(+(+(+(+(+(+)+)+)+)+)+)+)+)
Rdo ring inscription at Mtshur phu.
Source: G.Tucci, Tombs of the Tibetan Kings, pp. 87-90 (English tr. on pp. 16-18):
/ / zhang tshes pong stag bzang nya stos /
stod kyi lcang bur / gtsug lag khang brtsigs
pa'i lo rgyus // rdo rings la bri bar / btsan po'i bka's gnang ste bris pa' / /
/ / btsan po lha sras yab myes kyi sku ring la /
dam pa'i chos brnyes nas // gdung rabs
su dam pa'i chos myi gtang zhing mdzad par
chos gtsigs dang / bka' lung stsald pa
las 'byung ba bzhin / zhang tshes pong nya stos /
dam pa'i chos nyams su blangs / btsan
po lha sras / khri gtsug lde brtsan 'phrul gyi
bka' drin / khri gtsug lde brtsan 'phrul gyi
bka' drin / zhang nya sto la cher stsald pas
bka' drin chen po bsab pa'i phyir / /
btsan po sku yon du bsngos te / smon lam
rgya cher btab nas / stod lungs kyi lcang bur
gtsug lag khang brtsigs ste / dkon
mchog gsum gyi rten btsugs / dge
slong bzhi gnas par sbyar nas / rkyen kyi
bran dang zhing 'brog dang / lha cha dang / nor rdzas
dang / rkang 'gros las stsogs pa / tshang bar
bdad de // btsan po khri gtsug lde brtsan
gyi sku yon rgyun mi 'chad par byed do / /
gtsug lag khang 'di'i mtshan yang / /
btsan po'i bka' zhal gyis btags ste /
'on cang do'i thugs dam gyi gtsug lag
khang chen po'i mjug la gdags shing /
chis kyang / bla nas mdzad par / / bka's
gnang // lha ris kyi 'bangs dang / dkor
la / khral myi dbab pa dang / / khwa dang / chad ka
mi bzhes pa las stsogs pa yang // lha ris
chen po'i thang du / / bka's gnang ngo / /
gtsug lag khang 'di'i rkyen ris bsngo zhing
spyad pa yang / / zhang nya stos // ji ltar byas shing /
bsngos pa bzhin brtsan bar / bka's gnango /
/ nam zhig na // zhang nya sto la / bu tsha rgyud yong
myed pa zhig du gyur na / / khol yul las stsogs
pa dbang ngo cog / / blar yang myi bzhes /
gyang myi sbyin bar / / gtsug lag khang 'di rkyen /
du bsnan par / / bka's gnang ngo /
gtsug lag khang gi rkyen bcad pa'i dkar
cag dang / bsngos yig bla dpe ni / / bcom ldan
'da's ring lugs kyi 'dun sar bzhag / /
'og dpe ni / 'on cang do gtsug lag khang gi
gnas brtan dang / mngan la stsald / dpe
de dang 'dra ba gcig ni / / gtsug lag khang
'dir gzhag par / bka's gnang ngo /
/ / zhang tshes pong
gsas sto'i bu
tsha / gtsigs
gnang ba'i bla
dpe ni / phying ba
'i skun mkhar
na / gtsugs
chen po gzhan gyi
zla la bzhag / de
dang 'dra ba rnam
gcig ni / gtsigs
gzhan gyi zla la
bka'i sar bzhag
/ gtsigs kyi
'og dpe 'phra
men gyi sgrom bu
ni / gtsug lag
khang 'di'i mdzod
du gzhag par /
bka's gnang
ngo / /
bkra shis /
Here is the last part minus the line-breaks:
/ / zhang tshes pong gsas sto'i bu tsha / gtsigs gnang ba'i bla dpe ni / phying ba 'i skun mkhar na / gtsugs chen po gzhan gyi zla la bzhag / de dang 'dra ba rnam gcig ni / gtsigs gzhan gyi zla la bka'i sar bzhag / gtsigs kyi 'og dpe 'phra men gyi sgrom bu ni / gtsug lag khang 'di'i mdzod du gzhag par / bka's gnang ngo / / bkra shis /
(+(+(+(+(+(+(+(+(+)+)+)+)+)+)+)+)
Inscription on the Rdo ring near tomb of
Khri lde srong btsan.
Note that last part is quite fragmentary, and is not well represented in the following transcription.
Source: G.Tucci, Tombs of the Tibetan Kings, pp. 91-93 (English tr. on pp. 36 ff.):
/ / btsan po lha sras / 'o lde spu rgyal // gnam gyi lha las myi'i rjer gshegs pa // chos lugs bzang po ni gzhar gtsug myi 'gyur // mnga' thang chen po ni nam zhar kyang byin myi nyam ste // chab srid ni da phyir zheng che / dbu rmog ni yun du brtsan pa'i // g.yung drung gi gtsug lag chen po bzhin du // lha sras khri lde srong brtsan myi'i rje mdzad pa // lha'i lugs dang 'thun par ni nga' thang ni chen [po] gnam gyi chos dang mtshungs par ni / bka' brtsan te thugs sgam po' rlabs dang // bka' lung bzang po'i lugs kyis // phyi nang gnyis su legs dang / chab srid che ba'i tshul / nam du yang / myi yongs kyis shes par // mdo tsam zhig rdo rings la bris pa'o //
// btsan po lha sras / khri lde srong brtsan / lha 'phrul gyi zha snga nas // thugs sgam // kho [=khong] ya [=yangs] pa dang / brtan ng [=zung] thub thubs stobs che'o /
nyi de lta bsam / ' gi rje mdzad na yang // myi s pa'i las rgya mu bskrun pas nang du 'khrug pa dang / myi ba myed cing // pod ljongs kyis myi la byung ste / 'bangs gyod do // nam zhar dbon sras rgyud chab srid btsan dang / 'bangs skyid par bya'o mas gtang / myi'i n na mye pa i [n]ang du bzhag na gyi g yang rgya cher dgongs lha 'phrul gyi zha snga nas ma phyogs brgyad du [bka' btsa]n chab srid che ste phyo[gs bzhir] rgyal po chen por ma ba // bar du bka' khon byung nas dgra ru sdor la nga ja (?) du bzhes ma thag tu da dmag gis rggyar u sa ru drangs nas sa da tshun cad rgyas i ra mdzad thog gtsug lag khang sa o ste // rtag du da [che]n por cha gar 'dug do dang la u yis nga chad dam ra na dan y chab srid mar kho kyong du ra su rdo dang bcas pa y po bod gnyis ja ra na yo i zhan du yang da myi da pa da nyi 'og tu chab c ta zhi sbyor zhing da pa [byang] phyogs na dru gu sa ho[r se]r (hor ser) [bar] du bak khong byung nas chab srid sa u gu ru gya'i dang so ru na chud can du / bod da cher // man ngas bcad na rgya nga yul kyi na srung kong da tshun cad lho hor khag gyis kyang chab srid la bsrong te / u du gsol lo / 'di dag stsogs pa rgyal po / na o nga [nyi] 'og tu [cha]b srid kya[ng] de pa dam pa'i chos rab tu rtsal u u ng
(+(+(+(+(+(+(+(+(+)+)+)+)+)+)+)+)
Skar chung inscription.
Source: G.Tucci, Tombs of the Tibetan Kings, pp. 104-108 (English tr. on p. 51 ff.):
/ / 'phrul gyi lha btsan po khri lde srong brtsan gyi ring la // dam pa'i chos yun du brtan bar gtsigs brnan pa / /
/ 'phrul gyi lha btsan po / myes / khri srong brtsan gyi ring la // sangs rgyas kyi chos mdzad de // ra sa'i gtsug lag khang las stsogs pa brtsigs shing // dkon mchog gsum gyi rten btsugs pa dang // myes khri 'dus srong gi ring la // glang gi khri rtse las stsogs par / gtsug lag khang brtsigs ste // dkon mchog gsum gyi rten btsugs pa dang // myes khri lde gtsug brtsan gyi ring la // brag mar gyi kwa tsu dang / mching phur gtsug lag khang brtsigs ste dkon mchog gsum gyi rten btsugs pa dang // yab khri srong lde brtsan gyi ring la // brag mar gyi bsam yas las stsogs pa // dbud mthar gtsug lag khang brtsigs ste dkon mchog gsum gyi rten btsugs pa dang // lha btsan po khri lde srong brtsan gyi ring la yang // skar cung gtsug lag khang las stsogs pa brtsigs ste // dkon mchog gsum gyi rten btsugs pa las stsogs pa // gdung rabs rgyud gyis / 'di ltar sangs rgyas kyi chos mdzad pa 'di // nam du yang ma zhig // ma btang na // legs pa dpag tu myed par 'gyur // btang ste / zhig gam / myed par gyur na // sdig pa grangs myed par 'ong bas // da phyin chad nam nam zha zhar / 'phrul gyi lha btsan po // yab / khri srong lde brtsan gyi ring la // dkon mchog gsum gyi rten btsugs pa dang // sangs rgyas kyi chos mdzad pa myi gtang ma zhag par // gdung rabs rgyud kyi yi dam bca'o zhes 'byung ba las stsogs pa // btsan po yab sras // rje blon kun / kyis dbu snyung dang bro bor te // gtsigs kyi yi ge dang rdo rings la bris pa bzhin du yang mdzad do // 'di ltar yab myes / gdung rabs rgyud kyis // dkon mchog gsum gyi rten btsugs shing / sangs rgyas kyi chos mdzad pa 'di // gces spras ci la yang / sdig go zhe'am / ma legs so zhes / mo dang rmyi ltas las stsogs ste ci'i phyir yang rung ste / myi gzhig go / myi spang ngo // de skad ces / che chung sus gsold kyis kyang / de ltar myi mdzad do // btsan po dbon sras // sku chu ngur bzhugs pa yan cad // chab srid kyi mnga' bdag mdzad pa man chad kyang // dge slong las / dge ba'i bshes nyen bskos ste / chos thugs su ci chud chud du bslab cing / bod yongs kyis kyang chos slob cing spyad pa'i sgo myi gcad / nam du yang bod ya rabs man cad // bod 'bangs las thar par gzud pa'i sgo myi bgag par / dad pa'i rnams las thar par btsud te // 'di'i nang nas nus pa las // bcom ldan 'das kyi ring lugs rtag tu bsko zhing // bcom ldan 'das kyi ring lugs byed pa'i rnams chos 'khor nas bya'o cog gi bka' la yang btags ste // chos 'khor gyi las dang dbang byed cing dge ba'i bshes nyen byed par bsko'o // rab tu byung ba'i rnams // nged yab sras kyis mchod gnas su gnang ba bzhin du byas ste // btsan po'i / pho brang na dkon mchog gsum gyi rten btsugs shing mchod pa yang // gu du [gud du] myi spang myi bskar zhing mchod gnas su bgyi'o / mdor na // btsan po'i / pho brang dang / bod khams na / dkon mchog gsum myed pa dang spang ba'i thabs ci yang myi mdzad do / yab myes dbon sras gang gi ring la yang rung ste / dkon mchog gsum gyi rkyen bcad pa'i rnams kyang ma dma's ma zhig pa'i chos su lha sirs kyi khyim yig gi mgo nan las 'byung ba bzhin du cis mdzad do // da phyin chad gdung rabs re re zhing yang btsan po yab sras kyis / 'di bzhin du yi dam bca'o // de las mna' kha dbud pa dag myi bgyi myi bsgyur bar // 'jig rten las 'das pa dang 'jig rten gyi lha dang myi ma yin pa thams cad kyang / dpang du gsol te // btsan po / rje blon kun kyis kyang dbu snyung dang bro bor ro // gtsigs brnand ba'i yi ge zhib mo ni // yab kyi ring la gtsigs kyi yi ge bri ba'i zla la bzhag go //
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Lho brag inscription
Source: Pasang Wangdu, Newly-Discovered Rock Inscriptions of the Imperial Age, Tibet Journal, 8 no 3 (Aut 1983), pp. 62-64. The author dates the inscription to around 804-815. Richardson (in his article "Early Tibetan Inscriptions: Some Recent Discoveries") and more recently Uebach, have studied this also. Someone named Ngag Dkon gave a paper in Beijing in 2016: "Lde Sman Lde Chung: One Ministerr Appears in Imperial Cliff Inscription."
btsan po lha sras gyi sngar lde sman lde'u cung / glo ba nye nye sku dang chab srid la dphen pha' rje blas dka' ba byed byed nas bkas gnang ba ldue' cung gi kha lo snang gi bu tsha pheld rgyud nam zhar srid g.yung drung dang mtshungs pha dang khol yul las rtsegs pa mya dbri myi snyung ba dang / lde'u cung gi mchad myi / rim gro bla nas mjed nam cig dbon sras gang gi ring la ral yang / bla nas stong sdes brtsig phar gnang ngo lde'u cung gi kha lo snang gi bu tsha pheld rgyud X phu nu XX cig kyang bka' gyod X gtsigs shan / XXXXXXXX dbu snyung gnang ba dang rkong kor po lha btsan XX sa XXXXX blon po dang bu bzhi zhang lon gyi bro bor gtsigs gyi sgreng bu ni phyag sbal du bzung nho /
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Bsam yas bell inscription.
Source: G.Tucci, Tombs of the Tibetan Kings, p. 108 (English tr. on p. 69):
/ / jo mo rgyal mo btsan yum / sras kyis phyogs bcu'i dkon mchog gsum ga la / mchod pa'i slad du cong 'di bgyis te de'i bsod / rnams kyi stobs kyis lha btsan po khri srong lde btsan / yab sras stangs dbyal gsung dbyangs drug / bcu'i sgra dbyangs dang ldan te / bla na med pa'i byang chub sgrub par smon to //
{{Note: Compare the text in Richardson, Corpus, p. 34}}
Following is my own 'corrected' transcription, representing my own way of 'reading' it, but without the punctuation marks (which are in fact placed in an apparently haphazard way):
jo mo rgyal mo btsan yum sras kyis phyogs bcu'i dkon mchog gsum la mchod pa'i slad du cong 'di bgyis te de'i bsod nams kyi stobs kyis lha btsan po khri srong lde brtsan yab sras stangs dbyal gsung dbyangs drug cu sgra dbyangs dang ldan te bla na med pa'i byang chub tu grub par smon to.
There is a photograph in Precious Deposits I 164, but it is hard to read the inscription.
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Source: H.E. Richardson, The Inscription at Ra Tshag Dgon-pa. BSOAS 58 (1995) 534-539.
sngon dkon mchog gsum gyi rten zhan cing dam pa'i chos bka' ma dar ba'i dus su zhang se 'go 'bri'u brtsan mon chung lta zhig gis mar chung bse'i khang dmar la rdon re'i bca' brtsud nas mnga' thang rgyal dang mnyam zhing / chab srid rgung bas mtho ste / 'bangs la bka' drin gyi dbyig chen po gnang ngo //
de nas dus kyis zhig pa'i gnas skabs su / bka' blon mchog la rdo rings dang them skas su phul lo // x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x snga rabs kyi rje blon 'phruld kyi rjes su da ltar yul yab du rwa ban de yon tan rgyal pos gtsug lag khang brtsigs shing / dkon mchog gsum gyi rten btsugs pa 'di // da phyin chad gyang / rwa ban de yon tan rgyal po'i bu tsha' rgyud kyis gzhi bzung nas se 'go gnam lcags pa'i rje 'bangs yongs gyis / g.yar dam dam par blangs nas / myi bkur re myi mchod re / spang re gzhig re / bsgyud phyel bar bor re / mnga' kha 'bud pa tsam yang bgyi re / 'jig rten las 'das pa' dang 'jig rten gyi lha dang / myi ma yin thams chad kyang dpang du gsol lo /
phyi nang gang nas kyang dge 'dun 'du ba'i sgo 'phrog pa dang / ngan du sems pa dang ngan du spyod pa de dagi las dang / nges byas kyin chad pa / myi dang myi ma yin pa kun kyis 'phral du yang bcad do.
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Rgyal Lha-khang Inscription
Source: Sha bo Mkha' byams, Gser du rnyed pa'i rgyal gyi rdo ring chag ro ma dang rgyal lug lhas lha khang gi rdo ring.
http://www.tsanpo.com/debate/25264.html
Note: The same inscription is in Richardson's Corpus, p. 150, but he couldn't read the first lines on the east face that had the name "Zhang Sna nam Rdo..." and he transcribed nothing from the west face.
East Face: xxx pa'i/ xxs pa zhang sna nam rdo xxx/ gnyis kyis x-al kyi rdo ring / btsugs pa la / spyi deng seng gi dus su ni / dge ba la phyogs gcig pa dang / legs pa la gros mthun pa ni nyung na / 'o na dkon mchog gsum la skyabs su gsol ba'i myi rnams kyis ni / lhar sangs rgyas gzungs / gros phug chos la / gtad / gtsor lta ba sbyang / tshig spyod rnal du dbab / 'tsho ba gtsang mar bsgrub byed dgu chos dang sbyar / spyi gros gcig du bzlum / sgo gnyer so sor blang / ngan gros dgog du dbyung / bden gtam dang du blang / 'di ltar byas na tshe 'di dang phyi ma gnyi gar bde bar 'gyur byas tshig bcu po 'di yal bar mi bor zhing gzungs su bzung na legs so // bsam myi khyab xxx rnam pa kun tu sgrub sbyang / xxx kyi dge ba
South Face: @ xxx / r xx (bar 'dir thig phreng gcig nas gnyis tsam chad) 'phan yul klung skyes ngo mtshar che //
West Face: @rtse'u xxx/xx (bar 'dir thig phreng gcig nas gnyis tsam chad) xx skyes/ sta'u x g.yu sping / sa x
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Pra dun tse Rdo ring Inscription
Note: This recently found document recording the content of a rdo ring was made subject of a Tibetologic blog:
https://tibeto-logic.blogspot.com/2019/04/stone-inscription-from-8th-century-rule.html
https://utsangculture.com/ཁྲི་སྲོང་ལྡེ་བཙན་སྐབས་/
Posted March 22, 2019
"Khri srong lde btsan skabs kyi pra dun rtse'i rdo ring zhal bshus ma."
Khri srong lde btsan gyi skabs gtsang gi gro shod du btab pa'i pra dun rtse gtsug lag khang gi mdun du yod pa'i btsan po'i dus kyi rdo ring gi zhal bshus kyi ma phyi cha tshang /
gnam labs kyi btsan po // sa lhund kyi mnga' mdzad // myi rje lha'i sprul pa / gnam gyi lha las 'greng myi'i rjer gshegs ste[1] / dud rngog chags kyi rkyen du bskyod pa'i bod kyi spu rgyal btsan po khri srong lde btsan gyi zha snga' nas pho brang gro shod pi ba mkhar na bzhugs pa'i dus su // bka' lung gsal ba'i mdo' byang gu ge'i sde rgye shin blon chen po khri dbang gtsug phud rje la khwe la yos bu'i lo rgun zla tha chung gi ngo la bkas gnang ba /
[11] rgye shin blon chen po khri dbang gtsug phud rje la khwe mchis na yang btsan po gdung rgyud rim par pha mes rgyud kyis sku'i nye zhing zho sha cher phul / mes khri sta'u snya gzigs kyi sku ring la rgye shen blon chen po 'dzam gling khri don bzher btsan nes dru gu yul du dmag pon bgyis te / myang dbas mnon dang gsum / tshe spongs 'phrin dang sgo bstun nas / rgyal phran bcu gnyis kyi' srid brlag / zhang zhung sde dang bcas pa 'a zha' 'khor dang bcas pa / dags po rgyab dang bcas pa mngar 'dus te / zhabs 'degs phul / mes khri gnam ri srong btsan rlung nam gyi sku ring la rgye shin blon chen po rus rgya 'dzam bus dmag pon bgyis te / sbal ti dang nol thabs mdzad pa'i sar dpa'i ya rab bgyis chab srid rgyas par bcugs pas bka' rtags kyi sgrom bu mtha' dbus su brtsan bar rmeng chags pa'i zhabs 'debs phul / mes srong btsan sgam po'i sku ring la rgya shin blon chen po mang rje btsan la myis rgya'i phyogs su dmag drangs te ga ram gyi rgya thang du rgya dang nom thabs mdzad pa'i dus su dpa'i ya rab bgyis / dpa' mtshan stag gi zar chen gsal / 'gar stong brtsan yul zung dang / da rgyal mang po rje stong nam gnyis dang sgo bstun nas bod kyi mkhar bzhi brtsegs pa dang / bod rur phye ba dang / sum pa sder bcad pa la sogs pa'i zhabs 'degs phul bas dpen yon la gser gyi yi ge chu du [~chu ngu] bkas gnang /
[29] btsan po khri srong lde brtsan gyi sku ring la / rgye shin blon chen po khri dbang gtsug phud rje la khwes yul na gar du gnyi 'go dang nol thabs mdzad pa'i dus su / bya lo nas lo rgu'i bar du rgu khrom bgyis dpa' 'dzangs kyi phul bton te / mtha'i 'go mnan rje'i sku btsas chab srid kyi nol thabs sngar byung du sgo srog la ma 'dzems te chab srid grangs dang rim par phyag tu phul te / dpe yon la seng ge'i go lag gsal g.yu'i yi ge chu du bkas gnang / de ltar sug byad yun du bzang zhing gdung rgyud rim pa la myi rabs rgyud kyis zho sha cher bgyis pa'i rge yon dang sbyar nas bka' rtsigs gnang ba yin gyis mnga' mdzad gdung rgyud jo mo bdan zhur phyi ma rnams kyis nam nam zha zha / tshe tshe rabs rabs bu tsha mtha' rjes myi rabs rgyud mar myi bco myi bsgyur myi dbri myi bskur bkas myi bshu myi sha sman chal sma stong dang bcas pa yang gdung rgyud rim pas bkas gnang ba'i yig rtsang dang mthun bar bka' rtags 'gyur snyags dang bcas pa 'chang du gsald pa yin no //
nga'i rgye shig blon chen po khri dbang gtsug phud rje la khwe bu cha rgyud du khrag che bton chung bton ni shi ri shi thang du bkas gnang / sus bkum yang lha gnyan mchod pa dang sri gnon gyi rkyen la bran pho rus sna rgu bran mo rus sna rgu gser gyi mda' rgu hwa dar rgu / g.yu'i 'phang rgu la srin bal 'dab ma rgu btags pa / mon lug rgu / mon ra rgu / nas khal dgu / shin tog khal rgu / mar khug rgu dgu ram rgu bla snang rgu la sogs pa dang mchod pa bya'o //
bla ri spo ri rma bya mdongs gser gyi zhu lubs su g.yon / bla mtsho dang ra g.yu mthur can ni gzi mchod des gcal du bkram / bla thang g.ya' thang myir ma ris ni dar zab kyis g.yon / srad yas dar yug rgu / gser gyi sbram bu rgu / 'bri rgu / ro g.yogs la khrab mying can drgu / ro gal la sta rab rgu / snying non la gser srang brgya dang g.yu rab rgu / bar stong la rta rab rgu / g.yag rab rgu / za bog rab rgu / nas khal rgu / lug srang rgu / stong nag ni shi ri shi thang gi rkang grangs las bkas gnang / srang rgu khri rgu stong rgu brgya rgu bcu rtsa rgu / zho rgu / nam rgu / lug rgu ting rgu bkas gnang / so sta sen gas na sgra lug ra yugs sa'i gos rin srang rgu / mchi phyis 'bri cig dang dar yug cig / spya rin la rta cig theb grib dar yug dmar pos byas te sar mar btus / mna' ma dang bu sring gi khrin srang bzhi brgya / mtshon che phyung chung phyung kheng rab kyi stong dang bsnum / myi zhing 'brog sogs gnang ba ni me nyag dang thag dar ljags dang nam pag ti 'di dang 'dre / skyu ru dang mo lcags tu rbar lasogs rus sna dgu grong brgya cu rtsa bdun / yul 'phan yul gyi rgya tshar srang / zhing rgod dor brgya bzhi bcu rtswa lnga pa / 'brog skyi thang ring mos yas bcad pa / spang ri 'brong tshang can gyis mas bcad pa / brag dmar chu mdo' lung lag gis bcad pa / na rlung 'om tshang gis bcad pa / bar gyi ro leb la shing lbag yu bkas gnang sngar chod pa'i myi zhing 'brog sogs bka' drin mdzad pa nyos zhing phru sa yan chod dbang bgyid par bkas gnang / spus lcogs pa rnams bla'i sgo gnyer chen po 'cham par bkas bsnan bka' zhang blon por bzhag cing gnya' snyom bar bkas gnang / sdos nyes che chung ci mchis kyang myi bkum myi spyug / gzhan snyan phra zhu ba byung na yang ma sbyangs par myi gsan zhing bkas chad ston myig myi mdzad par bkas gnang rtsigs zhing rtsigs 'brog 'tshal ba ma bka' skos myi mdzad par bkas gnang ba'i zhal phan gsal ba 'di sgrog rdo la than bar gyis shig /
[91] rgye shin blon chen po khri dbang gtsug phud rje la khwe nu tsha rgyud du spyan ras kyis myi btsa' re / 'khor yul blar bzhes re / gzhan du yang spyur re / snyan phra byung na yang gas re / shags khar rdzong re / 'dus 'gros ltar bkas myi bcad re / ma sbyangs par gtam slas gcod pa mdzad re / blon che khri dbang gtsug phud la bu tsha rgyud du 'di ltar bka' rtsigs 'chang du rung du brtsan bar bkas gnang ste gzhi phyag rgya 'chang du gsald pa shang shang dum rtsen du btab pa cig las bshus pa lags s.ho //
[103] yul phan yul gyi rgye shin gyi me rtags / yongs su rdzogs so //
A Google search reveals that rGye shin Blon skyid is named in an inscription that Francke has reproduced, evidently, in an article of his (for reference, see his Historische Dokumente von Khalatse in West-Tibet (Ladakh) published in 1907, p. 602, where he thinks it is a faulty spelling for "rgya [b]zhin"). I guess this rgye shin is title of some kind of regional governor.
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Yer pa bell inscription.
Source: H.E.Richardson, A Corpus of Early Tibetan Inscriptions, p. 145:
rgyal ba rnams kyi dam pa'i chos 'dzin cing ./ pyang cub spyad pa kun tu snang bar byed / bzang po spyod pa nam par sbyang ba yang // ma 'ongs bskal pa kun tu spyad par bgyi.
A 'corrected' reading:
rgyal ba rnams kyi dam pa'i chos 'dzin cing / byang chub spyod pa kun tu snang bar byed / bzang po spyod pa rnam par sbyang ba yang // ma 'ongs bskal pa kun tu spyad par bgyi.
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Ldan khog inscription
Source: Heller in TS7 I 389. This is the inscription at Brag lha mo at Ldan khog; note that some irregularities have been smoothed over in my own 'reading':
btsan po byang chub sems dpa' khri srong lde brtsan gyi sku'i ring la bsod nam che / dbu rmog btsan de phyogs bcur mtha' skyes [mtha' bzhi bkyes] nas sbad ching dar ma theg pa chen po mdo sde mang mo zhig gtan la bab par bsgyur to / me nyag X X khri rgyal la stsogs pa brgya stong phrag du ma zhig thar par zhugs so / X ra gtsug lag khang rgyas par brtsigs rkyen 'bangs X zhing la XX ldan par phul / dam pa'i chos X ga par theg pa chen po bzhes te brtan par bzhugs so /
There is another inscription there, in much worse condition, which Heller also transcribes.
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'Bis khog inscription
Source: 'Bis khog inscription acc. to Karmay in TS7 I 482 (see also Arrow & Spindle 62-63), which he places in the Dog year of 806 (original has 10 lines, made into a continuous paragraph here, incorporating Karmay's suggestions for fixing it):
khyi'i lo la sku gzugs 'bur du brkos pa dang dar ma kun bris pa'i smon lam la sogs pa btsan po khri lde srong btsan gyi sku ring la rje blon yon bdag dang sems can thams cad kyi don gyi phyir dge slong lo chen ye shes dbyangs kyis bgyis te / bzo bo dge slong rin chen snang mdzad dang / rgyal bzang dang dpal ldan dang lag dpon thams cad dge legs su byed pa dang gtsug nas bla ma mi stobs ldan rnams ste / brag la sku gzugs dang dar ma 'di rnams bris pa dang dkon mchog gsum gyi rten gyi rnam pa sems can gang dag gis mthong ba dang reg pa dang phyag 'tshal ba dang dran pa'i bsod nams dang ye shes kyis btsan po yab sras dang sems can thams cad bla na med pa'i byang chub du grub par smon to //
Notes: Another article devoted to this inscription: The Inscription(s) at 'Bis Rnam-snang (Eastern Tibet) . IN: Ramon Prats, ed., The Pandita & the Siddha, Amnye Machen Institute (Dharamshala 2007) 92-93.
The 2019 issue of the Journal of Tibetology [Chengdu], has an article in Chinese (with many illustations, and Tibetan script versions of the inscriptions; for the Dog year inscription, see p. 35, with photo on p. 41).
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Pu hrang rdo ring inscription
Source: Vitali, Kingdoms, p. 168: An early rdo-ring incription in Pu-hrang located in a field between Zhi sde and Cog ro (Vitali thinks it dates to Yar-lung dynasty times.):
east face: rta'i lo'i // ston zla ra ba'i ngo la // seng ge zhang chen po 'bro khri btsan sgra // mgon po rgyal gyis* // mtha' yas pa'i sems can thams cad dang // thun mong du bsngos te / 'phags pa / spyan ras gzigs / dbang phyug gi / sku gzugs / rdo 'bur du bgyis nas / bzhengs gsol pa / dge ba'i rtsa ba 'di skye 'gro ma lus pa kun gyi don du bsngo.
west face: na mo 'phags pa spyan ras gzigs dbang phyug gi spyan sngar / sdig pa thams cad ni 'chags so / bsod nams thams cad kyi rjes su yi rang ngo / nyon mongs pa dang shes bya'i sgrib pa rnam gnyis ni byang / bsod nams dang / ye shes kyi tshogs chen po rnam gnyis ni / yongs su rdzogs nas bdag zhang 'bro khri brtsan sgra mgon po rgyal dang / mtha' yas pa'i sems can thams cad / dus gcig du / bla na myed pa'i sangs rgyas su grub par gyur cig.
(*Note that somebody attempted to efface the 2 syllables 'Bro khri.)
This same inscription was subject of Peter Szantos' blog of June 10, 2009.
The stele as a whole was subject of an article, Christiane Papa-Kalantari & Christian Jahoda, "Early Buddhist Culture and Ideology in West Tibet: A New Perspective on a Stone Stele in Cogro, Purang," Orientations (May 2010), pp. 61-68, where it says that the named figure of the 'Bro clan is not known otherwise, making the dating of the Horse year impossible. It would seem to me more accurate to regard this as an inscribed stone image, rather than a rdo-ring.
A Dpon Mgon po rgyal is mentioned in BA 581, but would appear to be rather late. (12th-13th cent.?). The name certainly seems to be mid-8th to mid-9th century or so. It would be interesting to see the relief of Avalokitesvara which the inscription accompanies. (It has since been published.)
---
An imperial period inscription from reign of Khri lde gtsug btsan (re. 798-815??), found at G.yu rong btsan village, is illus. in Precious Deposits I 94-5. It grants privileges to one Sgar po, a local head of Kong po. This is same as Richardson, Corpus, pp. 64-71. He calls it the Rkong po inscription.
* * *
The Kong po De mo inscription:
CHABPEL TSETEN PHUNTSOK (Chabs dpal Tshe brtan phun tshogs)
A Critical Study of the Kongpo Demo Rock Inscriptions. TJ 15 no 3 (Autumn 1990) 41-57. Rkong po De mo.
This is discussed in Dung-dkar 98-99.
* * *
Source: PRITZKER, THOMAS J., The Wall Paintings of Tabo. Orientations 28 no 2 (1989) 38-47. Also in reprint volume. Rta-bo.
gzi' mal la dbang phyug mkhar rum gu ge'i sde.
gnas brtan chen po 'dul ba byang chub ['od] ta po'i dge 'dun sde chen po.
* * *
Source: Amy Heller, “The Maṇḍala Temple of Tabo: A Reassessment of the Chronology based on Tibetan Historic Inscriptions and the Iconography of the Mural Paintings”, Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines, no. 41,September 2017.
p. 2: Tucci discussed a painting representing buildings where he recorded the few historic inscriptions he could read, notably on the north wall, tho gling gser khang gi dkod pa (bkod pa), "plan of the Gser khang of Tholing" and ta bo rgyan gtsug lag khang gi dkod pa, "ground plan of the temple, ornament of Tabo".
- - -
The following inscription was transcribed by Amy Heller, but my xerox is quite bad, and the reading of it is uncertain. It is the inscription on the back of the Rgod tshang pa image in the Newark Museum. Amy Heller sent another version of the inscription in the mail, with somewhat different readings.
@@| rgyal ba rgod tshang pa'i sku 'dra mthong ba don ldan la na mo / pha rgod namkha' rgya mtsho'i [nam mkha'i rgya mtsho'i] nang rten 'di / bî sho'i rnam sprul rigs bzangs chu pa ba [newer reading: bzang ma chu pa ba] / sngon [spon, sbon?] bsam sku mched phyag sor rtse la 'khrungs pa e ma ngo mtshar che / rgod tshang sgrub sde spon slob rnams kyi bzhengs / [b]kra shis dge'o /
* * *
The following supplied by Amy Heller in an e-mail letter:
Source: Asia Society 1994.44 - Avalokiteshvara statue
/Om sva sti/ kun mkhyen lha'i lha mchog spyan ras gzigs// padma dbang rgyal dgongs pa rdzogs phyir tu// bzang po lha sbyin rab gus dad pa yis// cho mo lug gi cho 'phrul dus chen la// ne bal mkhas pa a pha jyo tis bsgrubs// dge bas 'gro kun sangs rgyas myur thob shog//ma(m) ga la(m)//
// Om sva sti / kun mkhyen lha'i lha mchog spyan ras gzigs // padma dbang rgyal dgongs pa
rdzogs phyir tu // bzang po lha sbyin rab gus dad pa yis // cho mo lug gi cho 'phrul dus chen la //
ne bal mkhas pa a pha jayatis bsgrubs // dge bas 'gro kun sangs rgyas myur thob shog //
mamgalam //
"Om sva sti, To honor the memory of Padma Wangyal [who is one with] the omniscient
Avalokiteshvara, best god of gods [the donor] Zangpo Lhachin had this [image] completed with
deep reverence and faith by the skilled Newar Apha Jayati on the 15th day of the 1st month of
the water-female-sheep year. By the virtue [of making this image], may all beings rapidly attain
Buddhahood. Blessings." Translated by Amy Heller
Note: Amy takes Padma dbang rgyal to be identical to Mnga' ris Pan chen (1497-1542), although I think this may overshoot what can be said with confidence based on the evidence here.
* * *
Source: Amy Heller, Tibetan Art, color photo no. 70, an image of Mahâkâla made in 1292 (Tibet. Klöster öffnen ihre Schatzkammern, Kulturstiftung Ruhr Essen (Villa Hügel 2006), p. 102, also):
o.m swa sti siddha.m / sku 'di ni sangs rgyas kyi bstan pa rin po che dar zhing rgyas nas yun ring du gnas par bya ba dang / yon mchod chen po thams cad kyi sku tshe bar chad zhi zhing / phas kyi rgol ba thams cad tshar gcod par bya ba'i phyir du / /sa'i bdag po\ 'dzam bu'i gling phal che ba la dbang rgyur ba'i rgyal po chen po go pe la zhes yongs su grags pa de nyid dang snyigs ma'i dus kyi sangs rgyas gnyis pa / bla ma dam pa chos kyi rgyal po zhes bya ba'i bka' drin gyis bskyangs shing / thugs kyis bzung ba'i 'phrin las pa a tsa ra pag shi zhes bya bas yon gyi bdag po dgyis nas / sprul pa'i lha bzo rig pa'i gnas 'di la 'gran zla dang blal [i.e., bral] ba dkon mchog skyabs zhes bya bas zhabs tog byas nas chu pho 'brug gi lo la legs par grub pa'o / shin tu bkra shis par gyur cig /
* * *
Source: Amy Heller, Tibetan Art, color photo no. 57, backing of a throne of a Thugs rje chen po image (also published in Amy Heller's article in Oriental Art 46 no 2 [2000], p. 18). This is Musee Guimet no. MA5177:
+ // bla ma thugs rje chen po'i rten rgya 'gar bgra shis 'gon [rgya gar bkra shis mgon] gyi bzo' gnyi sman dmyal ba'i yid dam [yi dam] 'dis 'gro drug byang chub mchog du bsngo' / ô.m ma .ni pad me hû.m + [rounded swastika].
It is possible that the gnyi sman dmyal ba refers to Sgam po pa, his clan name (snyi/gnyi), his physicianhood (sman) and his birth area in Dwags po (dmyal ba, gnyal ba). Perhaps the artist's name was Mangalanâtha?
* * *
Source: Lecture by Amy Heller: An artist named Mchims Bsod nams 'bum is mentioned as painter of Zhwa lu murals painted in 1306-1320. He signs his own name.
* * *
Source: Heller, Tibetan Art 150, inscription on mandala thangka, dated to about 1570 or slightly later:
[top margin of thangka] phreng ba'i ras bris bcu pa'o.
[bottom margin of thangka] rdo rje 'chang sangs rgyas seng ge dgongs pa rdzogs phyir du / grang (sic) btsun nam mkha' dpal bzang gis gus pas bzhengs so //
* * *
Source: Heller, Tibetan Art 188, a silver image of Karma pa IX, with inscription (see now, Jackson, Patron & Painter, p. 109... also published in: Amy Heller, 'Works from the Nyingjei Lam Collection in Light of Recent Sculptural Finds in Tibet,' Oriental Art 46 no 2 (2000), p.: 23 n. 21):
rgyal ba dbang phyug rdo rje'i zhabs //
dgung lo zhi bzhi'i 'dra sku 'di //
sa skyong bkris phun tshogs kyi [bkra shis phun tshogs] /
dgongs pa rdzogs phyir gnas su bzhengs //
dge bas rnam mkhyen thob par shog //
rig byed karma rin chen yin //
* * *
Source: P.Pal, Art of Tibet (1983), appendix by Hugh Richardson:
Not everything is transcribed here!
P1 om bswa sti ba yul gcang rag nag ga du bkyang 'gon blo bzang mchos dgyan gyis mtshes 'grub mdzad pa sya bkobs mthug bstam rten la gnang nyan 'di msyan gyis mdzad nas mdom 'dzal che ba yin bkra shis. The spelling is atrocious. The words skyabs mgon, tshe 'grub, thugs dam, snang brnyan & 'jal are hidden here, as is, apparently, the name Chos kyi rgyal mtshan / Blo bzang chos rgyan.
P5 bla ma kun mkhyen 'jam dbyangs kyi // thugs dam bzhengs 'phro 'di dang ni // brgyud ris bde dgyes dus 'khor dang // 'jig byed rdo rje phyag dang xx un // bla ma nyi kyi nang rten du // btsun pa [rgyal] mtshan x gyis bzhengs /. lha bzo gzhan las byas / phas (?) rgyal po dpal seng yin / de ltas nas / bla dgong su yongs rdzogs nas / kun gyis byang chub thob par shog // dge'o //
P16 dkyil x x bcuis [bcu gnyis] dge ba'i (lugs) chos kyi rje lnga rig par chen tshul (gyi) 'od zer gyi thug gi dgong pa khye pa x x x (don du) yongs su rdzogs par gyur cig de gi thug rje dang byin rlab la rtens [rten nas] bdag rgyan 'ore [rgyal mtshan 'od zer?] kyi pha ma'i gtso byas sems can gyi sdig sgrib dag nas sangs rgyas tho[b] par gyur cig // mangga lam //
P18 bsod nams dpag med las grub cing mkhyen pa'i ye shes rab rgyas pa // gro ba'i rtsa lag mchog gyur pa bso dnams rtse mo la phyag 'tshal // smon lam mtsho skyes lugs kyi skye rdo rje [kye rdo rje] / bla ma brgyud pa la sogs pa'i lha tshogs rnams la phyag 'tshal zhing // skyabs su mchi'o / dus tham[s cad] du rjes su gzung du gsol //
P21 thub dbang rdo rje 'chang swogs chos skyongs bcas / bris sku 'di mdo khams ga zi ba // mang thos tshul gnas on po mkhyen rab gyi pha mes gtso byas mkha' mnyam sems can gyi sgrib gnyis sbyang zhing tshog[s] gnyis rdzogs phyir bzhengs dge des rnam mkhyen myur du thob par shog / zhal bkod rab gnas e wam chos rjes mdzad x x 'dzin bkra shis rdzong khas bkra shis rtsal / sarba mangga lam // [bstan 'dzin bkra shis?]
P31 shing mo sbrul lo gung ru byang 'dren zur pa blo bzang bsam bstan nas dad pas phul // [blo bzang bsam gtan?]
P45 swasti byang grol zhi ba lung rtogs rol mtsho'i rlabs srid pa'i rtse mor 'grims nor bu'i gling mdzes byed bzang gos dra ba dra phyed 'di gra tshang 'bul bla pha ra dge bshes ni / blo bzang dbang phyug ngo g.yog nas phul ba'i / 'brel thogs 'das gson bshes gnyen ded dpon la / brten nas 'khor ba'i rgya mtsho las brgal te sku gsum rin chen gling du son gyur cig // skal bzang
na mo gu ru bhya rab byung bcu drug pa'i lcags 'brug lo dra phyed gsar bskrun skabs rje rin po che'i sku dar rje btsun chos rgyan gyi sku bcas bzhengs rgyu 'dul ba 'dzin gra nas bsdus chud yan slob gnyer ba rnams nas zhal 'debs phul ba sdom dngul srang bzhi brgya srang gang zho gang tam dkar bcu bzhi gzhan yang g.yu byur bcas byung ba'i dge ba rnams rgyal bstan dar dang 'gro rnams rdzogs byung thob pa'i rgyur gyur cig //
S3 hrogs nri nya'a
chang lha rog gi g.yar dam tu bzhengs su gsol ba.
S31 [Pha dam pa image] dpal ldan bla ma'i thugs dgongs rdzogs phyir du / dam pa'i sku 'dra dad ldan gsol 'debs sten / a nes [g]tso byas bu slob rnams kyi [b]zhengs / dge bas 'gro kun sangs rgyas thob par shog / bkra shis / dge'o //
om sidha / tshogs gnyis rab rdzogs sku gnyis lhun grub pa'i / 'jam bu gling du [b]stan pa'i sgron me shar / khyad par kha ba can du smin sgrol 'dzad / dam pa'i sangs rgyas zhabs la phyag 'tshalo / ska cad thar phyin od gsal (mngon) du gyur, thabs la snga snyes 'kha 'gro dbang du 'dus / 'gros ba'i don la sgrub pa'i rgyal 'tshan rtsugs // dpal ldan seng ge'i zhabs la phyag 'tshalo / {This same inscription is transcribed and translated in Circle of Bliss, p. 153.}
S32 bde bar gshegs pa bla ma rin por che karma bdud rtsi; bzims mal sku 'dra sku rgyu ljon la grub pa'i bzud bzhugs la yabs sras kyi byin rlabs yongs sja sjags [su rdzogs] dang gzhan yang ri / por che la sogs pa'i khyadu 'pags pa bzhugs [khyad par du 'phags pa] [ri bo che?]
S34 om swasti / sku gsung thugs yon tan 'phrin las cig tu bsdus pa'i ngo bo nyid / bla ma rnams dang dpaldan [dpal ldan] wir wa pa [Virupa] gnyhisu med la dag no skyabsu mchi / dge slong namkha' gshes gnyen [nam mkha' bshes gnyen] khu mtshan gnyis kyis / tshe 'das gyi don du bzhengs pa'i bsod nams kyis 'gro kun sangs rgyas myur thob shog //
S38 rje btsun bsod nams rtse mo la na mo / mangga lam / (There is a similar inscription in Sotheby's catalog (Indian & SE Asian Art, NY, Sept 22, 2000), p. 52, although the mangga lam seems to be missing. This image depicts the Sakya teacher with 'Buddha curls' and long earlobes.)
* * *
Inscribed image reproduced in Chiara Bellini's article in Orientations 45 no 5 (June 2014) 94, where the text is more exact and an English translation is given:
bsod nams dpag med las grub 'di /
mkhyen pas yid shes rab rgyas pas /
'gro ba'i rtsa lag mchog gyur pa /
bsod nams rtse mo la phyag 'tshal /
bdag sogs la sogs pa'i sems can thams cad kyi tshogs gnyis rdzogs zhing sgrib gnyis sbyang du gsol / bar du gcod pa thams cad zhi bar gyur cig man ga lam /
dge slong byams pas drin can pha ma'i sgrib sbyang phyir dang / dag bas sangs rgyas thob phyir bzhengs /
* * *
Source: Amy Heller, 'Works from the Nyingjei Lam Collection in Light of Recent Sculptural Finds in Tibet,' Oriental Art 46 no 2 (2000), p. 23, n. 20 (inscription on a portrait bronze):
rje btsun rdo rje 'chang mi pham phun tshogs shes rab la bdag phun tshogs byang chub mtsho mo phyag 'tshal zhing skyabsu mchi / dam pa de nyid kyi thugs dgongs rdzogs.
Note: (Stag rtse) MI PHAM PHUN TSHOGS SHES RAB See 116 (Rare Dkar brgyud pa Texts from Himachal Pradesh--A collection of biographical works and philosophical treatises, repr. from prints from ancient western Tibetan blocks by Urgyan Dorje, 1976.), pp. 523-527. Collected works in 197 (The Collected Works of Stag rtse Sku skye Mi pham phun tshogs shes rab. Tib-D/BQ7683/.M56/1971. R-1420). Precepter of King of Mustang in about 1680.
* * *
Sotheby's catalog (Indian & SE Asian Art, NY, Sept 22, 2000; I have this issue), p. 43 depicts a thangka with two central figures, here identified by inscriptions as Khenpo Ngakpa, 'Khan po gngas pa and Khen po Densapa, 'Khan po bdan sa pa, which of course must be read as Mkhan po Sngags pa and Mkhan po Gdan sa pa. Among the smaller figures Gtsang pa Rgya ras pa, Lo ras pa, Rgod tshang pa and Rtsa ri pa. At bottom left the Yon bdag is depicted in a circle next to another circle with mchod pa, 'offerings.' I think there are some interesting similarities with Sakya portraits of similar time frame. Pp. 40-41, two applique thangkas, one depicting Rdo rje gro lod, the other In a bubble on the right is a labelled teacher — drin can ku ma ra dza la na mo. I don't see the label for the main figure here, but it is supposed to be Rgyal po Blo ldan mchog sred (?). The left bubble is supposed to be labelled (I can't make it out) "Kalden Yarling Tilku," which must be Skal ldan Yar lung Sprul sku or the like. More appliques that may be from the same set, but fragmentary, are on pp. 38-39. And on p. 37 is a marvelous Guru Rinpoche with his two wives. Mkhar chen Chos rgyal is depicted as a lesser figure in no. 43 (on p. 33). On p. 29, no. 37, is a nice thangka of a mandala centered on Bdag med ma. Klong chen pa is on p. 26. Thangka of Arhats Abheda & Gopaka on p. 24. Images of Arhats Kalika & Ajita on p. 21. A phur pa, mostly ivory, purchased from the estate of Sir Francis Younghusband illus. on p. 16 (no. 15).
* * *
Source: Source: David Weldon, Tibetan Sculpture Inspired by Earlier Foreign Sculptural Styles. Oriental Art 46 no 2 (2000), p. 53; revised version of same article in TJ 27 no 1/2 (Spr Summ 2002) 6:
"Bkra shis li ma" and "De mo li ma." These appear on sculptures, and may refer to the monasteries which owned them or produced them?? Bkra shis lhun po and De mo Bla brang?? Weldon thinks they mark reproductions of original Indian works kept in those monasteries. (But couldn't the inscriptions have been added as marks of ownership, making the images genuine "li ma"s? Li mas were quite highly valued, and marks of ownership may have been important, therefore!)
* * *
Source: Kossak & Singer, Sacred Visions, p. 99, n. 4, 5 & 6 (the first is on the front, and the second & third are on the back, of a Vajravârâhî thangka):
bla ma rin po che dbon po dpal gyi thugs dam lags //
mtshungs med bla ma dam pa pradznya 'ghu ru dang // bdag 'ghir ti shri ra smri bha tra 'bral med ci gsung bka' bsgrub cing // rang sems 'khrul pa dag pa dang // 'gro ba'i 'dren pa nus par shog //
chos rje rin po che nas bla ma rin po che dbon po dpal yan chod yab sras [xxx] rab gnas brgya rtsa brgyad re bzhugs /
The following, in note. 7, is from another Stag lung thang ka:
chos rje rin po che nas bla ma rin po che dbon po dpal yan chod yab sras bzhi'i rab gnas dpag tu med pa bzhugs /
(Note parallel inscription on a Che mchog thangka studied by J. Singer in Ingrid Kreide-Damani, ed., Dating Tibetan Art, Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag (Wiesbaden 2003), p. 120: chos rje rin po che nas bla ma rin po che dbon po dpal yan chod yab sras bzhi'i rab gnas dpag tu med pa bzhugs //. This same thangka has parallel with another inscription that appears just above: mtshungs med bla ma dam pa pradznya 'gu ru dang bdag 'ghir ti shri ra smri bha dra 'bral med ci gsung bka' bsgrub cing / rang sems 'khrul pa dag pa dang // 'gro ba'i 'dren pa nus par shog. (Note: 'ghir ti shri ra smri bha dra here is a Sanskritic form of Grags pa dpal 'od zer bzang po.)
* * *
Source: Kossak & Singer, Sacred Visions, p. 171 n. 1:
dpal ldan bla ma dam pa sa bzang 'phags pa'i thugs kyi dgongs pa yongs su rdzogs par gyur cig//.
p. 88, n. 1: Inscription not transcribed, but it records a consecration by Dbon po dpal (Dbon po bla ma rin po che).
p. 95, n. 2:
stag lung pa'i dbon po bla ma rin po che dpal gyi rab gnas bzhugs.
(Compare the Vajravarahi painting inscription: bla ma rin po che dpal gyi thugs dam lags. Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha, p. 111, where the person indicated is identified as Sangs rgyas dbon po. On the back of this same painting is an inscription by Sangs rgyas Dbon po: mtshungs med bla ma dam pa pradznya ghu ru dan // bdag ghir ti shri ra smi bha tra 'bral med ci gsung bka' bsgrub cing // rang sems 'khrul pa dag pa dang // 'gro ba'i 'dren pa nus par shog // Jackson thinks the word 'bral med alludes to his vow not to separate from the art objects given to him...I think it means to never be separated from the Lama...)
For this same inscription, see Jackson, Mirrors of the Buddha, p. 200.
p. 62: Only parts of the inscription are transcribed:
sku, phyags nas ma, gzims chung, shar ma, spyan snga tshul khrims 'bar.
The thangka, a portrait of a lama, is dated to ca. last quarter of 11th cent. (See now Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha, pp. 72-3.)
* * *
David Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha, p. 100. Image of Glo bo Mkhan chen (read by Jackson from photo):
om swa sti siddham / 'gro ba'i mgon po bsod nams lhun 'grub la / dpon drung sgrol ma... yab yum 'khor bcas rnams / sgo gsum dgus [='gus] pa chen po'i [~pos] skyabs su mchi / m,chog dang thun mong dngos grub... [brtsal du gsol??]
David Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha, pp. 100-102. An image that looks like Glo bo Mkhan chen, but actually unidentified:
om swa sti / dam pa'i zhabs bcu phrag gnyis lo brten / bla ma'i thugs rjes rkyen ngan grogs su shar // smon lam stobs kyis 'phjags pa'i mtshan ma thob // bo dhi dhi tsha'i zhabs la phyag 'tshal lo.
David Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha, p. 212, n. 328, inscription on a Stag lung thang pa painting, copied from unpublished notes by Amy Heller:
gang sku mtshan gang dpe dbyad rab 'bar ba // bzhengs pa de'i bsod nams mthu yis ni / phun 'tshogs mngon mtho'i dpal gyi 'byor pa yi / mi dbang chen p bsod nams rdo rje dang // dad gtong rigs gzugs yon tan rgyan ldan pa'i // lha bu a mkhar yab yum sras bcas kyi // sku tshe brtan zhing dpal 'byor rgyas pa dang [//] chab srid 'dzin pa'i khyon ltar ngas pa la // dbang bskyur chos ldan rgyal srid brtan par shig // dus 'di nas bzung byung ba thob par //
David Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha, p. 213, note 403 (inscription at bottom of 'Jig rten mgon po footprint painting dating ca. 1200):
sgom pa rin chen rdo rje yis / bla ma chos rje rin chen dpal.. kyi? [zh]ab?... rjes skab dang... m... gsol ba btab nas zhus pa... gang? mig [gis?] mthong thos reg pa gang /
... rdzogs par shog / chos rje'i rnam thar ??? [ng] mtshar? rjes 'jug thams cad slob par shog / grags 'od mtsho pa bzang??? /
David Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha, p. 201 (end of a long chorten-shaped inscription):
mtshungs med bla ma dam pa yab sras dang //
bdag 'bral med ci gsung bka' bsgrub cing //
rang sems 'khrul pa dag pa dang //
'gro ba'i 'dren pa nus par shog // //
'phrin las rnam dag sku gsung thugs //
yon tan ma lus rgya che ba'i //
bzhengs pa rnams la byin gyis rlobs //
rten mchog tu gyur pa'i bkra shis shog //
David Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha, p. 203 (end of a long chorten-shaped inscription on back of a thangka of Stag lung thang pa):
bag chags 'khor ba dri za'i grong //
gdod nas zhi zhing ma skyes pa //
rnam dag bde ba chen por mkhyen //
stag lung thang pa'i bkra shis na //
rje mtshungs med bla ma yab sras dang //
bdag 'bral med ci gsung bka' bsgrub cing //
rang sems 'khrul pa dag pa dang //
'gro ba'i 'dren pa nus apr shog // bkra shis par gyur cig /
***
Source: Rhie & Thurman, Wisdom & Compassion, pp. 200-201, fit. 61, thangka of Sa chen Kun dga' snying po: I give here David Jackson's ["Lineages and Structure"] identification of the figures (starting your upper left corner, running from top to bottom and then moving from your left to your right). Jackson shows it isn't really a lineage, although it includes part of one it also has his personal teachers and teachers who appeared only in visions (compare also Jackson's book Mirror of the Buddha, p. 85):
1. rdo rje gdan pa.
2. bo ra rgyal (?).
3. bal po dznyâ na badzra.
4. pu rang lo chung.
5. rngog lo tsâ ba.
6. brang ti dar ma snying po.
7. khyung rin chen grags.
8. lang dkon pa.
9. 'jam dpal.
10. ba ri lo tsâ ba.
11. 'bir ba pa (Virûpa).
12. mkhan sgyi chu ba.
13. snam kha'u pa (gnam kha'u pa).
14. mkhon dkon mchog rgyal po.
15. se mkhar chung ba.
16. mal lo tsâ ba.
17. byang chub sems dpa'.
18 mes lha tshe (mes lhang tshe).
* * *
Source: Jackson in Rhie & Thurman, Worlds of Transformation 90 (back of a Na ro Mkha' spyod ma thangka; as Jackson points out, Chos kyi snang ba is a name of the Si tu Panchen Chos kyi 'byung gnas, 1700-1774): bcu gnyis dag pa'i sa yi dbang phyug tu // mngon 'phags rdul bral shes rab ye shes sku // bde mchod bde ster bcom ldan snang mdzad mas // gsang gsum byin gyis rtag tu dge bar mdzod // ces chos kyi snang bas brjod pa mangga lam //.
* * *
Source: Jackson in Rhie & Thurman, Worlds of Transformation 126, n. 16: tshon dang ri mo'i nyams rnam 'gyur // rgya nag mkhas pa'i rjes 'brangs nas // yul dang cha lugs khang bzang sogs // 'phags yul mngon sum mthong bzhin byas // sman thang gsar rnying mkhyen lugs pa // bye'u sgang pa sgar bris pa'i // rnam dpyod de kun 'dir ldan yang // nyams 'gyur 'bum gyi khyad par byas //.
* * *
Source: Rhie & Thurman, Worlds of Transformation plate 86 (original illegible in the photo): phun tshogs sa gsum 'dren pa chos kyi rje / kun khyab dus gsum sangs rgyas kun gyi dngos / mkha' khyab khams gsum 'gro ba'i 'phrin las can / zab rgyas theg gsum smra ba'i seng ger 'dud / bde mchog mkha' 'gro rgya mtsho'i bla ma brgyud pa la sogs pa'i lha tshogs rnams la phyag 'tshal zhing skyabs su mchi'o / dus thams cad du rjes su gzung du gsol.
* * *
Source: Rhie & Thurman, Worlds of Transformation plate 87 (read from the photo, front side of painting, bottom):
grub pa'i dbang phyug budhâ shrî (Buddha shrî) sems tsam lugs kyi brgyud pa dang bcas pa'i zhabs kyi padmo la / bdag shâkya'i dge slong lha mchog seng ge phyag 'tshal zhing skyabs su mchi'o / skye ba dang skye rab kun tu rjes su bzung du gsol / pir 'dzin dbang po rdo rje tshe brtan yin / mangga lam /.
As you can see at Himalayanart website item no. 269, there is also a SIMILAR inscription on the back side of the painting, which reads like this (Identifying this thang ka as 11th in a series of thang kas):
bris thang gtso bsdus chung ngu gras ciggi bcuig pa grub chen buddha shri la sems tsam lugs kyi sems bskyed kyi bla ma brgyud pas bskor ba 'di / rje lha mchog seng ge / rje sangs rgyas seng ge / rje nam mkha' dpal bzang rnams kyis rim par bzhengs zhing / thugs dam rten phyag gnas ma byin rlabs can 'di / sa skya pa ngag dbang kun dga' bsod nams kyi lag tu dad pa'i dbang gi bab pa'o // [read: phyag nas ma]
* * *
Source: Inscription on bottom part of a Ngor pa Lam 'bras lineage thangka depicting as its main figures the Ngor abbots Kun dga' dbang phyug and Go rams pa. Studied by David Jackson (subject of 2002 paper in London). It appears again below:
lam 'bras [b]rgyud pa'i kha skong 'di rig pa 'dzin pa lha mchog seng ges bzhengs //.
See also Michael Henss review in Tibet Journal, vol. 29 no. 4 (Winter 2004), p. 83, where the name is mispelled once mistakenly as Lha mchod seng ge and once rightly, and the dates of his abbacy given as 1524-1535.
* * *
Source: A statue identified by inscription as Grub chen Buddha shri kept in the Victoria and Albert Museum (Rhie & Thurman, Wisdom and Compassion, p. 249 [plate 86]; John Lowry, Tibetan Art, p. 37 [no. 13]). Only the first part of the inscription can be made out from the photograph.
grub chen bhud dha shrî la na mo yon chen mul gis ...
[Rhie & Thurman translate the entire inscription: "Homage to the Great Adept, Buddhashri! By the great patron Mul (or Mula), this was made as the truth of the father. The Chos lung Palace."]
* * *
Source: A statue identified by inscription as Rje btsun Grags pa rgyal mtshan illustrated in John Lowry, Tibetan art, pp. 34-35 (fig. no. 12). It has silver eyes and copper lips. Only part is visible in the photograph:
.... mtshan gyi zhabs kyi padmo la / bdag tshe dbang bzang po phyag 'tshal zhing skyabs...
* * *
Source: Jane Singer in Artibus Asiae 54 (1994) 114, where the inscription of what could be a depiction of 'Brom ston pa, reads as follows:
spyan snga tshul khrims 'bar gyis sku phyags nas ma / gzim chung shar ma'i lha ri mo sdug ma'o. [Read: phyag nas ma]
* * *
There is a fine statue of Dkon mchog yon tan depicted in Ühlig, Tantrische Kunst, p. 295. The inscription is only partially legible in the photograph. I can make out the words:
dkon mchog yon tan zhabs la bdag tshe dbang bkra shis 'khor dang bcas pa phyag 'tshal lo.
On p. 294 of the same is evidently the Sa skya Bla ma Bsod nams rtse mo. The words I can read on its base are:
swa sti / bsod nams mchog gis rgyal ba'i dgongs don rig
* * *
Source: Jane Singer in Artibus Asiae 54 (1994) 113, n. 79 (early thangka of Atisa):
a ti sha / rin chen sgang pa la ston pa dar blos phul / rab gnas mang du bzhugs / gzims kyi lha //.
Quote from a footnote to "Painters, Patrons and Paintings of Patrons" — A surviving thang ka of Atiśa (Singer 1994: 112-113; Kossak 1998: fig. 2) bears the inscription “Atiśa. Offered [as a gift] by Ston pa Dar blo to Rin chen sgang pa. [In it] many consecrations abide. Divinity of the residence quarters.” (A ti sha / Rin chen sgang pa la Ston pa Dar blos phul / rab gnas mang du bzhugs / gzims kyi lha //; based on Singer 1994: 113, n. 79). A Dge ba'i bshes gnyen Ri[n ch]en sgang pa and a Stod lung pa Dar blo are both listed among the disciples of Sne'u zur pa (Las chen 1495/1972: I 361; Blue Annals, p. 314). Sne'u zur pa Ye shes 'bar's dates are 1042-1118. Rin chen sgang was founded by Dgyer Sgom pa Chen po (1090-1171) in 1119 (Las chen 1495/1972: I 376), and no person could have been named after this place before its founding (it is quite likely, even, that Rin chen sgang pa is here just a way of referring to the founder of Rin chen sgang, Dgyer Sgom pa Chen po). Hence I would say this thang-ka cannot predate 1119.
Further discussion in Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha, p. 70.
Source:
The Kamru, Kinnaur, Vajrapani image with inscribed base (photograph shown in a 2014 lecture by Amy Heller):
§ / pandita byi rya ba dras phyag len mdzad /
smer blon che klu mgon mched yum sras kyis yon bdag bgyis nas /
tshe 'das pa smer blon che shes stsan gyi bsod nams su /
rigs gsum gyi sku bzhengs su gsol bas /
tshe 'das pa dang m[th]a' yas pa'i sems can thams cad sgrib pa byang bar gyurd cig// //
Portraits of the Masters, p. 340. The name Vanaratna doesn't actually occur in the inscription. The inscription on this image reads:
phyogs su 'dzin pa ji snyed pa // de nyid shar na grol ba'i phyir // phyogs grol zhes bya'i bla ma ni // gus pa yis ni bsten par gyis // pa.n chen gyi dgongs rdzogs dang lo chen gyi thugs dam du nye gnas chen po sgri pa dge slong gis gzhengs ba'i lha gzo rog pa rtsa pa nam mkha' rgyal mtshan gyis bgyis dge.
Note the misspellings. The commissioner and artist have not yet been identified. This inscription is now transcribed and discussed in David Jackson's book Mirror of the Buddha, pp. 97-98. He reads mthong na in place of shar na, and corrects gzhengs ba'i lha gzo to bzhengs pa'i lha bzo.
* * *
Source: Bod kyi thang ga, Bod Rang skyong ljongs Rig dngos Do dam U yon Lhan khang 1984), p. 79: A thangka of Sde srid Sangs rgyas rgya mtsho. It has inscriptions on the front side in three levels—top, middle and bottom (1-3).
1. nyin mo bde legs mtshan bde legs // nyin mo'i gung yang bde legs shing // nyin mtshan rtag tu bde legs pa'i // dkon mchog gsum gyi bkra shis shog //
2. yangs pa'i sa kun dbang sgyur ba'i 'phags chen 'jam dpal dbyangs sangs rgyas rgya mtsho phyogs thams cad las rnam par rgyal ba'i lha // //
3. 'gro ba kun la bsnyen bsring bral kyang bdag la lhag par bka' drin che ba'i mos rten du mchod dpon khur 'dzin ngag dbang shes rab kyi 'bad pas bsgrubs pa // mangga lam // dge'o //
* * *
Source: Bod kyi thang ga, Bod Rang-skyong-ljongs Rig-dngos Do-dam U-yon Lhan-khang 1984), p. 76: A thangka of the Fifth Dalai Lama. It has inscriptions on the front side in two levels—top, middle (beneath the throne) and bottom (1-3).
1. nyin mo bde legs mtshan bde legs // nyin mo'i gung yang bde legs shing // nyin mtshan rtag tu bde legs pa'i // dkon mchog gsum gyi bkra shis shog //
2. ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho 'jigs med go cha thub bstan lang tsho'i sde la na mo
3. ngag la brjod pa rnam dag dbang phyug blos // skal bzang rgya mtsho dga' bskyed 'dren pa mchog // 'og min zhing mgon lta bur rtag bzhugs nas // phan bde'i nyi mas 'jig rten gsum khyab shog // gsung ngag chad med dbang dang grol ba'i lam // legs ston bla ma yi dam chos srung tshogs // kun bzang mchod pas mnyes byed shes rab kyis // ma rmad ri mo thags su bskrun 'di mtshar // zhes pa'ang wâ gindra pradznyas rtsol bas bsgrubs pa'i tshe mri du swa ra prî ya sya mi tras bris pa dge bar gyur cog // // (Note the names Ngag dbang shes rab and 'Jam dbyangs byams pa'i bshes gnyen are Sanskritized here).
* * *
Source: Tucci, Tibetan Painted Scrolls 366: rnal 'byor gyi dbang phyug / gzhang pa rdo rje yab sras / gsum la tshe khrid rgyud pa'i bskor ba la bdag nam mkha' dpal mgon 'khor bcas pa phyag 'tshal zhing skyabs su mchi'o skye ba nas tshe rabs / thams cad du rjes su bzung du gsol.
* * *
Source: Tucci, Tibetan Painted Scrolls 409 (Dge lugs pa lineage tree): blo bzang rdo rje 'chang gi rnal 'byor rim gang gi bris sku dkon mchog rgyal mtshan lugs bzhengs pa'i dge bas 'gro ba ma lus pa blo bzang rdo rje 'chang gi sa thob par shog.
* * *
Source: Tucci, Tibetan Painted Scrolls 540 (set of Padmasambhava thangkas): mkhar tshong dpon kun dga' rnam rgyal gyi[s] dus gsum sangs rgyas la gnas bcus bskor ba dang slob dpon chen po mtshan brgyad la thang yig ltar rnam thar rgyas pas skor ba'i bris thang bcu gnyis zhengs pa'i skabs rgyab byang bu rig pa 'dzin pa padma'i ming can gyi[s] bris pa.
* * *
Source: Tucci, Tibetan Painted Scrolls 600 (Hevajra mandala thangka): slob dpon rdo rje a mang chen kun dga' bzang po yab sras rgyud pa dang bcas pa rnams kyis Ö dgong pa khyad par can Ö (rdogs) par gyur cig Ö
Örnams kyi byang chub sangs rgyas Ö 'dul bya rnams kyis dge Ö 'bad med Ö
* * *
Source: Tucci, Tibetan Painted Scrolls 600 (thangka with three mandalas, spelling 'corrected' by myself):
dkyil 'khor bcu gnyis dge ba'i Ö a chos rje lnga ri Ö chen tshul khrims 'od zer gyi thugs kyi dgongs Ö don du yongs su rdzogs par gyur cig de yi thugs rje dang byin rlabs la rten nas / bdag rgyal mtshan 'od zer gi pha ma'i gtso byas sems can sdig sgrib dag nas sangs rgyas thob par gyur cig.
* * *
Source: Weldon & Singer, Sculptural Heritage p. 138: shar kha ras chen la na mo.
Source: Weldon & Singer, Sculptural Heritage p. 135 (inscription visible on image of hierarch): [illeg.] ngan lam ban chung bdag gis ni // bla ma rin chen sku bzhengs pa yi // bsod nams 'di yi byin brlabs kyis // 'gro drug sdug bsngal ... [illeg.], but see pp. 146-7 of same publication for the complete inscription (see just below).
Source: Weldon & Singer, Sculptural Heritage of Tibet, p. 146-7, n. 310 (This being Cleveland Museum of Art no. :
na mo 'ghu ru / ngan lam ban chung bdag gis ni / bla ma rin chen sku bzhengs pa yi // bsod nams 'di yin byin brlabs kyis // 'gro drug sdug sngal zad par shog //
At the website for the museum we read: "A Portrait of Lama Rinchen-Pel (1143-1217) (Founder of the Drigung Monastery), Central Tibet, 13th century 1200s 1993.160."
Title:A Portrait of Lama Rinchen-Pel (1143-1217) (Founder of the Drigung Monastery)
Maker:Central Tibet, 13th century
Medium: gilt bronze, inlaid with gold, silver, copper, turquoise, lapis and coral
Measurements: Overall: 13.5cm x 12cm x 8.5cm, Base: 8cm x 19cm x 14cm
Date:1200s
Acquisition: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Location: Not on display
Accession Number:1993.160
Department: Indian and South East Asian Art
Inscription: / / Na mo 'ghu ru / / Ngan lam ban chung bdag gis ni / / bla ma Rin chen sku bzhengs pa yi / / bsod nams 'di yi byin brlabs kyis / / 'gro drug sdug sngal zad par shog / /
Translation: "Salutations to the master ! May the sufferings of the six kinds of beings be appeased through the blessing of merit gained by me, the little monk of Ngan.lam, in having this statue of the Lama Rin.chen made."
My own reading of the inscription based on photographs:
' ' ' || || na mô 'ghu ru || ngan lam ban chung bdag gis ni || bla ma rin chen sku bzhengs pa yi || bsod nams 'di yi byin brlabs kyis || 'gro drug sdug [b]sngal zad par shog || ; ||
Namo Guru!
Through the blessings of this merit
of erecting the image of the precious Lama
by me, Nganlam Banchung,
may the sufferings of the six types of beings end.*
*Note now the transcription & translation in David Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha, p. 138.
Interesting that the scribe does not recognize Tibetan punctuation conventions governing the use of tsheg immediately before the shad (it uses tseg in every such case, all of them 'incorrect'). The 'a-chung beneath the 'm' in na-mô is totally unknown and superfluous. The 'ghu-ru spelling for Skt. Guru is known to a mid-13th century manuscript, the Zhije Collection (although not limited to it). This is at least consistent with the purported date of the sculpture.
(I know that "bla ma rin chen" is being read quite hopefully to refer to Rinchen Pal, but really it just means 'precious Lama' and doesn't contain any clue to the identity of the Lama. I searched everywhere for an identity for Nganlam Banchung, but nothing even remotely conclusive comes up. Nganlam is a clan name, associated with a particular area of Central Tibet, and Banchung just means 'small monk [bande],' a modest way of speaking about oneself)
The verifiable Jigten Gonpo paintings (like the one with the Rubin writeup, or like in Amy Heller's article
http://www.thdl.org/collections/journal/jiats/01/pdfs/hellerJIATS_01_2005.pdf)
don't display the same mudras as the two images.
The Cleveland image bears a very close identity to a small image in the Musée Guimet (MA 6032) that was published in a catalog by Giles Beguin in 1994 (plate 42), which I don't have available and can't look into further. The only info I have on it is in a not-so-clearly written article by Heather Stoddard, and she doesn't mention the basis for her identification of it as Jigten Gonpo. No hint there might be an inscription.
So, really, I have no good reason to believe that either the Cleveland or the Paris images ought to be Jigten Gonpo...
And now I find that Weldon & Singer already published the inscription (the one given above) long ago in "The Sculptural Heritage of Tibet," note no. 310 on pp. 146-7. As far as I know their intuition that it might be Pagmodrupa could be correct...
I'm floating in space.
Source: Weldon & Singer, Sculptural Heritage p. 170:
rgyud sde kun la mkhyen pa yis //
grags pa'i rgyal mtshan phyogs bcur 'dzin //
brtse bas 'gro kun skyong mdzad la //
rtag tu phyag 'tshal gsol ba 'debs //
Source: Weldon & Singer, Sculptural Heritage p. 178-9 (Mi la ras pa):
chos kyi rgyal po mid la'i dngul sku 'di / dge slong dga' gis dbang pos smyug lar gzhengs / dge des mar gyur sems kyi gnas lugs rtogs / sku bzhi'i bdag nyid rdo rje 'chang thob shog // mangga lam // [most probably should read Dge slong Ngag gi dbang po.]
On baseplate of same: rje mid la gzhad pa rdo rje [bzhad pa'i rdo rje] la na mo / drin can gyi ma bsod nams bzad mo [i.e., bsod nams bzang mo] sangs rgyas thob par gyur cig / Note that this same image was reported in Orientations (see Art of Tibet: Selected Articles from Orientations 1981-1997, p. 271).
Source: Weldon & Singer, Sculptural Heritage p. 180: dpal karma pa chos grags rgya mtsho la na mo. zhwa dmar cod pan 'dzin pa chos kyi grags pa la na mo.
Source: Weldon & Singer, Sculptural Heritage p. 182: thams cad mkhyen pa gzhon nu dpal la na mah. (Image of 'Gos Lo tsâ ba, also used to illustrate Lungta, vol. 14, "Aspects of Tibetan History." This inscription is on the front of the seating cushion.).
Source: Weldon & Singer, Sculptural Heritage p. 184: grub thob thang stong rgyal po'i sku rje rang nyid kyi phyag nas bzhugs so /
Source: Weldon & Singer, Sculptural Heritage p. 186: pha rgod kra chung chos kyi rgya mtsho la na mo.
* * *
Source: Tibetan Art as an Expression of North Indian Tantric Buddhism. IN: Deepak Shimkhada, ed., Himalayas at a Crossroads, Himalayan Arts Council (Pasadena 1987) 35-60.
p. 38 (Inscription on a seated Maitreya brass alloy image): rjet btsun byams pa la na mo / bdag rin chen gyon gyis / pha ma gnyis gyi don du gzengs pa'i / dge bas rjes su bzung du gsol / manggalam /
(my 'corrected' reading:) rje btsun byams pa la na mo / bdag rin chen gyon [~rin chen mgon?] gyis / pha ma gnyis kyi don du bzhengs pa'i / dge bas rjes su bzung du gsol / mangga lam /
Part of this same inscription is legible in Sotheby's catalog (Indian & SE Asian Art, NY, Sept 22, 2000), p. 55, and I'm sure it's the same image, although I haven't checked. It was also published in Reedy's Himalayan Bronzes, p. 208. I think I can feel fairly sure that the name of the patron was Rin chen rgyal mtshan, although the only letters fully there are rgy-n.
p. 40 (Virupa image): om swasti / sku mdog dmar nag sig 'dzab can / g.yon pa thod pa 'chi med 'dzin / rgyal po rol p'i stabvs kyis bzugs / ni ma steng par 'dzud la 'dud / mangalam /
(my 'corrected' reading:) sku mdog dmar nag sdig 'dzub can / g.yon pa thod pa 'chi med 'dzin / rgyal po rol pa'i stabs kyis bzhugs / nyi ma steng par 'dzud la 'dud / mangga lam /
∞ ∞ ∞
Source: P. Pal, et al., Tibet: Tradition & Change (The Albuquerque Museum 1998).
pp. 2-3 (pl. 1) is a Sâkyamuni bronze they date to circa 10th cent. They differ with Heller's reading of the inscription (believing Lhalungpa more). Amy read the name 'Ban po Dpal mdzes, while Lhalungpa read it as Mkhan po Dpal brtsegs (the readings Dpal skyes/Dpal gyis even seem possible!). In any case, this person had the image erected at Khyung lung Dpal rgyas. I can't really make out much of the inscription from the photograph.
pp. 160-1 (pl. 80) is an inscribed reliquary lid (top of a za ma tog) of gold or silver. It says it contains relics, rosary & amber necklace of Rab brtan kun bzang 'phags (1389-1446?).
Pp. 148-9: Inscribed Hevajra mandala thangka which says it was for fulfilling the intentions of Rdo rje 'chang Sangs rgyas seng ge. "I Nam mkha' dpal bzang, the monk from Drang constructed this." I think both of these persons were Ngor abbots, which means the dating of this thangka is too early.
On pp. 140-1 (pl. 70) is a mandala of Nairatmyâ which they date to about 1225, because the "officiating monk" (i.e., the patron) is labelled Byang chub dpal. They identify him as Bodhisrî (Bodhi shrî, Buddhashrî??), disciple of Sâkyasrî (Shâkya shrî).
Pp. 134-5: Thangka of Dpal ldan lha mo Re ma ti. Three lamas depicted at top center, two with inscriptions. "Tagshang Kunga Tashi (Stag sham Kun dga' bkra shis??), and "Nyen Dag Tenpe."
On pp. 132-3 is a 15th cent. Judged from its style to be from Gu ge. Bronze of Nairatmyâ (Bdag med ma). Inscription says it was constructed by the monk Bsod nams ye shes for his mother Rin chen don grub.
pp. 122-123: A thangka showing a king of Shambhala, "Lha'i rgyal po." This thangka has a near twin in Tucci's TPS, plate no. P (described on Tucci's p. 538).
Pp. 112-3 (pl. 56) is a Mahâkâla with inscription: dbu rgyan thugs sko la ye shes [u rgyan thugs so la ye shes; u rgyan thugs sro la ye shes; u rgyan thugs gso la ye shes?] . . . . . [long gap] par 'di bzhengs pas dge'o //. Lhalungpa read a name here: O rgyan thugs ston ye shes.
P. 107: kha rdo.
P. 78. Inscription on Aksobhya image (they think it's 9th century or 10th... They judge the date from the orthography of the inscription, but I really really doubt this early date!). Their bad version of the bad inscription follows (not all is legible in the photos):
kye kling mchog lho'i 'dzam bu kling // ['dzam bu gling]
bod yul shab kyi dong chu na // [dong chun?]
'dran zla myed pa'i lha bzo mchis // ['gran zla med pa'i]
nga 'khas zer ba mang lags ste // [nga mkhas]
'di tsam shes pa shin tu rkon // [dkon]
kye gzigs shig mkhas btsun mkhyen pa can //
shab kyi rba 'gar rgyal po de //
byi sho gar ma'i sprul pa lags //
'di tsam shes na ngo mtshar che // // â /
Pp. 68-69 (pl. 34): Sa skya lineate painting painted by Bskal bzang rab rgyas of Gtsang with dedication prayer composed by 'Jam dpal dga' ba'i bshes gnyen gtsug lag smra ba'i nyi ma.
Pp. 66-67 (pl. 33) inscribed portrait of "Yongs 'dzin Ngag dbang bzang po la na mah." He's depicted with a Pundit hat that looks rather Sakya in style, although he is a 'Brug pa teacher. Terese Tse Bartholomew wrote to Thubten J. Norbu on March 17, 1987, to inquire about this image. See Lauf, Tibetan Sacred Art, plate no. 79.
Pp. 64-65 (pl. 32) is an image in silver of Karma pa IX Dbang phyug rdo rje done by Karma rin chen in 1598 (??) at order of King Bkra shis phun tshogs.
Pp. 60-61: Zhwa lu pa Sangs rgyas dpal portrait in gilt bronze with silver eyes & copper lips.
Pp. 56-7: Image of Kong ston Chos rje erected by his disciple Dngos grub bzang po. Strange thing is that the inscription that is translated is not the same as the one on the base of the image! What I can read is this:
xxx mkhas pa'i tshogs la sngon sbyangs pa'i //
tshe 'di lan re zung re thos tsam gyi //
gzhung lugs kun shes kun xxx xxx //
Pp. 52-53. This early ca. 1480 thangka of Tsong kha pa, with some biographical scenes, was studied by Tucci in TPS. Unlike later depictions, this one shows Tsongkhapa flanked by his two disciples Grags pa rgyal mtshan and Dar ma rin chen (not Rgyal tshab rje and Mkhas grub rje).
P. 50: Sangs rgyas yar byon & Stag lung lineage (I think the inscription is here elsewhere). The thangka belonging to the John Gilmore Ford collection, is dated ca. 1275, and it certainly seems approximately the right date.
Pp. 48-49: The part of the inscription on the base of this image of Sa skya Pandi ta (he's missing his hat, but has a huge cranial bump) that I can read reads as follows:
dus gsum sangs rgyas kun gyi thugs //
gnyis med ye shes 'jam pa'i dbyangs //
dpal ldan sa skya pandi ta'i //
zhabs kyi padmor ...[rtag tu 'tshal?]
Pp. 44-45: Thangka of the life of Shâkya shrî.
P. 37: Mar pa (a nice bronze)
Pp. 203-204: Khri chen Yongs 'dzin Rdo rje 'chang Byang chub chos 'phel srid zhi'i mig. Blo bzang ye shes bstan 'dzin rgya mtsho.
pp. 196-197: Rta 'on Kham tshan.
*^* *^* *^* *^* *^*
Source: Tshe ring chos rgyal & Zla ba tshe ring, Gsar du brnyed pa'i spu hreng gi spyan ras gzigs kyi rdo ring las byung ba'i gtam dpyad, Gangs ljongs Rig gnas, 2nd issue of 1994 (22nd in general series), pp. 4-20. Some of the Old Tibetan characteristic spellings have been 'fixed' here, the original line format is not kept, and as always, one must make reference to the original article (or even the original rdo ring). A rubbing and photo of the Avalokitesvara image is found in Precious Deposits I 102-3. For a brief notice of this, see Denwood's article "Tibetans in the Western Himalayas," p. 51 (he says the person mentioned here "is not otherwise known").
East side:
@ / rta'i lo'i // ston zla ra ba'i ngo la / seng ge zhang chen po 'bro khri brtsan sgra // mgon po rgyal gyis // mtha' yas pa'i sems can thams cad dang / thun mong du bsngos te // 'phags pa // spyan ras gzigs // dbang phyug gi // sku gzugs // rdo 'bur du bgyis nas // bzhengs gsol pa //
@ / dge ba'i rtsa ba 'di skye 'gro ma lus pa kun gyi don du bsngo /
Or, the same without punctuation marks:
@ rta'i lo'i ston zla ra ba'i ngo la seng ge zhang chen po 'bro khri brtsan sgra mgon po rgyal gyis mtha' yas pa'i sems can thams cad dang thun mong du bsngos te 'phags pa spyan ras gzigs dbang phyug gi sku gzugs rdo 'bur du bgyis nas bzhengs gsol pa
@ dge ba'i rtsa ba 'di skye 'gro ma lus pa kun gyi don du bsngo
West side:
@ / na mo 'phags pa spyan ras gzigs dbang phyug gi spyan sngar // sdig pa thams cad ni 'chags so / bsod nams thams cad kyi rjes su yi rang ngo // nyon mongs pa dang shes bya'i sgrib pa rnam gnyis ni byang / bsod nams dang / ye shes kyi tshogs chen po rnam gnyis ni / yongs su rdzogs nas bdag zhang 'bro khri brtsan sgra mgon po rgyal dang / mtha' yas pa'i sems can thams cad // dus gcig tu // bla na med pa'i sangs rgyas su grub par gyur cig //
∞ ∞ ∞
Source: R. Vohra, Tamgas and Inscriptions from Tangtse in Ladakh. IN: H. Eimer, et al., eds., Studia Tibetica et Mongolica (Festschrift M. Taube) Indica et Tibetica Verlag (Swisttal-Odendorf 1999) 279-306.
at p. 291: . co kru shes . sras :
I suggest this might be Cog ru Skyes in Padma dkar po's Chos 'byung, p. 320.5, or Cog ro Shes rab 'byung gnas (b. late 10th cent, disc. of Dgongs pa rab gsal), or perhaps most likely the translator Cog gru Shes rab bla ma (b. late 11th cent.), since the latter surely travelled to India.
at p. 292:
gus
...m ma nyog can mo rtse ba
pho nya 'di rnams kyi lha
.../ na skyon 'ong ngo
Inscriptions in an article by Laxman Thakur, The Earliest Tibetan Inscriptions from Tabo and Their Historical Significance, Tibet Journal, vol. 25, no. 2 (Summer 2000), pp. 42-51:
1. rta cag. 2. rta cog pa. 3. rta cog pa. 4. mag gi rta cog [x] [/]. 5. gral ta po. / ki rnam [x].
He also gives an inscription from Bharmaur (p. 44): khyung po jo mu 'phags bas.
More discussion by Laxman Thakur in his speech "Pictured Pasts: Rock Art & Landscape in the Western Himalayas," p. 949, note 3 (have PDF).
± ± ±
Source: Per Kvaerne, The Tibetan Bon Religion, pp. 126, 134 n. 26. On a statue of divine sage Gsang ba 'dus pa:
om swo ti gshen rabs gsang ba 'dus pa la na mo / yon gyi dag po dpon rmug rkum che kyi yum gyi don du zhengs de ba can du skye bar shog // bkra shis // rig byed rkon na ma yin //.
Or, better to be read:
om swasti / gshen rab gsang ba 'dus pa la na mo / yon gyi bdag po dpon rmug rkun che kyi yum gyi don du bzhengs / bde ba can du skye bar shog // bkra shis / rig byed rkon na (?) ma yin //.
pp. 126, 134 n. 27. On a metal image of Yum Bzang bza' Ring btsun:
Front: yum zang dzang rig tsun sku la na mo /.
Back: mtha' bzhi tshul khrims thugs rgong sdzog pa gyur cig /
Or, better read: Mtha' bzhi tshul khrims thugs dgongs rdzogs par gyur cig /.
∞ ∞ ∞
Source: Essen & Thingo, Die Götter des Himalaya, p. 169 (at bottom of a thang ka of Rdo rje 'jigs byed):
chos dbyings zhi ba'i ngang las rab 'jigs khro bo'i rgyal po'i sku bzhengs nas / skal ldan rjes 'dzin 'gro ba'i sdug bsngal skye byed zhe sdang la sogs nyon mongs 'dul / 'jam dpal khro bo 'jigs byed chen po srid dang zhi ba'i dge legs grub pa'i char / btsol mdzad khyod la gus pas 'dud do 'di phyir don gnyis lhun gyi grub par shog //
khyad par shâkya'i dge slong ngag dbang chos skyong bzang po bdag cag ltos bcas la / tshe ring nad med dpal sbyor snyan grags mthun rkyen thams cad yid bzhin 'grub pa dang / gnas skabs 'gal rkyen bar chad mi mthun phyogs rnams kun las rnam par rgyal gyur zhing / phyi mar dag pa'i zhing du skyes te sa lam sgrod nas rnam mkhyen myur thob shog // sarba mangga lam //
Note: the person mentioned is probably (Khang gsar Mkhan po) NGAG DBANG CHOS SKYONG BZANG PO (1723- ) Sa skya pa. <<Sga Thub bstan dgon du gshegs>> Dhongthog 43.
∞ ∞ ∞
Source: Amy Heller's paper "Portable Buddhist sculptures of Lo: a chronological selection 15th through 17th century."
Footnote no. 13:
Inscription: Om svasti / rmad byung tshogs gnyis chu gter dbus su 'khrungs / rnam dag byang chub spyod pa'i khams las grub // 'phags sras gser ri'i dbus na nyer mdzes pa // thub dbang rin chen rdul brtsegs la phyag 'tshal // chos dpal chen 'am mgon bsam 'grub rab brtan gyi thugs kyi dgongs pa yongsu rdzogs par gyur zhing / bdag nyi zla ma bu 'khor dang bcas pa la mchog [~lam mchog] thun mong gi dngos grub ma lus pa brtsal du gsol // bzo rig bal po bzo su dza 'dzo tri sogs dbang po 'grangs can kyis sgrubs // bkra shis //
Footnote no. 14.
Text of the inscription:
Na ma gu ru /
phun tshogs dge legs kun 'byung thod phreng rtsal
skal ldan don du shag rigs bod rjer sprul //
zab gter dam chos srid 'dzin zad de'i sku //
dad ldan 'dod dgu 'byung ba 'di zhengs pas //
dpal ldan bla ma'i thugs dgongs rdzogs pa dang /
bdag srogs 'khor bcas tshe ring nad med cing //
mnga' thang dpal 'byor phan tshogs [~dpal 'byor phun tshogs] dam chos ldan /
bsam don 'grub cing 'di phyu [~phyi] kun tu skyobs /
a ma rigs skye a' mgon dang lha lcam nyi zla'i zhengs //
ma ma a yur pu nya shri bhu ti gu na sar va va lda gu ru /
ma ha ka ru no ka pa'i gu ru / a dhi shadra a nantu / mangalam //
∞ ∞ ∞
Source: Hugo E. Kreijger, Tibetan Painting: The Jucker Collection, plate 18, on p. 67. There are many inscriptions on this small painting, and the figures are almost all identified, but the figure in the upper right may be A phya ga ra (Abhayakaragupta), and the figure second from your left, bottom register (in what would appear to be the patron position., looks like Sa dha ra dza, which may be Swa sti dhwa dza, a name for Zur Legs pa rgyal mtshan and/or Gnas brtan Legs pa rgyal po, one of the disciples of shab smad lo tsâ ba thugs rje dpal (Grags can mi sna, p. 408, where we would have to place his dates in about mid-14th to mid-15th centuries).
Source: Hugo E. Kreijger, Tibetan Painting: The Jucker Collection, plate 63, bottom of thangka (see p. 179, n. 136):
thabs mkhas dbang phyug spros kun nyer zhi'i dpal //
skal ldan 'gro la dngos grub kun rtsol ba'i //
dang po mgon po bcom ldan dgra nag gi //
dkyil 'khor dbang phyug 'dor bgyis dge ba yis //
dam pa'i zhabs brtan dam pas rjes 'dzin shog //
Source: Hugo E. Kreijger, Tibetan Painting: The Jucker Collection, plate 64, bottom of thangka:
swa sti //
'khor lo can gyi rnal 'byor nam mkha'i sku //
legs par sgrubs pa'i dge tshog[s] gang mchis kun //
tha mal rnam rtog 'khrul pa brtan bcom nas //
mkha' spyod dge ba'i grong du bkri bar mdzod //
∞ ∞ ∞
Source: The following are my own (Dan Martin's) notes from my short stay at the Newark Museum:
Acc. no. 20.355: Very large silver butterlamp (from Batang), offered by 3 monks with the following names: 1) 'Bre nyag Dge slong Bskal bzang dbang ldan. 2) Rtse gsum Dge slong Blo bzang don grub. 3) Gru rtses Dge slong Blo bzang rgyal mtshan.
Acc. no. 20.357 to 20.358: Censers, one offered by Rin chen phun tshogs, and one offered by Dge skos Dge slong Phun tshogs chos ldan.
Acc. no. 20.346: Butterlamp. Bde khang zur bbag ('bag? bsag?) Dpon min A bzang offered it in Wood Ox year. This may be the chief of Ba (?).
"Abzang offered 6 srang and 5 zho of silver in 5th month of Wood Ox."
Acc. no. T20.340: butterlamp. lcags phag lo ja tshul dge slong 'phrin las dar rgyas / dge slong rin chen rgya mtsho / dge slong sbyin pa rgya mtsho gsum gyis phul / srang 4 /.
Acc. no. T20.345: tshe 'das nyis rtse'i ched phul 'di // dus gsum rgyal sras thams cad dang // thugs rje chen pos rjes bzung shog / 7/sa (i.e. 7 srang).
There were 4 silver offering bowls (nos. 2, 4 6-7 of a set) with numbers. The 2nd in the series has the name of the second donor of no. 20.355, above. It appears that 4 from another series were mixed with 4 from this series to use on the altar in the museum display.
* * *
Source: ASHENCAEN, D. & G. Leonov, Light of Compassion: Buddhist Art from Nepal & Tibet, Spink sale exhibition catalog (London 1997).
p. 26: A Maitreya metal image donated by Dbang po rdo rje.
Source: PAL, PRATAPADITYA, A Collecting Odyssey: Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art from the James & Marilyn Alsdorf Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago (Thames & Hudson, London 1997).
P. 225 is a brass image of Abhayakirti (Abhayakîrti) inscribed: rje btsun a bha ya kir ti la na mo //.
* * *
Source: Gangs-ljongs Gnas-mchog Po-ta-la (1996), Khrung-go Yul-skor Dpe-skrun-khang (Beijing 1996).
p. 188 Inscription on a Ming Dynasty bowl, only part visible: dkon mchog gsum gyis bde legs shog // (Compare Precious Deposits III 302, which seems to be the same bowl.)
p. 177 are two golden butterlamps with lengthy inscriptions mentioning Tshe smon gling no min han and Rwa sgreng Thub bstan 'jam dpal ye shes, offered in times of 10th & 11th Dalai Lamas respectively.
p. 174: A tablet hanging in front of a thangka of Emperor K'ang-hsi, in 4 languages, Tibetan reading: bskal pa'i mnga' bdag hwong di'i sku tshe khri phrag sku tshe khri phrag khri [invisible syllable or two].
p. 154, quadrilingual inscriptions on front of a Shakyamuni thangka:
'od bsrungs kyi tshigs bcad //
'gro kun rang bzhin dag cing gsal //
gdod nas skye med gnas pa'ang med //
lus sems sgyu ma las skyes nyid //
sgyu ma sbrul 'dra dge sdig med //
gnam skyong me bya lor bkas bsgrub.
Source: Precious Deposits II 43, on image of 'Brom ston pa:
bka' gdams bstan pa'i bdag po 'brom ston la na mo.
Source: Precious Deposits III 9. This is a letter on the rights of Zhwa lu Monastery sent by Sa skya Pandi ta (but I wonder if it might not be from the later Ti shrî Kun dga' rgyal mtshan (1310-1358)??). It's about the monastery's exemption from 'u lag (corvÈe) responsibilities:
+// rgyal po'i lung gis // kun dga' rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po ti shri'i gtam //
gtsang / dbus swon wi si'i (?) dpon / nang so'i gnyer pa / bla brang so so'i nye gnas / dmag dpon / dmag mi / yul bsrungs / khrims gcod / gser yig pa / khri dpon / stong dpon / 'jam che / sdud 'grim 'dul byed mi / mdzod (?) gsan mi / sa yul gyi mi dpon / mi sde rnams la zlo ba // se chen rgyal po dang / bla ma 'phags pa'i dus nas / 'jas / bka' shog rim pas / zhal lu ba la gtogs pa'i / rgya tsho gnyis / mon khang / tshos btang ma / slugs thang 'brog / sgrol / span / smon gro rje mchod / gya kha ru 'tshams / kun dga' ra ba / mtshur phu / tshe tsha brtsad po / gser khang gis mgho byas rnams / zhal lu ba la sngar nas gtogs pa la / sngar med pa'i / dmag khral / za ma 'u lag / khal rta za brin / 'bor 'don / brgya kha khyu lug / bcu kha ma len / khal rta u lag du ma 'khyer / tshang dam kha la 'dod / mdzod (?) la gsan / khri 'brel / stong 'brel / thab 'thung / zang 'thung ma len / khang shing ma bshu / skye shing ma gcod / rtsam chang ma 'chol / rtsa shing / ma skul / 'di pa'i sa zhing dang / mi nor gzhan gyis bzung ba yod na / phye gsal gyi lugs bzhin / phyir gtod / yang / rtsa kha dang / bsrung ri la gzhan gyis snyad ma byed / dbang che she mong ma rtsong / bde bar sdod du chug / bzlas nas 'dzin rgyu'i yi ge byin pa yin pas / log pa byas na mi skrag pa e yin / 'di pas kyang yi ge yod zer nas / khrims dang mghal ba'i bya ba me byed / phag lo zla ba drug pa'i tshes bcu gsum pa / pho brang chen po (?) rang to'i chos sde chen por. bris pa'i yi ge // Note what ought to be a 'phags pa seal for sa skya pandi ta (??).
Source: Precious Deposits III 28-9: A very similar letter from Ti shrî Sangs rgyas dpal to Rin chen sgang pa in 1308 (it has exactly the same red seal as the former).
[beginning missing or illeg.] dmag dpon / dmag mi / khrims gcod / gser yig pa / yul dpon / yul srungs / lo tsha ba / 'ja' mo che / sdud dang 'grul byed pa / mi sde rnams la zlo ba / rin chen sgang pa la gtogs pa'i / gur chung dang / ma cig pa'i dus mchod kyi gzhis / bya sgang / dge sdings / baang ral / tho dkar dpe gsar rnams la / sngar med pa'i khral dang za ma 'u lag ma len / khang gzhis su 'tsher ma 'bab / mdzo rta ma gsan / phyugs lug la khyu 'dzin ma byed / so nam lag cha dang sgal bong gteng par ma 'khyer / khong rang sngar nas dbang ba'i / mi nor / sa zhing / sa chu rtsa gsum ci dang ci yin pa rnams / ma 'phrog / ma 'then / snyad btags pa'i 'dod mchu / rgya che ma byed / bde bar sdod gug bzlas nas 'dzin rgyu'i yi ge byin pa yin / yi te mthong bzhin log pa byas na / gong du zhus nas rtsa ra byed du 'jug pa yin / 'di pas kyang yi ge yod zer nas khrims dang 'bal ba ma byed / spre'u lo zla ba bcu cig pa phyi ma'i nyi shu lnga la / pho brang chen po / ta'i tu'i sde chen por bris pa'i yi ge /
Source: Precious Deposits III 94 ff. Illus. of scrolls depicting the miracles of Karma pa V De bzhin gshegs pa, during his visit to the Ming Emperor Chengzu.
ta'i li rgyal pos / gzhu'u la'i ta'i ba du hwa wang ta'i shen tsi tsa'i hu'o dkar ma pa gdan 'dren rgyal khams gyi ban dhe thams cad kyi gtso bo mdzad nas ming gu sri sde nas / cho ga chen po mdzad / yang tha'i dzu rgyal po chen po / byams pa'i yum btsun mo / 'jig rten gyi sems can thams cad 'khor ba ngan song la sgrol ba'i don la yun lo lnga pa / zla ba gnyis pa'i tshes lnga'i nyi[n] cho ga / dbu btsugs pa la / zhag dang po la / sprin 'ja kha dog sna lnga bltas na mdzes pa / spro bsdu'i rnam pa sna tshogs yid bzhin nor bu'i 'od dang 'dra ba byung / yang ring srel mchod rten gyi steng du 'od zer 'phro ba zla ba nya gang ba dang 'dra zhing dri ma med pa cung zad g.yo ba byung / yang gser gyi 'od zer rim pa gnyis shar // {{This is only a small part, the beginning, of the Tibetan version: Note that this same part is reproduced and studied in MATSUKAWA, TAKASHI, On the Mongolian Text of Pentaglot The Great Scroll (1407) Preserved in the Tibet Museum, Lhasa. Otani Gakuho (The J. of Buddhist Studies & Humanities) 82 no 4 (Mar 10, 2004) 1-15. In Japanese. Karmapa's visit to Ming China.}}
Source: Precious Deposits III 148. An official letter to Dka' bzhi pa Bsod nams mgon written in 13th year of the Ming Dynasty Yongle Emperor.
gnam la gus pa'i stobs la brten nas / rgyal po'i lung gis / nged kyi bsam pa la / sangs rgyas kyi bstan pa ni / rnam par dag pa dang mya ngan las 'das pa gtsor byas zhing / byams dang snying rje rgyun du 'dzin pa / gong du / nged kyi rgyal khams la'ang / grogs ldan dang / 'og tu ma rig pa 'thobs pa rnams la gsal bar mdzad pa / sngar rgyal rabs rim pa bdag pa rnams kyis kyang thams cad bstan pa la bkur sti dang dar rgyas byas / khyod bka' bzhi ba bsod nams mgon / sangs rgyas kyi chos zab mo shin tu gsal zhing rtogs pa / smon lam yangs shing rgya che / tshul khrims la bsrung ba dang / sems nyid rnam par dag pa / skye bo rnams la 'dul ba / 'gro ba thams cad dge ba la bskul ba / de'i yon tan yod pa'i don la / nged sems shin tu spro bas / da lta nan gyis khyod la hu'i shen chen shrî las ka byin nas / khyod rtag tu sangs rgyas kyi bstan pa dar bar byed pa dang / yon tan bsgrub pa dang / de ltar byas nas / bstan pa'ang rgyas par dar yun ring du / nged la yang dag par sems shig / nged kyi lung dang mthun par byas nas dad gus gyis //
yun lo bcu gsum pa'i lo zla ba gnyis pa'i bcu cig gi nyin
Source: Precious Deposits III 150: Inscription on silk thangka of Shâkya ye shes (1355-1435), founder of Se ra Monastery. (I think it is meant to represent the content of the red 'Phags pa seal, which is also included.)
phrin las sna tshogs / mkhas shing gsal ba / chos nyid dam pa // mchog tu rgyal ba / shes rab rnam dag snang ba chen po / kun tu khyab cing / rgyal khams bskyab pa / bstan pa rgyas mdzad / rab tu dge ba / byams chen chos kyi rgyal po / nub kyi phyogs su / rig pa mchog gyur / de bzhin gshegs pa / dbang phyug dang ldan / kun mkhyen rdzogs pa'i sangs rgyas chen po.
(This can be seen, too, in M. Henss, Monuments of Central Tibet, p. 181.)
Source: Precious Deposits III 164-5. 15th year of Ming Emperor Chenghua to Nam mkha' bkra shis rgyal mtshan:
gnam la gus pa'i stobs la brten nas / rgyal po'i lung gis / sangs rgyas kyi lam ni rnam par dag pa'i sgo nas gtsor byas shing / byams dang snying rjes gzhan don mdzad pas / gong du rgyalsrid la stong grogs dang / 'og tu ma rig pas 'thibs pa rnams gsal bar mdzad cing / gang zhig de'i bstan pa la dar rgyas byed pa'i nus pa can yod na / nges par bstod ra'i / lung bzang po gnang bar 'os pa yin / nam mkha' bkra shis rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po khyod / 'das pa'i ju'u kya'u wang nam mkha' rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po'i bu ngo bo yin cing / snga mo nas sangs rgyas kyi bstan pa la bzhugs shing / tshul khrims tshul bzhin du bsrung ba / skye bo rnams thabs kyi brul nas dge ba'i lam la 'khod na / de'i ched du / bstod rar 'os pa yin / khyod kyi pha mi rtag par song bas / da lta khyod kyi pha'i th'u kya'u wang gi ming dang las ka tshab byed du bcug pa yin / da phyin chad / khyod kyis kyang sangs rgyas chos la bshad nyan du bsgrubs pa byed pa dang / de'i bstan pa ches cher dar rgyas byed pa dang / yun ring du blo tshad ma'i sems bzung bar bgyis / nged kyi byed [??] gces spras byas pa'i bka' drin chen po la gus pa dang 'thun pa dang / lung 'di la gus par gyis shig.
Source: Precious Deposits III 172-3. A very similar official letter to bsod nams rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po in 9th year of Hongzhi:
gnam la gus pa'i stobs la brten nas / rgyal po'i lung gis / nged kyi bsam pa la / sangs rgyas kyi lam ni / rnam par dag pa dang byams dang snying rjes gzhan la phan par mdzad cing / gong du rgyal srid la mi mngon pa'i grogs ldan dang / 'og tu ma rig pas 'thibs pa rnams gsal bar mdzad cing / gang zhig de'i bstan pa dar rgyas byed pa'i nus pa can yod na / gong gis de la nges par bstod rare mdzad pa yin / bsod nams rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po khyod / gtsing pi'u yon dmye'u gu'i shri'i dbon po bde legs bkra shis rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po'i tsha bo yin cing / gzhon nu nas tshangs par spyod pa'i bstan pa la zhugs shing / tshul khrims tshul bzhin du gus pas bsrung zhing / skye bo rnams thabs kyi brtul nas dge ba'i lam la 'khod na / de'i don gyis dga' bar 'os pa yin / khyod kyi khu bo mi rtag par song bas zer ba la / lung gis khyod la gtsing si'u yon dmye du gu'i shri'i las ka tshab byed du chug / da phyin chad / khyod kyis kyang khyad par du bshad sgrub la legs par brtson cing / sangs rgyas kyi bstan pa la ches cher dar rgyas byed pa dang / byams dang snying rjes la brten nas gdul bya rgya chen po 'dul bar bgyis / nged kyi gnang ba'i bka' drin chen po gsal bar thob pa yin / lung 'di bzhin du gus par gyis shig.
Source: Precious Deposits III 200, apparently an image of 'Jig rten mgon po, or some other 'Bri gung pa Teacher.
om swasti / dran mchog dbang gi rgyal po'i sku 'dra 'di / sangs rgyas stan pa yun ring gnas phyir dang / khu [illeg., but the full inscription is found elsewhere here in this file!]
Source: Precious Deposits III 231, inscription on silver covering for a conch (more on this in the catalog of the Bowers Museum exhibit, p. 81):
sa thang chos kyi rgyal po'i rgyal sras karma dge legs rab brtan gyis bzhengs so. (But note that there is also a Chinese inscription "Made by Zhong Shan Yi Ran on the 25th day of the 1st month in the 13th year of Emperor Chungzhen's reign.")
Source: Precious Deposits III 297: Inscription on a lute, which evidently belonged to one of the Karma pas:
ring thung bar skad kyang khog chud pa dang rgyus mkha' 'gro'i gsang skad \ {1} karma pa'i phyag snyan nya khrab can gyi pags pa / (the 'neck' on which this is inscribed is made of shell).
Source: Precious Deposits III 302-3. Inscription inside a Ming dynasty porcelain bowl:
nyin mo bde legs mtshan bde legs // nyi ma'i gung la bde legs shing // nyi mtshan rtag tu bde legs pa'i // dkon mchog gsum gyis bde legs shog // (note similar, but different, version on silk thangka with image of Avalokitesvara in Precious Deposits IV 51; these Ming porcelains are discussed in Dung-dkar, p. 25; see also Shunzo Onoda, An Old Tibetan Kha-btags Preserved at the Mampukuji Temple in Kyoto, a paper that has been placed on Onoda's internet site [Nyin mo bde legs is in fact one of the types of bka' btags..., called so because it contains this inscription probably even together with an image of Avalokitesvara...] The same inscription circles the outside of a porcelain pitcher illustrated in the Bowers Museum exhibit catalog, p. 107, with an English translation supplied, and see also p. 172).
Source: Precious Deposits IV 16. A Potala wall painting showing tributes/gifts given to Dalai Lama V by Shunzhi Emperor.
bzhugs sar chad gnyer brtsigs pa gnang ba'i gzims khang ser por sgar ba rnams 'byor pa /
hor chen bing thu wa nga sogs la thugs rje chen po'i rjes gnang stsal ba /
gong ma nas gser dngul gyi mandal / rgyal srid sna bdun / zhal stegs nyer spyad / rol cha / gdugs / rgyal mtshan / mchod rdzas gnang cha rgyas par gnang ba /
chu sbrul lo gyi thog wa nga / gos bcas mjal dar phul ba'i li sogs kyis zhwa las ba / (But this might have to be read: chu sbrul lo gyi thog wa nga pa'i li sogs kyis las zhwa las gos bcas mjal dar phul ba /)
* * *
Note: I've found that at least some of the inscriptions that follow correspond fairly exactly with words found in the official biography of the Fifth Dalai Lama (You can find them in TBRC at "gsung 'bum/_ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho/ Volume 10 Pages 23 - 77.")
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 119:
95 me tog gi char dang / 'ja' gur sogs mngon sum du byung ba /
96 tshes bcu'i mchod pa gnang ba /
97 'phags pa phebs 'phral mchod yon la ja gral gnang ba /
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 119:
102 phur cha gdan drangs shing / gra tshang nas sa 'dul gyi sku 'chams gnang ba /
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 121:
103 po tâ la rdzong gis sa bkra bar phyag nas gnang ba /
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 119:
106 sprin gyi gseb nas lha'i bu dang / bu mo mang pos mchod pa phul ba bstan 'dzin chos rgyal gyis gzigs pa /
108 rlung lha byad thams cad nas 'tshubs pas po tâ la'i ri dang bcas pas rlung gi gur khang lta bu'i dpal ldan lha mo dngos su phebs pa'i ltas che ba /
109 chos 'khor gling pa dang / rme ru ba'i ser sbreng /
110 gra tshang gis ser sbreng dang / bsu ba gnang ba /
111 po tâ la'i sa 'dul la phebs skabs dar 'bag rin chen sgang gi thad nas 'brug sgra dang / glog dmar byung ba /
123 sog po gsar rnying rnams rdzongs bda' gnang bar 'phan yul du phebs pa /
129 rgyal po mchod yon gyis 'phags pa lo ke shwa ra gdan drangs te phebs pa /
130 lha sa ru bzhi'i skye bos gzab mchor bcas gdan drangs pa /
201 mjug tu tshe bdag gi gtor bzlog gnang ba /
Source: Precious Deposits V 160:
228 sa ga zla bar xx xkar me 'bul ba'i thegs kyi ru ba xx du 'dzugs pa gnang ba /
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 122:
312 karma dgon thang du lha mo'i sku'i dbyibs thal rlung glo bur du langs pa /
315 rlung dkyus ma nub nas langs pa /
318 'di nyin rdzong steng du grwa tshang nas dgra lha dpang bstod /
? grwa tshang gi tshogs su chos skyong spyi la 'phrin bcol bskang ba gzab rgyas su gnang ba /
323 mchod sdong rtsig rmang gi nor gter bum sgrub sngags ram pa blo bzang skyes mchog can dang / dzambha la bsod nams rgyal mtshan can gyis sgrubs skabs gser thig por dzam la rang byon byung ba /
324 sngags ram pa bsod nams rgyal mtshan can gyis jo bo'i dzam la sgrub pa /
327 zla tshes bcu gcig la nas khang gsar pa'i steng du mchod sdong chen po 'dzugs ston du chal pos dbus byang pa yon bdag / se 'bras kyi bla ma sogs ser mo ba / bzo rigs do dam ...
328 bca' khrims bsgrags shing gan thel bzhes par grol bar nye dus karma dgon gsar gyi thad nas rlung nag 'tshub ma lha mo'i sku'i dbyibs gsal ba bzhugs gral gyi thad brgyud rdzong la g.yas skor dang / nub nas rlung nag bcas don te rlung gi gur khang lta bu'i ltas ya mtshan can byung ba /
* * *
Source: Precious Deposits IV 22-23. A mural from Potala, showing the building of the Potala:
345 lha lung du bsangs brngan / klu gtor dang bcas rdo gsog 'dren gnang ba /
346 pha bong kha nas / sa dmar 'dren gsog gnang ba /
347 gdol par klu gtor / bsangs brngan bcas rdo gsog 'dren gnang ba /
348 dog bster bsangs brngan / klu gtor dang bcas rdo gsog 'jog byed bcug pa gnang ba /
349 rdzong rgyab kyi rdo spe /
350 gra tshang sngags ram pa bsod nams rgyal mtshan can gyi gro lod / yon tan dpal bzang can gyi yangs gsang / phyag rdor dbang phyug can gyi khro bcu / blo bzang rab brtan can gyi rta mgrin yang gsang bcas pa'i chog grwa tshug te sngags byang kha bsgyur gnang ba khug rtags dngos su byung ba /
351 phyogs bzhi dang / mtshams sogs su mtha' dmag bzlog pa / bod khams bde ba / sa dgra ngan bcos / 'dre kha zug pa bcos pa sogs bstan bcos bai dkar sogs kyi dgongs pa ltar dge slong 'jam grags can sbed 'jug gnang ba /
352 rtsis bzo rnams khang ser ltag nas brtsig pa /
353 par khang du bal po'i brdungs 'phrul zangs lcags mgar ba khro lug sogs kyi bzo grwa 'dzugs pa gnang ba /
354 gtor rgyag sogs kyi skabs ma sbar bar me rang 'bar snang ba /
355 zhol do rdo spe /
356 dga' ldan khang sar du shing bzo'i las grwa 'dzugs pa gnang ba / (See also Precious Deposits IV 271, for an enlargement)
* * *
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 126:
360 klu sgug 'u lag gi skor /
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 127:
362 skam g.yung du skyid chur ko ba la rdo 'dren 'jug pa gnang ba /
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 122:
376 gan thel bzhes par drung yig bstan dbang gis bca' yig bsgrags shing gnang cha gnang ba /
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 127:
394 ar ston do dam bzo rigs la snga dar dang / tshan grangs / sder thob / 'ul lag la rtsal pa dngos dod gang rigs ja chang thug pa bcas yod cing / ri gong lan tshod dngul srong chig stong sum brgya skor zin pa ang dang / khul (?) lag la rtsam pa dod gang rigs dang / gzhan rnams ji bzhin med pa ri kong dngul srang drug brgya skor yongs pa ang gnyis / do dam bzo rigs la snga dar tshan grangs rang rigs nas / 'ul lag la ja thug re yod pa re gong dngul srang sum brgyar zin pa ang gsum / ja thug chang bcas las med pa ri gong dngul srang bcu gsum yan ang bzhir byas / lo khongs gcig cing angki'i gnas 'du phyin mi babs dang / gzab gud med pa snga phyi go rim du bkod par bkra shis dpal 'byor / bstan 'dzin dbang po / tre bo dkar lcog / er khe no yon rnams...
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 127:
400 grwa tshang nas sprel zla'i tshes bcu rgyas par gnang ba /
Source: Precious Deposits V 98. Mural painting in Potala showing boats bringing stones.
404 skam yung nas rdo gsog 'dren /
* * *
Source: Precious Deposits IV 272-3. More labels from a Potala mural showing the construction of the Potala.
400 grwa tshang nas sprel zla'i tshes bcu rgyas par gnang ba /
412 byi las phyin shul gyi rdo 'gril bas rdo bzo ba dang gyang ro'i ldeb zhig pas 'ul lag grong pa sogs byad ltas kyi mtshan ma byung ba / (picture shows a rock falling on someone).
413 gyang ro rkyen med du log pas 'ul lag gron pa /
(414 is found in A. Guise, ed., The Potala of Tibet, p. 68, where I read: grwa khang bde yangs nub skor ka spungs khag gnyis kyi mas thog la sleb pa /)
415 ar po'i las rnams ka spungs gsum pa'i mas thog la sleb kha /
* * *
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 128:
416 tshes 15 zla ba gro bzhin gyi 'grub sbyor thog gser sdong gi las grwa 'dzugs pa gnang ba /
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 130:
484 nor rgyas bkod mdzes su dngul gra bsgrigs byed 'jug pa gnang ba /
485 rgyal mtshan / banydzir / rnam bcu dbang ldan sogs la rab gnas skabs char babs pas ltas legs pa /
Source: Precious Deposits V 96-7. Potala mural showing a swimming contest. One of them just sits crosslegged on top the water.
488 chu rtsal gras / rdor dkyil dang /
489 gting 'dzul /
490 chu gzhung dar lcog 'khyer ba /
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 140:
491 rol rtsed kyi chu rtsal 'gran skabs skyid chur rkyal gyis gyen dang phred gcod ches mang yang smyug tshad sar gyen rkyal ma thub pa dang / chu gzhung la mtshon na gdong dkar gling smad tsam nas / nyang bran gyi thad ka'i bar gom pa sum brgya nga gnyis bar chu nang du dar lcog 'khyer ba / rdor dkyil gyis 'dug pa / 'phred nyal / sag log / gting 'dzul sogs bod sog ches mang ba dang / gzhan dag nas phyogs 'gro tsam byung zhing / mi grangs bzhi brgya lnga bcu tsam gyis chu nang rkyal gyi skor ba byed pa dang / chu steng zam pa byed pa'i rnam 'gyur rtsal 'gren ngo mtshar mang du byung ba /
Source: Po-ta-la (1996) 130:
493 ganydzi ra dang / rgyal mtshan 'dzugs pa /
? skabs ganydzi ra dge slong 'jam dbyangs grags pa gzungs 'bul byed 'jug pa gnang ba /
499 phyag rdor dbang phyug... [illeg.]
Source: Precious Deposits V 92-5. Potala mural showing weight lifting. Another showing wrestling (spar kha rgyab?). Compare A. Guise, ed., The Potala of Tibet, p. 72 (lower right corner).
643 sog po shas che ba'i sbar kha rgyab par drang ma byung ba /
644 kham sog bod pa sogs rdo mgyogs 'gran par nang zan glang ru 'ba' lug rtser son pa /
Source: Pho-brang Po-ta-la (1994/5) 102-3:
656 The right hand side is cut off, but partly legible.
Source: Pho-brang Po-ta-la (1994/5) 105:
658 rtse drung 'khor dang / nang zan rnying pa rnams la mi rer gser zho re / dngul srang gang / zi ling spu ja sbag / gos rgyan 'pher kha bzhi / thang po che bas bro dang / sam gha bha dra'i 'bag shon / rme ru ba'i ser sbreng sogs bde yangs dang / rta lam phan tshun yongs su gang ba'i khrom pa mi the ba'i gzigs 'bul bar nga la mi grangs stong phrag gsum lhag byung bar mi rer srang gang zho gsum skar gang zin nges kyi gnad cha dang ma chang stsal ba /
Source: Pho-brang Po-ta-la (1994/5) 102-3:
663 (not entirely readable) tshes bcu bzhi'i xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx rigs pa / gdan sa chen po gsum dang / rnam rgyal grwa tshang / zhwa dmar nag / 'bri sgam sogs mnga' 'bangs mchog dman mtha' dag gi legs 'bul dang / bzhugs gral rgyas par gnang ba /
664 bkra shis pa'i chas dung dkar pos thog drangs mdo bdar sogs rol mos gnam sa ldir ba /
665 sman bla khang du rgyun gtan mchod pa nyer gcig gnang /
676 rdor slob las mthun gyi chas dang bcas rgyas pa'i sbyin sreg gnang ba /
677 tshes 14 la rdor slob las mthun gyi chas dang bcas zhi ba'i sbyin sreg gnang ba /
Source: Precious Deposits IV 24-5. Emperor Kangxi's decree giving title to Panchen Lama in 1713:
tshe ring gnam gyi sho mong gis da lta yongs kyi bdag po bhwa ti'i bka' / bdag gis skye 'gro thams cad la ris su ma chad par snyoms par brtse zhing byams pas sa steng gi 'gro ba thams cad 'jam po'i thabs 'phrul gyi phan bde la sbyor bas skyong ba yin / bslab pa rnam par dag pa srung zhing lugs dang mthun pa'i spyod tshul gyis lam yang dag pa la 'bad rtsol byed pa byung na / de la bsngags brjod dang gzengs bstod byas te kun la mngon pa'i las rtags dang ming ster bar byed / khyod skye ba snga ma nas bslab khrims tshul bzhin du bsrung zhing bsam sbyor bzang pos rgyal bstan dar zhing rgyas par byas / da lta nga la dga' ba'i sems rtse gcig pas lugs dang mthun par gus pas mtshams zhu ba mngags nas skyes 'bul / des na bdag gis khyod la ched du bsngags brjod kyi bka' phab pa'i lung gi 'ja' sa tham ka / 7pa.n chen er te ni zhes pa'i ming rnams byin nas bkra shis lhun po dgon ma lag / chos gzhis dang bcas par gzhan gyis bsnyad gtser 'then rtsod gtan nas byed pa med par bde 'jags su gnas par byas pa yin / khyod kyis kyang tshangs spyod rnam par dag pa'i ngos nas rgyal bstan dar rgyas kyi thabs la shin tu 'bad cing gra slob rnams la blang dor tshul mthun byed dgos pa'i bslab byas khyab par byas nas yang dag pa'i don sgrub pa la 'bad 'tshal / bde skyid dgung lo nga nyis pa'i zla ba dang po'i nyer gnyis la //
gnam bskos 7'jam pa'i dbyangs gong ma bdag po chen pos rtsal ba'i 'ja' sa'i zhal bshus 'khrul med /
Seal: (Tibetan part only) bka' yis bkur ba'i pa.n chen er te ni'i tham ka / (the seal itself is illus. on pp. 26-7)
Source: Precious Deposits IV 28-29 [longevity prayer for Emperor found in Potala]:
bskal pa'i mnga' bdag hwong di'i sku tshe khri phrag sku tshe khri phrag khri phrag.
Source: Precious Deposits IV 31 (quadrilingual seal of Dalai Lama VII; here it says that the Dalai Lama V's seal was very similar, but lacked for instance the Mongolian):
nub phyogs mchog gyur dge ba'i zhing gi rgyal dbang sa steng gi rgyal bstan yongs kyi bdag po thams cad mkhyen pa badzra dha ra .tâ la'i bla ma'i tham ka // (Note: I've resolved a few abbreviations in my reading.)
Source: Precious Deposits IV 33. Inscription on back of a sandalwood Lokesvara image given as gift by Pho lha nas to the Qianlong Emperor (it is in the style described in an article by Ian Alsop, with the tri-lobed crown):
lha sa'i jun wang pho lha nas 'jam dbyangs gong ma bdag po chen pos sems can thams cad kyi bde skyid la nye bar dgongs te zhwa ser gyi bstan pa che cher 'phel zhing dar bas chos sde chen po gsar du bzhengs pa'i legs [-illeg-illeg-] o las [-illeg-illeg-] pa'i [-illeg-illeg-] ki shwa [-illeg-illeg-] sku brnyan [-illeg-illeg-] can [-illeg-illeg-] so bstan 'dzin g.yang 'phel mngags te gdan drangs nas chen lung gnam lo bcu pa'i zla tshes 24 la pho brang chen por pbyor te zhus par bka' yis dg[ongs?] ldan byi chags gling du mchad pa [-illeg-illeg-] bod skad du spyan ras gzigs hor skad du ni du per u jeg chi rgya nag skad du kwan zhi yin phu sa zer ba yin no //
Source: Precious Deposits IV 37-38. Seal of Pan chen Blo bzang dpal ldan ye shes (Tibetan only transcribed):
bka' yis bskur ba'i pan chen er te ni'i phyag rgya /
Source: Precious Deposits IV 40. Incription in 4 languages (Tibetan only given here) on box containing a skull rosary presented to the Qianlong Emperor five days before his death by the Panchen Lama:
gnam skyong dgung lo zhe lnga pa'i zla ba brgyad pa tshes gsum la pan chen er te ni'i nying sho'u gung du chos gnang ba'i skabs gus pas phul ba'i thod pa'i 'phreng ba gcig /
Source: Precious Deposits IV 41-3. Edict by Qianlong Emperor for enthronement of Seventh Dalai Lama in 1762:
tshe ring gnam gyi gshe mong gis da lta yongs la mnga' bsgyur pa / gwang ti'i bka' / tâ la'i bla ma'i sku skye la phab pa / bdag gis sa steng gi skye 'gro ma lus pa khrims kyis kha lo bsgyur ba la / sa phyogs thams cad kyi sems can rnams so sor bde skyid kyis 'tsho ba dang / chos srid ma lus pa dar zhing rgyas par 'gyur na snyam du sems so / tâ la'i bla ma'i sku gong ma sangs rgyas kyi bslab pa rgyas su bcug cing sems can thams cad bde ba la 'god par snang / da cha pa.n chen er te ni dang de mo hu thog thu nas zhu yig phul te khyed nyid po ta la'i khri thog tu sdad du bcug pa zhig e yong zhus par / nged nas kyang ched du mi sna khal 7chen wang gi go sa can tshe brtan skyabs sogs phyung ste po ta la'i khri thog tu sdod du chug ces rdzongs bstar byas so // spyir sprul sku khyod deng sang na tshod chung / bslab sbyang gi mgo ma tshugs kyang / da phyin chad slob gnyer la don mi za bar nan tan legs par mdzod / tâ la'i bla ma sku tshe snga ma ji lta ba bzhin sangs rgyas kyi bstan 'dzin bya ba la hur bskyed dang / sgos zhwa ser gyi bstan pa rgya cher spel ba la rtsal bton nas 'bad pa gyis / nged kyi zhwa ser ring lugs gong du bkur ba'i bsam pa dang mi 'gal ba gyis zhes bka'i yi ge phab pa'i gdong du / me tog sna tshogs kyis spras pa'i thang sku thang grub ma 1 / kha btags 1 / dngul gyi chab ril rgyan can 1 / g.yang .ti'i yu ring can gyi phor pa dngul gyi stegs bcas 1 / dngul gyi mandal che ba 1 / gu gu sha'i bkra shis rdzas brgyad dang / bkra shis rtags brgyad tshar re / zi yang yul gyi rto las bzos pa'i 'khor lo cha 1 / shel smug sngon po'i 'dod yon sna lnga tshar 1 / pan zhwa 1 / rnam sbyar 1 / bya gos 1 / mthang gos 1 / gding ba 1 / stod 'gag 1 / ske rags 1 / gzan 1 / bdos ber 1 [gos ber 1?] / bzhes khyod gyi sked brgyan mu tig bcu bzhi'i phra can cha 1 / gos ser po'i g.yogs can gyi 'bol rgan gyi tâ hu 1 / byi ru'i rgyan phreng 1 / dngul gyi gdong mo 1 / dngul gyi rnga dam 1 / dngul gyi bzhes can chung ngu 1 / gos chen ser po'i bzhugs brtan rgyab yol gra dgrig 1 / gos chen ser po'i khug ma me tog can che ba cha 1 / gos khug se'u ma chung ba cha bzhi / g.yang ti sngo nag gi yid bzhin lcags kyu 1 / g.yang ti'i me dam zur bzhi pa 1 / g.yang ti ljang khu'i dam si 1 / bla bres 1 / gser gyi skud gril phra mo can gyi gu gu sha'i yol go cha 1 / gu gu sha'i bum pa 1 re / me tog 'dab ma bzhi pa'i dbyibs can gyi gu gu sha'i yol go 1 / gu gu sha'i mchod kong 1 / gu gu sha'i phor pa che chung cha re re / gu gu sha'i sder ma cha 1 / gu gu sha'i dam si che ba 1 / gu gu sha'i sder ma che ba 1 / gu gu sha'i gdong mo 1 / gu gu sha'i snod kha sbyor 1 / shel dkar gyis yol go brnyes ris ma (?) cha 1 / gu gu sha'i ril ba mgrin ring can cha 1 / shel smug ser po'i spos phor 1 / shel smug ser po'i phor pa 1 re / shel ser po'i me dam sul can cha 1 / rto zhîng yan gyi dam si cha 1 / shel gyi dam si cha 1 / gos che gser rngus yug cgu / gos che che ba yug dgu / gos chen ma nug dang / con ldan sdoms par yug dgu / gos chen pheng dwan yug dgu / gos chen spru ma yug dgu / gos chen dkyus ma yug dgu / mjod (?) btags dgu / bka' btags sna tshogs dgu / bka' btags chung ba sum cu / dngul stang gri tsho gcig dang bcas gnang char bskur yod // //
Source: Precious Deposits IV 48-9. Jade album (or Jade Edict) given by Qianlong to Dalai Lama VIII. (The same inscription occurs on a very different object studied in an article by Yannick Laurent; see below.)
tshe ring gnam gyi she mong btsan pos sa steng yongs la mnga' sgyur ba / hrâng ti'i bka' / chab srid brgya lhag gi bar phyi nang thams cad bde skyid dang skye 'gro ma lus pa la khrims kyis kha lo sgyur nas rje btsun tsong kha pa chen po'i zhwa ser gyi bstan pa rin po che che cher dar pa dang chos lugs shin tu 'phel zhing rgyas par gyur / tâ la'i bla ma khyed ni rgyal ba tsong kha pa'i thugs sras kyi gtso bo yin zhing / dge 'dun grub kyi skye rabs brgyad pa'i sprul sku yin / ye shes dang yon tan ma lus pa sku tshe du ma'i snga rol nas yongs su rdzogs zhing / lhag pa'i bsam pa rnam par dag pa rab tu brtan zhing / mtha' dbus kyi skye 'gro thams cad kyi mgon skyabs du mdzad / sngon yang mes rgyal po e ye per ja sag che'i skabs su / rgyal dbang lnga pa tâ la'i bla ma / rgyal khag chen po pho brang du / gong ma dang 'jal nas bdag rkyen chen po stsal pa nas bzung / da bar skye rabs bzhi yi bar du / chab srid kyi gsol ras ma lus pa thob nas / sems rtse gcig par / byams brtse'i chen pos rjes su 'brang nas zha ser byi bstan pa rgya cher dar ba byas / tâ la'i bla ma khyed ni zhwa ser gyi bstan pa'i bdag po bla ma chen po yin cing / sku tshe mang por / sa steng gi skye 'gro mtha' dag mngon mtho dang nges lags la 'god pa sogs ngo mtshar ba'i rten 'brel legs par 'grigs par mdzad pa nas nges par chab srid kyi bsod nams chen po dang dga' ston gyi 'phrin las yin no / bla ma khyed kyi yon tan yongs su rdzogs zhing / sangs rgyas kyi bstan pa rin po che phyogs dus kun tu dar zhing rgyas par mdzad pa la / nged shin tu spro ba 'phel nas da lam / khyad du 'phags pa'i bdag rkyen / g.yang .ti'i 'ja' sa dang phyag rgya gnang yod / bla ma khyed kyi bdag gir mdzad nas / po ta lar rtag tu mchod par bgyis gal te chab srid kyi dga' spro chen po'i dgos don yod tshe zhus yig la tham ka 'di gnang zhing / de min dgos don chung ngu ba dang bskur yig rnams la sngar bzhin tham ka rnying pa phab dgos / da lam bla ma khyed la nged kyi bdag rkyen stsal pa dang du blang nas / nged kyi dgongs pa dang mthun par zhwa ser byi bstan pa dar ba dang 'gro ba thams cad bde skyid kyi dpal la 'god pa'i mdzad pa sogs / sku gong ma tâ la'i bla ma'i lugs srol bzhin / thugs bskyed rgya gang che dang smon 'dun bzang pos khyad 'phags kyi sgo nas / chab srid skyong ba dang 'gro ba kun la legs tshogs stsal te / ta'i ching chab srid kyi lo khri phrag gi bar du dus rtag par bde skyid kyi gsal snang rab tu rgyas par 'gyur bar gyis ched du phabs pa /
Source: Precious Deposits IV 59. An edict by regent No min han, on taxation. I had a bit of difficulty reading the small handwriting, and haven't double checked it.
skyabs mgon rgyal tshab no min han nas shing [illeg.illeg.] gshis kyi khral rigs sgrub chag skor la rtsal ba'i bka' shog dge /
nor 'dzin yangs pa'i rgyal khams kyi gzhir 'khod pa'i skye rgu spyi dang / bye brag po ta la zhol / gong dkar / chu shur / bzad bcas kyi rdzong gzhis gnyer las 'dzin / bkar yong / bsdud dang bskul bda' (?) ba'i rigs / yal chi 'grim 'grul / bya ba zhi drag la spyir btang dmigs gsal gyi sne mor mngags slebs rgan bcu mi dmangs sogs [illeg.] mchog dman bar par bcas pa mtha' dag la springs pa / mgron gnyer dam chos sprun nas 'dzin bul bzang bkras gshongs par gtogs pa'i sa zhing khang / mi gra yong 'bab / g.yog rigs bsdad sdong / chu skior / ri klung gi rtsa chu shing gsum sogs dag rigs bdag thob gang na ci yod tshang ma 'byid khra zur gsal don bzhin chu yos 'debs kha nas chos sde chen po dpal ldan 'bras spungs bde yangs gra tshang gi mchod thebs su rgyal mchog myang pa chen po nas spyan bsal gyi sbyor 'jags rtsal ba'i khral rig sgrub mtshams skor la bka' gtan zhus rtsal 'bru don du / sngar khungs nas g.yog dung chung las rkang 'dzin rigs med pa'i dpe khungs khag nas kyang thon rgyu med par brten / 'dzin rnying rim can du'ang gtsang gras lta bu'i bka' gtan btsan dmigs lug pa la zad / gra sa chen po'i mchod thebs 'gro yul gal che ba dang / lhag don g.yog rigs dud chung sngon yod kyang phal cher sdongs pa'i da lta ngo gzhis kyi dge bde tsam las med lug gshis / phyin chad sgrub chag kyang 'dra mnyam gzhan 'gran nad langs yong rigs med gshis bka' 'gyur dang / shing khral phyi sgrub / smon brngod / rgya rnga bso dod / lam thog 'khri sgrub rtsa tshig gi 'bru don gang yod sgrub rjes / de phyin dmag dang / rtwa 'dam shing sogs lnga gcod skyel 'dren / gar 'ul ar 'ul / spus mar / rdzong gzhis nang khral / rdzong gi bka' rgya 'thag 'dren / ri thag yog khral / rwa lug bya phag sgong sogs kyi khral / sngar nas sgrub myong med pa'i bogs sogs mdor na yig mig 'dir tshig gsal 'khod min la ma bltos pa'i phyi nang rkang 'gro lag 'don gyi khral rigs su gtogs so cog mtha' dag 'khri med gtsang gras kyi tham ga sbyin pa yin pas de don deb khungs su mchan bkod tham len dgos rigs kyang 'di thog nas byed pas mtshon rnam pa kun tu bsnyed gtser bzos mi bder 'gro rigs spu tsam med pa'i ji srid rgyal bstan rin po che nam gnas kyi bar bde bar gnas 'jug pa gyis zhes bkod pa'i bka' mchan du 'dzin rnying dus khral rigs gang ci 'khri med gtsang gras yin 'dug pa'i thog nas / bde yangs grwa tshang pa'i mchod gzhis su ji srid nam gnas bar sbyor 'jags byas par / da rgos khral rigs sgrub chag skor sgrub tshig gsal gong 'khod gang yin sgrub rjes / de phyin khral rigs tshang ma dmigs bsal gyi chag yangs byas pa yin pas / sus kyang bsnyad gtser bzos mi bder 'gro ba'i rigs byas chog rgyu min cing / deb khungs khag la mchan bkod dgos rigs kyang 'di thog nas yong ba gyis zhes phebs 'dug pa ltar 'di nas kyang zhabs 'degs rgyab bsnon gyi tham ga sbyin pa yin pas gong bzhin spang blang g.yo med yong ba gyis / shing spre zla 7 tshes 26 la / ['phags pa seal]
Source: Precious Deposits IV 60-5. "Twenty-nine Article Ordinace for the More Efficient Governing of Tibet," 1793 Qianlong edict. The first part of it concerns the 'golden urn' method of identifying reincarnations (sprul sku). This is too small and difficult, and hasn't been transcribed here.
Source: Precious Deposits IV 68-76. A gold album given to Dalai Lama XI by Qing Emperor Daoguang. It must date to 1841.
bka'i bsngags bcu gcig pa'i skabs su tâ la'i bla ma'i gser glegs kyis yi ge.
tshe ring gnam gyi she mong btsan pos sa steng yongs la kha lo bsgyur ba 2hwang ti'i bka' / tâ la'i bla ma la phabs pa / nged nas sa chen yongs kyi skye 'gro kun la byams brtse'i bskyed cing bde skyid kyi dpal la longs spyod phyir spang blang gi bslab bya rnams tshul bzhin bslab dgos dang bde skyid kyi rtsa ba sangs rgyas kyi bstan pa zhing sa kun tu rgyas phyir dril bsgrags zhing de ltar mdzad srol bzang po'i rjes su zhug te / 'gro ba kun gtan gyi bde ba dang ldan pa byung na sems zhing zhwqa ser gyi bstan pa'i lugs srol phyogs bcu kun tu spel nas rmongs zhen gyi rig mtha' dag rmongs pa las bzlogs te / yang dag pa'i sa la 'god 'khan byung phyin gzengs bstod bdag skyen gnang dgos pa dang bye brat da lta bla ma khyod ni spangs stogs kyi yon tan zab cing phra ba dang gzhon nus dus nas bstan pa'i gzhi la 'dzom pa dang dam tshig tshul bzhin du bsrung ba skye 'gro yongs kyi skyabs gnas su 'os pa sog / nged kyi dgongs pa dang mthun par yid chen yin / de'i phyir khyad par du tâ la'i bla ma sku gong ma rnams dang mthun par skyed la nub phyog mchog tu dge ba'i zhing gi rgyal dbang sa steng gi rgyal bstan yongs kyi bdag po thams cad mkhyen pa badzra dha ra tâ la'i bla ma zhes gser glegs gsar du bsgrubs te gnang yin / phyin chad yang bla ma khyed kyi zhwa ser gyi bstan pa shin tu rgyas par mdzad cing dge 'dun gyi sde 'bang dang bcas pa'i bslab khrims rnam par dag pa mdzad pa bzhin da dung yang thams cad kyi skyabs gnas su 'gro ba mdzad / slar 'phros 'os rgyun chad med pa dang bod kyi las don thams cad bka' blon rnams dang 'gros mthun gyi sgo nas khrim srol dang mthun par legs par thag cad thog / bod kyi an ban la rgyun re zhib tu sgron te brgyud nas zhu lags gzhan yang bod kyi skye 'gro thams cad bde bskyid kyis 'tsho zhing bsams don chos bzhin du 'grub pa'i dgongs bzhing dang mthun par 'jug / da lta gzengs bstod gser glegs gnang ba'i lugs ltar dngul gyi mandal gcig / gser bsku ba'i dngul gyi ldong mo gcig / gser bsku ba'i dngul gyi lag bzung can gyi bum pa gcig / dngul gyi mchod kong gcig / byi ru'i 'phreng ba gcig / tshad can 'chims grub gos rgyan gzhi gcig / dpyod ldan ser po bzhugs gdan rgyab yol cha tshang gcig / kha btags che chung lnga bcu / mdog lnga'i kha btags bcu thams pa / gos ser po dgu gos dmar po dgu / gos gzhi 'jam spu ris ma dgu / shel gyi snod bcu thams pa / dkar yol gyi snod bcu thams pa 'di rnams bla ma khyed kyi gus pas longs shig / rgyal srid skal pa khri 'bum gyi bar du mi nyams par shin du ngo mtshar ba'i gka' bsgyur bar mdzad / srid gsal khri bzhugs nyer gcig pa'i lca glang zla ba brgyad ba'i tshe bzang por /
Source: Precious Deposits IV 77-9. Edict by Emperor Guangxu in 1898, to the Rwa sgreng Hu thug thu V. (The part in the crease of the page is difficult to read)
hwang ti'i bka' / ra sgreng a chi thu thog thu'i sprul sku ngag dbang blo bzang ye shes bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan la go bar phab pa / gnal gyi gsol ras snyoms par rtsol ba dang / sde dgu'i rgyal khrims rjes su 'brang bsgrags pa / nyi ma'i lo zer gsal po 'phro bzhin gtsang gsum la sangs rgyas kyi 'od zer dangs shing khyab pa / sgom khang la ngo mtshar las bzang smin par byad pas / dbyigs bshad bslab bya de nas yar 'phel du gyur / rgyal ba bka' bzang po kun la gnang bzhin / lugs srol rgyud nas bstabs pa 'di la bsngags pa mngon par yang dag par sel ba nas / sprul sku ra sgreng a chi thu hu thog thu khyod mkhas 'rdol (??) snga ma nas yar 'phags shing / ngang tshul rig grol dang tshul khrims bsrung nas bod yul du dka' ba spyad pa ni rtags yod / tshang ma tshod can gyi chos 'don cing dgon pa gra sgar la gzhung srol bzang po lus pa ni nges par sangs rgyas bzhugs bzhin mthun pa la / bka' 'bab bsngags par 'os / ming grags mdangs rgyas shing slob ma dad gus bsti stang 'dug pas / da lta ra sgreng hu thog thur gyur bsgo yig / tham ka byin pa / khyod dge ba'i bya ba la 'bad pa dang / gzhung tshor bar brtson pa bcos / bsam gtan gyi tshul du gnas pa'i 'bar ba nyin byed ltar mngon par 'phags shing / sbyor ba drug bskor bar phyin pa / sangs rgyas dkon mchog gi rjes su dran nas / rtsa ba'i chos bzhi la nges par dpyod te ngo mtshar zhal ras la mthun zhing / rgyal blon rmams dam por skyong ba / sa bcur byams brtse bkra shis bsnyegs 'di ni thag ring ba mtha' dag go bar byed /
chab srid 'phel rgyas kyi lo nyer gsum pa zla ba bzhi pa'i tshes /
Source: Precious Deposits IV 97. Gold seal presented to Dalai Lama XIII by the people of Tibet when he returned from China to Lhasa in 1909. Has four languages, including Sanskrit, but no Chinese. A gold lion holding a jewel sits on top.
'phags pa'i yul nas sangs rgyas kyi bka' lung rgyal dbang 'jig rten gsum mgon dus kun sa steng gi kun khyab 7rgyal bstan yongs la mnga' dbang bsgyur ba thams cad mkhyen pa 'gyur med rdo rje 'chang rgya mtsho'i bla ma lha mi yongs kyi spyi bos mchod pa'i yid bzhin dbang gi rgyal po'i phyag rgya.
Source: Precious Deposits IV 114-5. Gold ink on black paper image of Buddha Kanakamuni, painted at order of Qianlong Emperor in 1777.
gser thub kyi tshigs bcad //
gzugs sku ma mthong sangs rgyas mthong //
bden mthong sangs rgyas gzhan du med //
mkhas pas sdig dngos med mthong na //
skye 'chir 'jigs med bag phebs 'gyur //
gnam skyong me bya lor bkas bsgrubs /
Source: Precious Deposits IV 188-9. A part from a biographical thangka of Tsong kha pa.
rngam ring du gras bskor mdzad /
sa skyar phebs dus phar phyin la gras bskor mdzad /
Source: A pair of cymbals used by Dalai Lama XIII in 1900 illus. in Precious Deposits IV 86-7. Only some parts of the inscriptions are legible:
rab byung bco lnga pa lcags byi lor pad dkar 'chang ba'i xxxx xxxx ngos nyer lnga'i skeg sel lho khul gnas rten khag xxxxx xxxxx xxxx bsam yas mi 'gyur lhun gyi 'grub pa'i gandho lar gnod sbyin dgyes rol lding khang du rten 'byung spel xxx bs[t]od skabs gnod sbyin chen po nas legs skyes su stsal ba gnod xxx xxxx xxx khyad 'phags ngo mtshar can gyi phyag sbug grong xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx s[r]id nor tshangs dbyangs //.
Source: Precious Deposits IV 228. Inscription on a medicine pot used by Dalai Lama V. Unfortunately, the inner line of script is not entirely visible in the photos, only the 2nd, outer one. In the inner line of script one may make out [first words of the inscription not clear] po'i gsung rgyud me lce 'bar ma'i dug 'joms ... The date is 1678.
kyis lag len byas nas rab byung bcu gcig pa'i sa pho rta'i lo hor zla lnga pa'i tshes bcu dgu la dbu btsugs te sbyar ba'i dge bas lus can mtha' dag bzhi brgya rtsa bzhi'i nad dang skyed byed nyon mongs pa'i sgrib pa las rnam par gral bar gyur cig /
Source: Precious Deposits V 40. From a mural in Bsam yas.
'od zer 'byung ba'i 'jig rten na sangs rgyas nges par song ba dang padma ko sha ti li zhes bya bas 'gro ba'i don mdzad pa /
gtsug tor bkod pa'i 'jig rten xx sangs rgyas gtsug tor snying po dang xx mkhan skyabs mgon gyis 'gro ba'i don mdzad pa /
de'i tshe bkra mi shes pa byung bas bu bcas dur khrod du bskyal bas mi rus sogs bzos pas lus stong xx
Source: Precious Deposits V 82. Inscription visible on two sides of the square base of a chorten.
bstan 'gro'i phan (?) du bskal brgyad 7zhabs brtan slad //
lho chong (lha tshong) rin chen thub bstan gyim skyes bus //
Source: Precious Deposits V 85. Inscription on a huge gilt copper piece (rgyal mtshan) found on the roof of the Jo khang. I believe that the Dar han Chin wang Rnam rgyal tshe ring mentioned here is Cin wang Dalai Ba'atur, the part Chinese, part Mongolian title of 'Gyur med rnam rgyal, younger son of Pho lha nas (SUM PA MKHAN PO, Annals, p. 95, note 252). 'Gyur med rnam rgyal only held power for three years (1747-1750). The Lcang skya mentioned here must be Rol pa'i rdo rje (1717-1786).
om swa sti //
rlabs chen bya dka'i tshogs gnyis yongs rdzogs shing //
bdud bzhi'i dpung tshogs mtha' dag gtan bcom te //
mi mjed zhing gi 'gro ba 'dren pa'i dpal //
rnam 'dren shâkyya mu nis rtag tu skyongs //
rgyal kun gshegs shul sher phyin 'dul mngon sogs //
gang la gtad dang dam bca'i khur bsnams pa //
mi pham 'jam dpal rgyan mchog rgya bod kyi //
thub dgongs gsal mdzad ma lus gtsug gis mchod //
thub bstan lung dang rtogs pa'i bdag nyid can //
bshad sgrub tshul bzhin 'dzin spel mthu ldan pa'i //
skyes po'i tshogs kyi bzhed dgu yongs 'grub te //
skyes dbu'i phan bde'i dga' ston spel phyir dang //
rgyal bstan byang nas byang du dar re zhes //
gang gi lung bstan me tog gtor ba'i yul //
phyag na padma'i 'dul zhing gangs ljongs kyi //
lha ldan sprul pa'i pho brang brgyan slad du //
rgyal mtshan che legs 'khor lo'i dwags bcas //
gsar du sgrub ched lcang skya ta ka shri //
ngos dang dgon mang mkhan sprul dang bcas te //
dar han chin wang rnam rgyal tshe ring la //
bskul ma zhus par gang de'i dad gtong gi //
rab dkar ku mud yar tshes ga pur 'dzin //
phan tshun 'gran pa bzhin du rab 'phel te //
rgyal mtshan zung dang 'khor lo ri dwags bcas //
legs bskrun lha ldan gtsug lag khang bzang rtser //
phul ba'i rnam dkar dge tshogs ji mchis pa //
sras bcas rgyal ba'i bzhed dgu dang grogs te //
rgyal bstan yun ring gnas pa'i rgyur gyur cig //
mkhyen dang brtse ba'i bdag nyid mchod yon gyi //
chab srid mnga' thang rdzogs ldan dus bzhin 'phel //
dbu thog btsan cing zhabs pad rtag brtan ngos //
'gro kun lugs gnyis khrims kyis legs skyong shog //
sa skyong mchog gi sku tshe mdzad 'phrin dang //
'khor 'bangs mnga' thang dpal 'byor longs spyod sogs //
thugs bzhed kun kyang dpag bsam shing bzhin du //
'bad rtsol med par lhun gyis grub par shog //
las 'dir 'grel thogs rnams kyang skye ba'i phreng //
dal 'byor xx xx xx (rim brgyud) theg mchog bshes kyis bzung //
rdzu 'phrul ji bzhin xx lam myur bgrod de //
sku gsum thar pa'i go 'phang mchog thug shod //
Comments on the same by Vladimir Uspensky:
Dear Dan,
I have read, not very carefully, however, the text of the inscription. Here are some considerations.
1. It dates back from the very end of the 19th century. I have no exact dates for qoshoi darqan cin vang Namjilsereng, but a Mongolian reference book says that his grandfather received the title from the emperor in 1838. This princely family belonged to Qorcin (Khorchin) Mongols of Inner Mongolia and were very closely related to the Manchu imperial family.
2. I think that the dgon mang mkhan sprul should be, in fact, sGo-mang mkhan sprul, Gomang Qutugtu in Mongolian. As far as I know, these qutugtus had their permanent residence in Kuke Khota (has variety of transcriptions, the modern official one is Hohhot; in Tibetan mKhar-sngon), the modern administrative centre of Inner Mongolia.
3. Which lCang-skya is meant is not clear though their complete list is available.
Yours,
Vladimir
Source: Precious Deposits V 103. Inscriptions on coins.
Chan lung. gtsang pa'u.
Rda'o kwong. gtsang pa'u.
long shong bod kyi rin khor. skar che.
Source: Precious Deposits V 202-3. A brass seal granted to the Panchen Lama Chos kyi nyi ma in 1937.
rgyal khag skyong ba'i dge rgan chen po rgyal bstan yongs kyi bdag po thams cad mkhyen pa pan chen er te ni'i tham ka /
Source: Precious Deposits V 204-5. A jade album awarded posthumously to the Dalai Lama XIII.
krung ha ming sgo'i khri lo 23 pa'i zla tshes la //
sa gsum gangs ri'i 7rgyal bstan 'dzin skyong chos kyi seng ge'i ngar sgra'i chu rgyun bya rgod ri dang rgyud gcig tu 7rgyal bstan rgya cher spel zhing / krung hÙ la thugs brtse che ba tâ la'i bla ma dgongs pa chos dbyings su thim par mtshan mchog gsol te bsngags 'os 7rgyal khab skyong zhing kun phan bde bster snying rje rgya chen thams cad mkhyen pa 'gro mgon chen po'i mtshan gsol lo // e ma dam pa'i ngo bo'i snyan pa yar zlar 'gran cing / g.yi'i khâ kra'u'i gtsug lag khang du 'jigs med par 7sku 'phreng chad med o no da yi ri bo bzhin du lhun brjid g.yo ba med par rtag tu brtan slad rgyal khab chen pos mtshan dang bstod pa bka' yi phul ba bzhes su gsol // //
Source: Precious Deposits V 204-5. The jade seal that goes with the jade album just mentioned.
7rgyal khab skyong zhing snying rje rgya chen kun la phan bster thams cad mkhyen pa 'gro mgon chen po tâ la'i bla ma'i dam ka /
Source: Precious Deposits V 213. Seal of Rwa sgreng Rin po che, given by the Republic of China.
rgyal khab rogs byed 'gro ba kun 'dul bsam gtan gyi slob dpon rwa sgreng hu thog thu'i tham ga /
Source: Precious Deposits V 218. Seal of the Tibetan office in Chongqing.
bod tâ la'i drung cin don gcod las khungs kyi tham kha /
Source: Precious Deposits V 219. Seal of the Panchen's office in Chongqing.
pan chen er ti ni chen po'i drung phyin don gcod las khungs kyi tham ga /
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Yannick Laurent, Qianlong's Birthday Gift to the Eighth Dalai Lama: Epigraphic & Literary Materials. PDF. The object, sold by Sotheby's in 1999, is dated to ca. 1783. The same (?) inscription as found on jade plates was published also in Precious Deposits (see above).
ching ka’o cung gis gong sa sku phreng brgyad bar bstsal ba’i g.yang Ti’i ’ja’ sa /
[Lid] tshe ring gnam gyi she mong btsan pos sa steng y[o]ngs la mnga’ rgyur ba hung tis bka’/ chab srid brgya lha[g] gi bar phy[i] nang thams cad ’d[e] skyi(d d)ang skye ’[g]ro ma lus pa la khrims kyis kha lo [sgyu]r nas rje btsun tsong kha pa chen p[o]’i zh[w]a ser gy[i] bstan ba rin po che che cher dad pa dang chos lugs shin tu ’phel zhing rgyas ra [b]kur/ tā la’i bla ma khyed ni rgyal ba tsong kha pa’i thugs sras kyi gtso bo yin zhing dge ’dun g[ru]b kyi skye rabs brgyad pa’i sprul sku yin/ ye shes dang yon tan ma lus ba sku tshe du ma’i snga rol nas yongs su rdzogs zhing/ lhag ba’i pa rnam bar ba du (br)tan zhing/ mtha’ db[u]s kyi skye ’g[r]o thams cad gyi mgon skyab du m[dz]ad/ [sng]on yang mes rgyal p[o] A baraja sag che’i skabs su/ rgyal dbang lnga pa tA la’i bla ma/ rgyal khab chen po pha zad du/ [g]ong ma ngang ’ja [Box] l nas bdag rkyen chen po stsal pa nas bzung/ da bar skye rabs bzhi’i bar du/ chab srid kyi gsol ras ma lus ba thob nas sems rtse ga par/ byams brtse’i chen pos rjes su ’brang nas (zhwa se[r]) zhwa ser kyi bstan pa rgya cher dar ba byas/ tā la’i bla ma khyed ni zhwa ser gyi bstan pa’i bdag po bla ch[e]n bo yin cing/ sku tshe mang por/ sa steng gi skye ’gro mtha’ dag mngon mtho dang nges legs la ’god pa sogs ngo mtshar ba’i rten ’brel legs par ’grigs par mdzad pa nas nges par chab srid kyi bsod nams chen bo dang dga’[s]ton gyi ’phrin las yin no/ bla ma khyed kyi yon tan yongs su rdzogs zhing/ sangs rgyas [b]rgya bstan pa rin po che mchog dus kun tu da[r] zhing rgyas par [mdz]ad pa la/ nged shin tu spro ba ’phel nas da lam/ khyad du ’phags bdag rkyen/ g.yang Ti’i ‘dza’ [’]ja’sa dang [ph]yag rgya gnang yod/ bla ma khyed kyi[s] bdag gi gir mdzad nas/ po ta lar rtag tu mchod par bgyis gal te chab srid kyi dga’ sprod chen po’i dgos don yod tshe zhu yig la tham ka ’di gnang zhing/ de min dgos don chung [du] ba dang bskur yig rnams la sngar bzhin tham ka rnyi[ng] rkyen stsal pa dang du blang nas/ ded kyi dgongs pa dang mthun sa/ zh[w]a s[e]r gyi bstan pa dar ba dang ’gro ba thams cad bde skyid kyi dpal la ’god pa’i mdzad pa sogs/ sku gong ma tā la’i bla ma’i lugs srol bzhin/ [th]ugs bskyed rgya gang che da[ng] sm[o]n ’dun bzang pos rtsad ta’i chir chab kyi lo khri phrag gi bar du dus rtag par b[d]e skyid kyi gsal snang rab tu rgyas par ’gyur gyis ched du ’[b]abs pa [/]
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Source: DHUNGEL, RAMESH KUMAR
Nepal-Tibet Cultural Relations and the Zhwa-dmar-pa (Shyamarpa) Lamas of Tibet. Contributions to Nepalese Studies 26 no 2 (Jul 1999) 183-210, at p. 205: Zhwa dmar Karma pa X's inscription cast on a bronze bell from Swayambhu in 1791 (the bell is still hanging there, I believe):
rgyal ba'i chos sku'i rten mchog rin po cher //
dbyangs snyan dril bu rmad 'byung 'di phul dges //
bdag dang bdag la 'brel bcas sems can rnams //
gnas skabs mi mthun rgud pa zhi ba dang //
tshe ring nad med chos nor yongs 'phel zhing //
sgo gsum dam pa'i chos la bzhol ba la //
nag phyogs rnams kyis brdzi bar mi nus cing //
snying po don mchog gnas lugs legs rtogs nas //
sku bzhi rgyal thab dam pa thab pa dang //
de ma thob kyi bar du gar gnas kyang //
byang chub sems dang nam yang mi 'bral zhing //
zhi ba chos kyi sgra dbyangs rtag thos shog //
ces pa'ang zhwa dmar bcu pa chos grub rgya mtshos smon tshig tu bris pa ltar 'grub par shog // dza yantu /
dril bu 'dis sgyur li rdar ni brgya dang bdun bcu'i rin dang / bzo gla bcas sdom .tam stong phrag gcig dang gsum brgya drug bcu song //
— — — — — — — — —
Srong btsan sgam po's beer jug:
(Chang snod) RTA MGO CAN Also called Dngul dam Rta mgo can (or, if you are searching a database, try Dngul dam Rta mgo ma). A silver wine jar kept in the Jokhang believed to have belonged to Srong btsan sgam po. It has an inscription on its neck which is partly effaced, "rab byung bcu drug pa me khyi lo 'di ni gter ma byin can la brten bkxxxx [illeg.]. It has a camel, not a horse, head on top. Two of the 3 figures decorating the sides have the sun&moon symbol on their heads, and it otherwise looks quite foreign and Persian (the scenes are supposed to be Dionysian). It is illustrated in van Schroeder's book, vol. 2, p. 792, etc. Amy Heller has published about this in Asian Art (online article), in which she transcribes it as "rab 'byung bcu drug pa me khyi lor' .... di nyid gter ma byin can la brten bkal.... Amy believes the ewer is of Tibetan manufacture.
Source: Amy Heller, The Silver Jug of the Lhasa Jokhang: Some Observations on Silver Objects & Costumes from the Tibetan Empire (7th-9th Century). Asian Art (online article). Inscription contained on an old silver vessel from the Cleveland Museum (as studied article by Martha Carter): phan shing gong skyes kyi sug byang. Amy translates this as: "valuable possession of a noble-born person." (see discussion of this in Melikian-Chirvani in Akasoy, Islam & Tibet, p. 102; Henss, Cultural Monuments, p. 322; cf. Bellezza's comments in http://www.tibetarchaeology.com/june-december-2018/). Note that the inscription uses the double-tsheg punctuation (that may be regarded as the original form of the syllable divider).
Actually, it's almost possible to read the inscription on the silver jug in question in a photo on the internet. It starts with the syllables rab byung. Line 2 starts: 'di nyid gter.
Here is what Amy says about the inscription in her article: "The jar bears a partially effaced inscription in Tibetan letters carved on low relief on the neck of the animal, stating “In the year 1946 on this very blessed religious treasure … was put on” : rab byung bcu drug pa me khyi lor….'di nyid gter ma byin can la brten bkal….(see Fig. 17, below) I interpret this inscription to mean that the jar was recovered, possibly re-gilded, in 1946; Richardson thought the original jar was recovered with an exact replica at this time, while von Shroeder considered the jar was “re-discovered” in 1946."
Source: Melikian-Chirvani in Akasoy, Islam & Tibet, p. 99. A wine cup made of gold with a ring handle came to light in Paris in Sept 2008. It is dated as probably 7th-8th century. Amy Heller read the Tibetan inscription as follows:
'o rgyad 'phan lod.
Note that one 'O brgyad does occur in the story of Dgongs pa Rab gsal.
Source: That huge Kodansha 3-volume set on Dunhuang paintings by Roderick Whitfield. Quotes Heather Stoddard's translation of the Tibetan inscription (there is a Chinese as well) on a scroll painting of Bhaisajyaguru et al. dated 836. Heather gave this translation in her Sino-Tibetan Art book:
In the year of the dragon, I Dpal dbyangs, painted in a group the images of Bhaisajyaguru; Samantabhadra; Mañjusrîkumâra; a thousand-armed, thousand-eyed Avalokitesvara, Cintâmanicakra; Parinatacakra etc. for the benefit of my health and to transfer the merit (?).
Source: British Museum website, Museum number 1919,0101,0.169:
'phags pa nyan thos chen po' dus ldan // 'khor stong chig brgya | ko bzhi [~go bzhi] | do khong legs kyis bris//
"DO KHONG LEGS — N. of the artist, inscribed on the front of a Dunhuang painting. See Whitfield & Farrer, Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, plate 54. The "Do" must be a family name here."
Museum no. 1919,0101,0.168.
I disagree with the transcription of the inscription on plate 53, which names the painter as a woman The god za Leg mo. My transcription is uncertain at the beginning, but much surer for the rest:
da stag ma (steng ma?) phyogs kyi mgon po steng gi lha tshogs thams chad | kha so brgyad | the god za leg mos bris.
The museum site has this:
· Inscription Transliteration
[Sta]-bla-ma-phyogs-kyi-mgon-po-steng-gi-ham-(hum)-tshigs-thams-cad Kha-so-brgyad The-god-za-leg-mos-bris
· Inscription Translation
The Holy Lord of the Directions [sho is accompanied by] all the Hum mantras in the space above Kha-38 Painted (?) by Leg-mo, the noble lady (?) of The-god
· Inscription Comment
The noble lady ("mo" indicates female) was likely to have been the donor who commissioned it, rather than the actual painter.
- - -
Source: Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet, Visual Dharma Publications (Hong Kong 2001).
VOLUME ONE:
34 (pl. 2B) is a Padmapâni with Sanskrit inscription identifying the donor as Shâkyabhiksu VidyâshrÎ. On the front lotus petals we may see the Tibetan inscription nâ ga ra zâ (i.e., Nâ ga râ dza). It truly looks like 'Swat' style, and he places it in ca. 8th cent. The brass images (some 15 of them) bearing the name of Nâgarâja are listed and discussed on p. 84 ff.
Note: RIG MA MGON =Dpal mgon, q.v. King of Gu ge. 28 56.
DPAL GYI LDE RIG PA MGON =Dpal mgon, king of Gu ge (q.v.). 28 52.
DPAL GYI MGON 1st Tibetan king of Ladakh. DTK5 185.
A brass image of Maitreya inscribed Lha na ga ra dza, from a private collection, is illustrated in Pal, Himalayas, an Aesthetic Adventure, p. 140.
For an Avalokitesvara bronze, Museum of Indian Art, Berlin, Prestel (München 2000), p. 46. It is inscribed: Lha btsun pa Nâ ga ra dza'i thugs dam.
71 Photo of Kha tse Jo bo, which is found today in the Go khar lha khang in Kha tse, W. Tibet. The bio. of Rin chen bzang po records that he commissioned it from the artist Bhi dha ka (or, 'Bi ta ka) and offered it to the monastery in 999.
98 Shâkyamuni image, the donor of which was the Shâkyabhiksu Sarvajñâpriya (Kun mkhyen sdug pa?? Thams cad mkhyen pa dga' ba??). This is dated 7th cent. Kashmir.
114 Buddha with crown, situated between two stûpas. The Donor was Shâkya bhiksu Dharmendra'sre.s.tin (Chos kyi dbang po; Sre.s.tin could be phul [byung] or gtso bo or tshong dpon).
126 Standing Shâkyamuni with both Tibetan & Sâradâ inscriptions. lha btsun ba na ga ra dza'i thugs dam /. The Shâradâ inscription says it was cast during the reign of Durlabhavardhana (well, the inscription itself only says ShrÎ Durlabha) who ruled Kashmir 600-636. In Tibetan, Durlabha should be either dkon pa, or, rnyed par dka' ba, while vardhana ought to be 'phel. {Tibet. Klöster öffnen ihre Schatzkammern, Kulturstiftung Ruhr Essen (Villa Hügel 2006), pp. 164-167. An 18-year-old monk named Priyaruci is also mentioned in the inscription.}
138 A 5-Buddha set, all five sharing the same base: rigs lnga'i sangs rgyas / rnal 'byor dge slong lha'i byang chub kyi mchod gnas /. There is an unusual tseg mark so actual reading is lha 'i byang chub, which could of course also be Lha yi byang chub. Schroeder (2001), no. 33. This image depicted, with possibility of reading the inscription, in Pratapaditya Pal's article "Revisiting a Kashmiri-Style Buddhist Image of Vajrasattva with Consort" (placed on internet at asianart.com in 2016), where there is a misreading Cha'i Byang chub. Lha'i byang chub (etc.) comes up with nothing, altho' I suggest that it is king (Lha) with Byang chub name, in which case it probably means Byang chub 'od. And this could mean the later Lha 'Gro ba'i mgon po, whose ordination name was Byang chub 'od. Notice that the "rnal 'byor dge slong" combination is quite rare (and therefore of interest).
266 Sâkyamuni 'fashioned' by Jinacandra (Rgyal ba zla ba?).
272 Yi ge drug ma image, gift of Vasantâkâ (Dpyid mo?).
328 Mahâbodhi temple restored by Burmese in about 1098 (& again in 1295-98), when they changed the 2nd-floor entrance chapel from square-roof to arched-roof shape.
378 Stone Tîksha-Mañjusrî (Pâla style, 11th/12th) on piece of paper glued beneath: glu pyen gyi 'jam dpal ye shes la na mo. [Could this be Klu sbyin, or Klus sbyin, or Klu byin?] For 'Jam dpal ye shes, see Shastri in TS9 I 141.
382 (pl. 122D) Has a monk central figure who must be 4th in the Tibetan segment of a transmission of Mahâkâla (stone stele, miniature).
429 (pl. 135F) wood carved Vajrapurusa (seated in cave with 1/2 vajra on top of head) Dated to 7th cent. Jo khang.
428 (pl. 135E) Vajrapâni.
474-5 (pl. 148C) circa 9th cent. Newari image of Vajrapâni (with the vajra in right hand replaced by Vajrapurusa in left hand). Still more Vajrapurusas on pp. 476-7.
kha tse = Khwa tse, a mon. located about 32 km. w. of Tho ling, near Indian border.
559 Unpublished bio. of Chos dbyings rdo rje found at fols. 161-190 of the xylograph of Si tu & 'Be Lo History (for unknown reasons replaced by a briefer version in the 1972 publication).
VOLUME TWO:
678 Tucci, A Tibetan Classification of Images, is based on an anonymous text with the title 'Jig rten lugs kyi bstan bcos dpyad don gsal ba'i sgron me. This & some similar texts mention a Padma mkhar pa (not Padma dkar po).
752 Rje btsun chos dbyings rdo rje'i phyag bzo byin rlabs can //
Chap. XII — The Zhang Zhung Kingdom of Western Tibet (vol. 2, pp. 771-791).
792 chang snod rta mgo can, aka Dngul dam rta mgo can, a silver winejar kept in Jo khang believed to have belonged to Srong btsan sgam po, with inscription:
rab byung bcu drug pa me khyi lo 'di ni gter ma byin can la brten bkXXX [illeg.]
It has a camel, not a horse, head. One figure has the Sassanian sun-and-moon on his head.
810 mar pa lo tsâ'i sku brnyan 'di rje btsun chos dbyings rdo rje phyag bris thugs sras kun tu bzang po la gnang ba byin brlabs can // Note: See HAR no. 33257.
899 (Samvara image) dpal sa skya pa'i gong ma na rims kyi phyag nas ma yin // I would translate this: This is [an image with] the consecration barley [or consecrated by the barley] of the generations of past masters of the glorious Sakyapa.
906-7 'brom ston rgyal ba'i 'byung gnas la na mo //
946 nâ ro [pa] bcu tshar lta bur chos sder bzhengs // Translated by Heather Stoddard as: "Ten similar images of Nâropa, made in the lTa-bur Dharma Centre." Although conceivable, I strongly doubt that the "lta bur" is the name of a chos sde.
960 (crowned seated Maitreya, dated circa 14th cent.) dbang ldan bla ma khyab bdag rdo rje sems dpa' ye shes kyi rgya mtsho ba'i zhal snga nas bde bar gshegs pa'i nang rten du / rje btsun byams pa'i gser sku 'di ni / dpal go bi tsendra'i gtsug lag khang chen po nas gang de'i zhal slob rnams kyi [tha?] chungs / sha kya'i dge slong dbu ma rdo rje'i slob dpon kun dga' zhes pas bla brang shar du phul ba'i dge bas sems can thams cad rdo rje'i 'chang chen po'i go 'phang thob par gyur cig //
964 Kalacakra image: pha mas gtso byed sems can thams cad kyi don / don grub sgrub shes [rab?] seng [ge?] dad pa'i dus / dus 'khor bzhengs la 'bad dang brtson 'grus skyed / skyes sgrubs dbyor legs pa'i bzo gnas 'di / 'di bzhengs yon mchod sangs rgyas myur thob shog //
1008 Gdan sa mthil was the first great Bka' brgyud mon., f. in 1158 by Phag mo gru pa, but at first there were only grass huts there.
1036 Image of 'Jig rten mgon po, with garuda, makara and leogryph. Image of Zhwa dmar I Grags pa seng ge: chos kyi zhwa dmar cod pan 'dzin // pa thog ma dpal grags pa se 'ge la na mo //
1072 Plate 276B must be Grub pa'i rgyal mo.
1072 image of 'Brog mi: dam chos rin chen mdzod 'dzin pas // 'dul bya'i re ba mdzogs mdzad cing // skad gnyis smra ba'i thugs rje can // shâkya ye shes la phyag 'tshal // sku 'di bde gshegs dgongs rdzogs la // bkras lung pa yis sbyin bdag byas // sgrub byed gza'o [~bzo bo?] 'brong rtse ba // nam mkha'i ming can bdag gi bgyis // (note similar names & wording in a following inscription, on p. 1074)
1072 image of Thang stong rgyal po.
1074 (an image of Avadhûtipa) zab mo'i lam la rab brtson pas // dngos grub brnyes nas byis pa yi // tshul gyi gnyis med sbyor ba mdzad // a wa dhû ti la phyag 'tshal / bde gshegs dgongs pa rdzogs don du // sku 'di bkra shis sgang pas bzhengs / rig byed mkhas pa 'brong rtse ba / lhas gyin [lhas sbyin?] zhes pas bsgrubs pa dge //
1080 Image of Shel grong Pan chen Blo gros chos kyi khyu mchog, founder of Gdung phud chos 'khor in 15th cent. Image of Mkhas grub rje.
1080 Image of Atisa from Rwa sgreng: rgyal dbang a ti sha yi sku brnyan 'di // sha kya'i btsun pa ngag dbang grags pa yis // ma yum bsod nams bzang mo'i don du bzhengs / mkha' mnyam sems can sangs rgyas thob gyur cig // [Note that a Mi la ras pa image was dedicated to a mother of the same name.]
1081 [plate 280E] / rgyal ba thams cad mkhyen pa blo bzang rgya mtsho'i sku brnyan pan chen thams cad mkhyen pa'i phyag nas ma la na mo // [Heather S. translates with "consecrated with grain from the hand of..." which is perfectly OK]
1081 image of Smin gling 'Gyur med rdo rje made in 1713: rig 'dzin bla ma 'khor lo'i mgon // 'gyur med rdo rje dgung gi grangs // re bdun bzhes pa'i snang brnyan gang // dngos kyis rab gnas byin brlabs pa'o // (illustrated, with the inscription, in Orientations 33 no 10 (Dec 2002) 52). It was consecrated by himself in his 67th year.
1082 Image of Klu sdings abbot of Ngor from 1746 to 1751: rin chen mi 'gyur rgyal mtshan la na mo.
1082 Image of Grwa pa Mngon shes.
1114 Inscription on an "unidentified fearsome Bon deity": pon 'gon he he //.
1134 An 11th-12th cent. standing Buddha inscribed on the backs of both legs: kho bo sa mar lha bzo la // rig po bzo'i ya gang gcig babs //. Note: SA DMAR BA 90.
1145 (pl. 299C) An image of Byams ma (this is clear!).
1144 Image of Prajñâpâramitâ: kye rigs kyi bu dag / rngo grub long cig 'gro drug gi sems can //.
1192 "15th cent." monk image: dri med chos kyi spyan ldan 'tha' dkar ba la na mo //.
1192 Image of Virûpa: mthu stobs kyi dbang phyug dpal 'bir wa pa thun mong ma yin pa la na mo //.
1194 Unidentified Bka' brgyud master found in 'Bri gung: Om sva dhi / dran mchog dbang gi rgyal po'i sku 'dra 'di sangs rgyas bstan pa yun ring gnas phyir dang khu'o dngos grub drin lan bsab phyir du rab 'jam chos skyong lhun grub bdag gi bzhengs dge bas pha ma [g]tso byas sems can rnams / bde ba can gyi zhing du skyi [skye] bar shog e wam / mangga lam //.
Note: Dge slong CHOS SKYONG LHUN GRUB Artist responsible for thangka in Rhie & Thurman, Worlds of Transformation plate 88.
Note: This same inscription and same image illus. in Precious Deposits III 200.
1200 A Milarepa image from ca. 16th cent.: gangs can rgyud du sku 'khrungs kyang // 'jig rten skyon gyis ma gos zhing // nâ ro rgyud skyis byin brlabs pa / dka' ba spyad pa'i ngo mtshar can / rje mi la zhes byar grags pa yi / pha ras pa de la phyab 'tshal lo //.
1204 Inscription on Green Târâ, ca. 15th cent.: "Here in 'Jad kyi Gro ga," Rnam sras bzang po commissioned it from artist Lha tse Chos skyong dpal.
1209 Image of Kûrmapâda (Rus sbal zhabs): dam pa de nyid don rtogs ste / btse bas rus sbal zhabs ldan pas / sems can smin par mdzad pa la / rtag tu phyag 'tshal gsol ba 'debs //. Note: This is a Ngor Samvara lineage set, each of which is inscribed, but these are not transcribed here.
1211 Lam 'bras lineage brass image of Saraha from Ngor E wam. Inscription only partly legible in Orientations 33 no 10 (Dec 2002) 62: ...rdzogs sangs rgyas la mngon sum du // khyod kyi chos rnams thugs chud...
1218 Image of Zhwa dmar VI Chos kyi dbang phyug (silver alloy): zhwa dmar cod pan 'dzin pa drug pa'i tshes bzhugs pa'i sku brnyan phyag nas thug pa byin brlabs can karma 'jigs med kyi dad pa'i brten du sprul sku karma rig byed kyis bzhengs pa / mangga lam //.
Note: (Mkhan rabs XII) (Chos rgyal Pho brang pa) KARMA 'JIGS MED Abbot of Yangs pa can. Bio. in 35 I 628-629. Author of bio. of Dbang phyug rdo rje listed in BLP no. 1542.
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Source: Anna Maria Rossi & Fabio Rossi, Beyond Lhasa: Sculpture and Painting from East & West Tibet (London 2002). Exhibition catalogue.
pl. 20 (a red Târâ, resembling paintings by Si tu Chos kyi 'byung gnas): dbang gi lha mo'i mthu byin gyis / srid pa gsum dang brtan g.yo'i bcud / 'dod rgu dbang du 'du ba dang / phrin las zhi ba'i lhun grub shog /.
pl. 24 (a portrait of a flowered white-robed hermit figure in a mt. cave surrounded by Dge lugs pa, Bka' brgyud pa and Rnying ma pa figures, with the patron offering a mandal) [according to my reading, the making of this painting has very much to do with Bsod rgyal, the 'court terton' of the 13th Dalai Lama].
The central figure is labelled:
sgom chen u pa rin chen kun dga' rten 'brel rab 'byor la na mo.
The handprint on the back is labelled and dated at 1896:
skyabs rje 'bri gung pa dkon mchog bstan 'dzin chos kyi blo gros 'phrin las rnam rgyal dpal bzang po'i phyag par 'khr[u]l med byin can me spre zla tshes la stsal //.
Another inscription on the back (composed by Gter ston Bsod rgyal, it enumerates the figures depicted in the painting):
om svasti / rgya gar grub pa'i spyi mes tai na dang / gangs can rgyud sde'i mthar son mar m bcas / bod yul bstan pa'i mnga' bdag skyabs mgon mchog / thub bstan rgya mtsho'i zhabs dang yongs 'dzin zung / snyigs dus bya btang khyad 'phags u pa la / snga 'gyur gsal byed rdzogs chen padma'i mtshan / gcod yul lhur bzhes dge slong dam chos dang / bod ljongs bde rimsgub [rim sgrub] po chos skyong gling / 'di dag rnams kyi sku brnyan bzhengs 'bad mthus / gnas skabs chos mthun 'byor pa rgyas pa dang / mthar thug gegs med rdzogs sangs myur rgyas sogs / bkra shis thun mong dang ni thun mong gis / snang bas sbyin bdag 'brel thog gtsor byas pa'i / yid dang lus can kun la khyab gyur cig / ces pa 'di ltar bzhengs pa po snye mo yon bdag tshe ring don grub kyis 'dod don bskyong phyir / snyigs dus gter gzugs pa o rgyan chos skyong gling pas smras pa don 'dan du gyur cig / sarba mangga lam //.
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Source: The Rossi (London) catalogue for 2001, Anna Maria Rossi & Fabio Rossi, Tibetan Thangkas: Buddhist Paintings from the 11th to the 18th Century, published by the authors (London 2001): rig 'dzin XX dbang phyug padma bXX'i rdo rje m[kha'] 'gro'i dga' ba'i Xtsho 'phrin las dbang po'i sde la na mo // This is written in tiny letters on the halo behind the figure located above a large central figure of a red mkha' 'gro ma displaying the sun and moon in her two palms (presently in the possession of XX, London). I feel quite sure that this is all one very long name (except for the "la na mo" at the end). At the moment, I think the essential part of the name is to be reconstructed as Bde ba'i rdo rje, in which case it must be the gter ston by that name whose cycle Rdo rje phag mo'i zab khrid dbang phur thugs thig skor has been published in India a few times, apparently popular in Solu Khumbu where woodblocks were kept for it. His dates are 1899-1952(?), and he may also be the Rig 'dzin Bde ba'i rdo rje who composed the biography of Shug gseb Rje btsun ma.
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Another thangka in the same publication, showing Maitreya: This has inscriptions all around the outer border, but only one of them is provided in a footnote (and it requires a bit of 'rereading'): rje btsun byams pa la phyogs bcu'i sangs rgyas rnams kyis rgyal tshab du dbang skur ba'i tshal ni dang po ras dgu ba man chad [dang po nas dgu pa man chad? dang por sa dgu pa man chad?] byang sems grangs mang pa'i 'khor gyi dbus su rang nyid rin po che'i bar ma la sku lhun po lhar 'phags bar bzhugs pa'o //.
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Source: Brown in TJ 27 no 1/2 (2002) 95 note 86: dpal karma pa rang byung rgyal ba chen po'i zhabs rjes yin pa 'dra. This is on the back of a thangka depicting Rang byung rdo rje and his footprints.
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Source: Gendun Chomphel (Dge 'dun chos 'phel gyi Gsung rtsom, PRC ed., vol. 1, p. 8), describes Rgyal lha khang (f. in 1012, by Sna nam, who was considered an incarnation of Maitreya!), which he visited with Rahula S., and mentions books in old orthography and an Indian-style stone Maitreya, human sized. On the rgyab yol, they found the following inscription:
mchod gnas dam pa byams pa'i sku gzugs 'di //
yon bdag dam pa gtsang rdo dkon brtsegs kyis //
gnas kyi dam par rgyal mtshan btsugs pa 'dir //
'bras bu dam pa byang chub mchog thob shog //
om me ha ra na hûm /.
Couldn't identify the donor, but it sure looks like Mdo dkon brtsegs, the Ratnakûta Sûtra! Gtsang rdo may be Gtsang mdo.
Same work, p. 10, gives a reading of the Rdo ring inscription at Rgyal lha khang (this should be compared to Richardson's reading):
dge ba la blo gcig legs pa la gros mthun pa ni nyung na 'o na yang
dkon mchog gsum la skyabs su 'gro ba'i myi
rnams kyis ni / lhar sangs rgyas bzung / gros
phugs chos la gtod / gcor lta ba sbyang / chig
spyod rnal du dbab / 'tsho ba gtsang mar bsgrub
byed dgu chos dang sbyar / spyi gros gcig tu
bzlum / sgo gnyer so sor blang / ngan gros dgag tu
dbyung / bden gtam dang du blang / 'dir bcu
byas na / tshe 'di dang phyi ma gnyis gar bde bar
'gyur bas / tshig bcu po 'di
[missing line]
gong gsal gyi rtags rnams rdo ring gi zhed tshad yi ge yin
[more illegible lines]
The author believes the rdo ring might have been erected by Bkra shis brtsegs or his son 'Od lde.
There was another rdo ring in the vicinity, but no one could be found to unlock the walled space where it was.
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Source: "Leh Rock Carving" on internet. Inscription on old stone Maitreya image:
http://www.tibetheritagefund.org/pages/projects/ladakh/leh-rock-carving.php
1 'phags [pa] byaMs [pa]
'phags pa byams pa
2 su 'di zhal [...] jom[s]
su 'di zhal joms
3 te nam zhi'i bar du rje
te nam zhi'i bar du rje
4 [kyi]s mchod cIng [rte]n
kyis mchod cing rten
5 pa'i bsod naMs kyis
pa'i bsod nams kyis
6 rje gol dang/ sems c[an]
rje gril dang / sems can
7 sg(r)ob pa byangs sde kyis?
sgrob pa byangs sde kyis
8 rgya 'di zan? lung za? stsal
rgya 'di zan lung za stsal
9 gru
gru
Source: p. 429 of Andre Alexander & Sam van Schaik, The Stone Maitreya of Leh: The Rediscovery & Recovery of an Early Tibetan Monument. JRAS series 3, vol. 21, no. 4 (2011), pp. 421-439.
'phags pa byaMs [pa] . . .
su 'di zhar la na dzom . . .
te nam zhi'i bar du rje . . .
kyis mchod cIng rky[e]n . . .
pa'i bsod naMs kyis . . .
rje gol dang/ sems c[an] . . .
sgrib pa byangs kyIs . . .
chab sri[d] chen lung +du stsa[l] . . .
gru[b] . . .
. . . byon dang . . .
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Source: Baumer, Tibet's Ancient Religion Bon 110 (a not very old looking wall painting from the 2nd floor of the Jokhang showing the building of the temple): khri btsun gyi g.yog mos 'phrin gong 'og 'dzom pas / mtsho bsrubs kyang bsrubs ma nyan / rgya bzas ngan pa bslab par go nas rgyal po la zhus / rgyal pos nga la dri sa yod gsungs te / yid dam la gsol ba btab pas / thugs ka nas 'od zer 'phros te mtsho nang du thim par mtsho bsrubs pa'i steng du lha khang bzhengs dgos pa dgongs nas / de'i sang rgyal po dang btsun mo gnyis mtsho 'gram ne'u thang la skyo bsangs la byon / rgyal pos khri btsun la khyed rang gi sor gdub nam mkhas la gtor cig / de gang du babs pa'i thang la lha khang brtsigs pa yin no gsungs pas / smon lam btab te sor gdub nam mkha' la 'phangs pas / 'od zer gyi gong bur 'dris nas mtsho nang la skung bar gyur pa /.
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Source: Pal, HAA — Pratapaditya Pal, Himalayas: An Aesthetic Adventure, Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago 2003).
A Kashmiri or Gilgit bronze from circa 700-725 CE, with a [later!] added inscription Mnga' bdag chen po Rtse lde is illus. in Pal, HAA 287.
p. 104 Labelled images in cover of Prajñâpâramitâ ms.: rang 'byung kun mkhyen, mar me mdzad, rje btsun rin po che, drung chen chos rje, zu ston ngag dbang ba.
p. 291: Inscription on Virûpa: rnal 'byor gyi dbang phyug chen po 'bi wa ba la 'khor grub chen brgyad bcus bskor ba / 'di rab tu gnas pa'i chog ga chos rje sa skya pandi tas mdzad /
{{For more on this painting, see Linrothe, Holy Madness, pp. 242-243. See also Jina Kim, Receptacles of the Sacred, pp. 164-165.}}
p. 292: What is supposed to be 'Jig rten mgon po, although what the inscription says is Ratna gu ru shrî sku, Ratna gu ru [Ratnaguru].
p. 292: Bonpo Master thangka: ah om hum / om pus pa li 'da' pa swa ha // om mu khyung pra phud bi nga nyi ri 'bha ra trang // om mu ye she thun bi nga nyi ri 'bha ra trang / om pu da ra mar la gu dun / nyi ri 'bha ra trang // om dmu da ra pham / nyi ri 'ba' ra trang / om pu ta ra phu phang nyi ri 'bar ra trang / om ra tse tsa kra ting sho nyi ri 'bha ra trang // om tri ma pa sna tshis nyi ri 'bha' ra trang // om du be tsang sl ri mar tring / ni ri 'bha ra trang // om khri tse ra mo lji chems / brung grangs 'ga'i nyi ri 'bha' ra trang / om rhib tal la e pham ral / shi shon ni nyi ri 'bha ra trang / om rkyel min sang mur ting shon mar shog ni nyi ri 'bha ra trang // om tshwar tshwar sang kho de shong ha sa sti ku rha ngang na nyi ri 'bha ra trang //.
p. 292: Image of Khro bo Gtso mchog mkha' 'gying & Mkha' la gdug mo: om mu khyung pra phud bi nga nyi ri 'ba' ra trang / om mu ye glang chen bi nga nyi ri 'ba' ra trang / om mu ni she thun bi nga nyi ri 'ba' ra trang / a om pus pa li 'da' 'di la swa ha.
p. 292: Donor or patron figures with labels: ga gu' pa (?), dge 'dun sgron me (a woman), kun dga' (a monk).
p. 292: Bodhisattva Maitreya: om swa sti / byams mgon mthong ba don ldan 'di // mi dbang dkon mchog rgya mtsho dang // yum chen grags rgyal mo yis // lha sras kun bzang rab brtan gyi // thugs dgongs yongs su rdzogs pyir [~phyir] sgrubs // dge bas byang chub myur thob shog // manggalam // NOTE: The Mi dbang Dkon mchog rgya mtsho may be the elder brother of Bsod nams rgya mtsho, the son of Altan Khan who visited Mongolia in 1528 at invitation of Altan Khan. But this is questionable!
p. 293: Virûpa: mthu stobs dbang phyug dpal ldan 'bir wa pa / rtag tu gzhan don mdzad la phyag 'tshal lo / dpal ldan ngan par grags pa'i zhabs pad la [~snyan par grags pa'i] / gus pas 'dud do rtse bas rjes su dgongs / mgon po khyed kyi thugs dang bdag gi sems / g.yel ba med par byin gyi brlabs tu gsol.
p. 293: Thang stong rgyal po: grub thob thang stong rgyal po'i sku rje rang nyid kyi phyag nas bzhugs so //
p. 293: Yamantaka: Inscription indicates that it was made at Dpal 'bar sgang Monastery to honor the Rdo lha sprul sku Dpal mchog bzang po by the nun Chos dpal bzang mo and the bla ma Bstan 'dzin. {Note: Dpal 'bar sgang is in Klung shod, in Dbu stod.}
p. 293: Kun dga' bzang po & Ngor lineage: rgyal ba rdo rje 'chang chen po mun dga' bzang po'i [~kun dga' bzang po'i] sku 'di la / rig 'dzin dang byang chub sems rgyud pas bskor ba'i bris sku 'di la rje bla ma mus pa chen po sangs rgyas rin chen gyi rab gnas bzhugs. Still another inscription on the same on p. 294: ces pa 'di rig pa 'dzin pa lha mchog seng ges 'brug lo bzhengs / dge ba byang chub chen por bsngo. (For this same artwork and inscription, see now David Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha, pp. 19-20.)
p. 294: Buddha Shâkyamuni with Six Arhats: 'jam dpal rtsa rgyud bris sku mthong ba don ldan la na mo.
p. 294: Mystic Master Hûmkâra: dpal ldan yang dag grub pa'i skur bsgom nas / zhe sdang rnam dag me long ye shes gyur / thugs kyi rigs 'dzin badzra hûm ka ra'i / dgongs pa lon pa rnal 'byor grags dpal bde / mchog dang thun mongs dngos grub rtsal du gsol.
p. 294: Hevajra: Swa sti / rdo rje gur gyi bris sku 'di ltar bsgrub pa'i dge ba'i mthus / skye med rang gsal chos dbyings gdod ma'i mgon po mngon sum du gzigs pa / mkhan rin po che kun dga' bkra shis rnam par rgyal ba'i / thugs kyi dgongs pa khyad par can gong nas gong du yongs su rdzogs pa 'gyur cig.
p. 294: Ngor lineage with Damarupa: dam pa'i de nyid don gzigs nas / 'jig rten spyod las rnam grol zhing / grub pa'i brtul zhugs la gnas pa'i / da ma ru pa la phyag 'tshal / dge ba gang des rgyal ba'i bstan pa rin po che yunr ing du gnas shing / bstan 'dzin gyi skyes bu rnams sku'i rgyal mtshan brtan par gyur cig // manggalam / gtum mo lam rdzogs kyi brgyud pa'o.
The lineage member portraits labelled: rdo rje 'chang, rdo rje rnal 'byor ma, slob dpon rdo rje dril bu pa, rus sbal zhabs, 'bar 'dzin, nag po spyod pa, grub chen dpal 'dzin, ga ya dha ra , mu khu lung du sprul sku 'grub, rje btsun kun rig, zhang ston, rje sa chen, rje btsun rtse mo, rje btsun rin po che, chos rje sa pan, 'phags pa, zhang dkon mchog dpal, brag phug pa, 'gro mgon bla ma, dpal ldan tshul khrims, buddha shrî, dpal e wam pa chen po [ngor chen], mkhas mchog kun blo, mkhas btsun dpal rgyal, nam mkha' dpal bzang, rtsa ba'i bla ma.
Inscriptions for deities: 'jig rten dbang phyug ha la ha la, rdo rje chos, 'jam dpal gshin rje gshed, gshin rje gshed, 'jam dpal gshin rje gshed, seng ge sgra , kha sar pa ni, yi ge drug pa.
p. 295: Tshogs bdag ritual illustrations: Colophon by Fifth Dalai Lama, scribe: Rig byed pa Ngag dbang nam mkha'.
p. 295: Dakini painting: om ah hum / om ma ma ra li du ru ma ya ka li ta ru ta du ru / lhan cig skyes ma thugs rje'i sgyu 'phrul gar / ma rungs bstan dgra sgrol ba'i mthu rtsal can / zhing skyong dâ ki'i gtso mo ngan ne ma / dam tshig mchog la dgyes pa'i dbugs byin mdzod / shu bham mastu sarva dza ga tâm.
NOTE: I have a ref. to this ngan ne ma: (Lha-mo) NGAN NE MA The Life of Gter-bdag-gling-pa 'Gyur-med-rdo-rje of Smin-grol-gling. Includes autobio & bios by Smin-gling Lo-chen Dharma-shri. Repr. from E Bhutanese ms. at order of Dil-mgo Mkhyen-brtse Rin-po-che, Lama Ngodrup & Sherab Drimey, Kyichu Temple (Paro 1982), vol. I, p. 261.4.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Source: An image of an (unidentified) monastic figure seen in possession of L. Herlands. It looks like it could be Tsong kha pa, even though lacking the hat. Hands in double teaching posture (turning wheel of Dharma), with Mañjusrî attributes resting on lotus blossoms. It has copper-looking and silver-looking inset designs on the robes. The inscription on the back reads:
sangyas bstan pa legs 'dzin cing
rin chen dam pa'i chos bzhin spyod
dge 'du rgya mtsho'i dbus na brjid
dpaldan bla ma la phyag 'tshal
Which could be read, filling out the abbreviations & correcting errors:
sangs rgyas bstan pa legs 'dzin cing //
rin chen dam pa'i chos bzhin spyod //
dge 'dun rgya mtsho'i dbus na brjid //
dpal ldan bla ma la phyag 'tshal lo //
I'm guessing the name Sangs rgyas rin chen may be 'hiding' in this verse.
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Source: An image advertised in a (Christies?) auction catalogue. It's a Thang stong rgyal po image, from a New York private collection, which they date to the 15th century. He's holding a longlife vase, and seated on antelope skin (no chain visible). This is my own reading, with a corrected version added:
na mo gu ru / ltas pa tsam gyi 'gro gun dbang du bsdud // sdigs pa tsam gyi sde brgyad bran du 'khol // bsam pa tsam gyi dgos 'dod char ltar 'bebs / grub chen brtson 'grus bzang po'i zhabs la 'dud //
READ /as: na mo gu ru / ltas pa tsam gyis 'gri kun dbang du bsdud // sdigs pa tsam gyis sde brgyad bran du 'khol // bsam pa tsam gyis dgos 'dod char ltar 'bebs // grub chen brtson 'grus bzang po'i zhabs la 'dud //.
Source: REEDY, Ms. CHANDRA L.& Terry J. Reedy, Relating Visual and Technological Styles in Tibetan Sculptural Analysis. World Archaeology 25 no 3 (1994) 304-320. On p. 312 is image of monk with rt. hand in fearlessness, lft. holding tshe bum, with inscription:
Sprul sku Chen po Padma nyi zla bzang po la na mo, in collection of David Kamansky, Pasadena. They say it is 15th cent., E. Tibet.
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Source: Rhies & Thurman, A Shrine for Tibet, p. 55:
gtsug tor can gyi tshigs bcad /
dge byed ye nas sgyu ma bzhin //
sdig pa byed pa'ang sgyu ma ste //
gzugs ni lbu ba sems ni rlung //
sgyu 'dra rgyu dang bden dngos med //
gnam skyong me bya lor bkas bsgrubs //
shes rab can gyi mchog, rdzu 'phrul can gyi mchog, skya rengs ldan, dpag yas, rim 'gro ba dge bar byed, 'od ldan ma.
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Source: David Jackson in Ingrid Kreide-Damani, ed., Dating Tibetan Art, Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag (Wiesbaden 2003), p. 96:
rgyud sde kun gyi de nyid gzigs //
smin grol dga' ston phyogs bcur 'gyed //
phrin las dbang phyug 'dul ba yi //
'dren pa dam pa de la 'dud // (verse in praise of Ngor abbot Kun dga' dbang phyug)
rgya chen bsod nams lus stobs rab rgyas te //
[b]de gshegs gsung rab seng ge'i nga ro yi //
log smra'i ri dags mtha' (incomplete verse in praise of Go rams pa)
patron inscription at bottom right of same thangka: lam 'bras [b]rgyud pa'i kha skong 'di rig pa 'dzin pa lha mchog seng ges bzhengs.
Source: Joona Repo, Distinguishing "Set" from "Series" in Tibetan Painting. Archives of Asian Art, vol. 64, no. 1 (2014), pp. 59-73, at p. 63, with the same patron inscription transcribed. PDF.
p. 65: yi dam dkyil gyi lha tshogs 'di bdag dge slong rdo rje 'dzin pa lha mchog seng ge'i yi dam du bzhengs / mangga lam //
p. 66: yi dam dkyil 'khor lha tshogs 'di bdag dge slong rdo rje 'dzin pa lha mchog seng ge'i yi dam du bzhengs / mang ga lam //
yi dam dkyil 'khor kyi lha tshogs 'di / rig pa 'dzin pa lha mchog seng ges bzhengs / pir thogs dbang po' 'gur tshes legs par bris / manggalam //
grub pa'i dbang phyug budha' shrî sems tsam lugs kyi brgyud pa dang bca'i pa'i zhabs kyi pad mo la / bdag shâkya'i dge slong lha mchog seng ge 'tshal zhing skyabs su 'chi'o / skye ba dang tshe rab kun du rjes su bzung du gsol / pir 'dzin dbang po rdo rje tshe brtan yin / manggalam /
p. 67: bris thang gtso bsdus chung ngu gras cig gi bcu gcig pa grub chen buddha' shrî la sems tsam lung kyi sems bskyed brgyud pa'i bskor ba 'di / rje lha mchog seng ge / rje sangs rgyas seng ge / rje nam mkha' dpal bzang rnams kyis rim par bzhengs shing/ thugs gi rten phyag gnas ma byin rlabs can 'di / sa skya ngag dbang kun dga' bsod nams kyi lag tu dad pa'i dbang gi bab pa'o //
dpal ldan bla ma dam pa dkon mchog lhun grub la/ kye rdor 'brel pa lugs kyi bla ma brgyud pas bskor ba dang bcas pa'i zhabs kyi pad mo la bdag sha'kya'i dge slong nam mkha' dpal bzang phyag 'tshal shing gsol ba 'debs so / skye ba thams cad rje su bzung du gsol / rgyal ba lha mchog seng ge'i thugs dam lam zab kha skongs su legs par bzhengs / manggalam /
bris thang gtso bsdus chung ngu gras cig gi bcu dgu pa ngor chen dkon mchog lhun grub la kye'i rdor 'brel pa lung kyi dbang gi bla ma brgyud pa'i bskor ba 'di / rje lha mchog seng ge / rje sangs rgyas seng ge / rje nam mkha' dpal bzang rnams kyis rim par bzhengs shing / thugs gi rten phyag gnas ma byin rlabs can 'di / sa skya ngag dbang kun dga' bsod nams kyi lag tu dad pa'i dbang gi bab pa'o //
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Source: Michael Henss, Buddhist Metal Images of Western Tibet, ca. 1000-1500 A.D.: Historical Evidence, Stylistic Consideration and Modern Myths. Tibet Journal vol. 27, nos. 3-4 (Autumn Winter 2002), pp. 23-82.
p. 64 Inscribed base of Aksobhya image, dated to the year 1459. ... dang po 'byed mkhas rgyal ba nyid // shes rab dpal 'byor dad pas bzhengs // 'gro kun sangs rgyas myur thob shog // lha bzo phul phyin gu le pa (?) ...
p. 68 Inscribed base of Sadaksari Avalokitesvara ... ba'i sku 'di // bdag padma bzang mo'i pha blo gros bzang po'i bka' drin bso ba'i phyir bzhengs pa'i dge ba 'di ...
p. 70 Inscribed base of a Maitreya image from Gu ge, 15th century. Not legible enough. Still, I think I can make out the words 'od dpal 'bar.
p. 72 (illus. 90), only some of the inscription on the back of the Jo bo in the Jo khang is readable here: ... [m]ngon mtho dang // nges legs sar sbyor nyi ma'i gnyen khyod zhabs // mtshan bzang 'khor lo'i ri mos bdag sogs 'gro'i // byang chen bar du gtsug na rjes gsal mdzad //
... xxgs khang rgyab yol dang bcas par sman bla bla brgyud lha tshogs // rgya phibs gdan khri gser dngul zangs las grub tpa khra rgyan bcas par zhal 'deb[x]...
This last part is tr. into English on p. 75: "For the shrine (bzhugs khang) of the Jowo Shakyamuni, the manifestation of the True Buddha, for his throne-back (rgyab yol), [adorned with] the Medicine Buddha lineage, for the canopy dome (rgya phibs) of the throne seat (gdan khri), made of gold, silver and copper, and adorned with precious stones." This is just the opening of the inscription which goes on to detail countless donations of precious substances... Henss says that the inscription was composed by the Great Fifth and Written by Bkra Rab Phun tshogs dbang chen [Bkra shis rab brtan phun tshogs dbang chen] to commemorate a renovation of 1673. The inscription mentions the Great Fifth's regent Sa skyong Blo bzang mthu stobs.
Z+X+Z+X+Z+X+Z+X+Z+X+Z+X+Z+X+Z
Source: David Weldon & Casey Singer, Faces of Tibet: The Wesley and Carolyn Halpert Collection, Carlton Rochell Ltd. (New York 2003). Have digital version in the form of PDF file.
no. 3: dus 'khor thugs dkyil dbang.
no. 7: a stone image of Mahâkala: dbu rgyan thugs la sogs ye shes pa 'di bzhengs pas dge'o //.
no. 23: an inscription on the front of the painting of Virûpa: dus gsum sangs rgyas kun gyi sku gsung thugs // yon tan phrin las gcig tu bsdus pa'i dngos bla ma rno[x] [xx]d(?) xn brb(?) pa // gnyis su med la bdag ni skyabs su mchi // d[x]s gyi[x] ... gy[x] // mangga[lam].
no. 23: the inscription on the silk cover attached to the painting: mthu stobs kyi dbang phyug bi rwa pa / nges byung gi thugs dam brten nas / snyan shal dge slong shes bya bzang pos phul lo / skye ba dang tshe rabs kyi 'phreng ba rjes su 'dzin du gsol. [the patience creed appears on the back of the painting].
no. 24: copper & silver image of Virûpa: bir ba pa la na mo.
no. 25: copper alloy image of Pha dam pa sangs rgyas: Notes here that there is a defaced inscription, now illegible, at the lotus base of the Halpert sculpture in the Los Angeles Museum of Art (Pal 1983: 219-220).
no. 26: copper alloy image of Naropa: grub chen na ro pa la na mo //.
no. 27: copper alloy image of Jalandharipa: je lan dha ri pa la na mo //. Inscription along lotus base: khyod ni btshon pas krub brnyes te // 'bar bas 'ba ra ba'i spyod 'dzin cing // kun la phan bar mdzad pa la // rtag tu phyag 'tsal gsol ba 'debs. [
I attempt to reread this as saying: khyod ni brtson pas grub brnyes te // 'bar bas 'bar ba'i spyod 'dzin cing // kun la phan par mdzad pa la // rtag tu phyag 'tshal gsol ba 'debs.
no. 29: gilt copper alloy image of Avadhutipa: a wa dhu ti pa la na ma /.
no. 31: cloth painting of Sangs rgyas yar byon, inscription on back: stag lung pa'i dbon po bla ma rin po che dpal gyi rab gnas bzhugs. (For an identical inscription on a Phag m gru pa image, see Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha, p. 200.)
no. 32: copper alloy image of Bsod nams seng ge, inscription along lotus base: chos kyi rje bla ma dam pa bsod nams seng ge la dge' dpal 'byor phyag 'tshal zhing skyabs su mchi'o // dge ba 'dis sems can thams cad sangs rgyas kyi go 'phang thob par gyur cig / mangga lam.
no. 33: image, apparently one of Bsod nams seng ge: kun mkhyen go bo //.
no. 34: image of Bsod nams rgyal mtshan: bla ma dam pa bsod nams rgyal mtshan la na mo.
no. 35: image of Bla ma Rje btsun dbyangs can dga' ba, inscription along lotus base: rje brtsun dbyangs can dga' ba' sku 'dra 'di / pha ma la sogs rigs drug sems can gyi / sgrib gnyis sbyang phyir yon rtan mgon pos zhengs // dge bas rang gzhan sangs rgyas myur thob shog / bchog tu bzang ba sor mo' cer [cher?] khrungs pa // mangga lam ba ha / ntu shubam. [I attempt to correct the spelling: rje btsun dbyangs can dga' ba'i sku 'dra 'di / pha ma la sogs rigs drug sems can gyi / sgrib gnyis sbyang phyir yon tan mgon pos bzhengs // dge bas rang gzhan sangs rgyas myur thob shog / mchog tu bzang ba sor mo'i rtser khrungs pa // mangga lam ba bha ntu shu bham]. [The authors of the catalogue don't know it, but Dbyangs can dga' ba is the literary name of Bo dong Pan chen Phyogs las rnam rgyal, and this is quite certainly him.)
no. 38: copper alloy Padmasambhava image, inscription along base: skya'i dge slong bsam stan dbang phyug gi drin can pha ma'i gtso byas sems can thams can gyi dno du bzhengs //. [I attempt to correct the reading: sa kya'i dge slong bsam gtan dbang phyug gis drin can pha ma'i gtso byas sems can thams cad gyi don du bzhengs //] [I find only one person with this name, an abbot of Chos rdzong in Padma dkar po's history, p. 430, line 4.]
no. 41: Chos kyi dpal bzang copper alloy image, inscription along the back of the base: dga dbang chos kyi dpal bzang la na mo. [I correct the reading to: ngag dbang chos kyi dpal bzang la na mo.]
no. 46: om sva sti / yongs kyi dge [dgye?] ba'i bshes gnyen 'gron jla thams cad dang thal brnal 'byor dbang phyug sa rkya pa chen po la phyag 'tshal sems n[?]lan thams chad je su jung du gphol // mangalam / [I reread this quite differently: om swa sti / yongs kyi dge ba'i bshes gnyen 'gran zla thams cad dang bral ba rnal 'byor dbang phyug sa skya pa chen po la phyag 'tshal sems can thams chad rjes su zung du gsol // mangga lam /]
no. 49: gilt copper alloy image, identified here as the Pan chen Bla ma II, inscription along back of base: rje btsun blo bzang ye shes la na mo /.
no. 50: gilt copper with pigment image, identified in the absence of any inscription as Byams chen Chos rje Shâkya ye shes.
no. 52: cloth painting of Shrî Devî. There is a partially legible inscription under the lama in the painting: stag tshang kun []/. Pal (1983: 156-7) reads this inscription to mean Stag tshang Kun dga' bkra shis. Another lama in the painting has fragmentary inscription: snyen x bsten x/ ("interpreted as Nyen Dag Tenpe").
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Source: Tshe dbang rin chen, ed., Se ra Theg chen gling [Sera Thekchen Ling], Mi rigs Dpe skrun khang (Beijing 1995).
p. 102, prayer inscribed on a banner of victory (rgyal mtshan):
[note that some letters have been effaced in the middle of each line, which means a bit of guesswork went into the transcribing]
chos kyi sku mnga' bde gnyis [gshis?] rab 'byams dang //
bslu med bla ma mchog gsum bka' sdod bcas //
'gyur med bden stobs bdag gi lhag bsam mthus //
smon pa'i 'bras bu de blag smin gyur cig //
7gnam bskos 'jam dbyangs rtsod ldan 'khor bsgyur //
rang bzhin yongs dag gser gyi pho brang cher //
lhad bral gser zangs mchog las legs bskrun pa'i //
rgyal mtshan mchog 'di phul ba'i [la]m dkar mthus //
kun gzigs phyag na padmo'i zhabs pad brtan //
xxsang gsum 'phrin las 'gog med lhun gyis 'grub //
7rgyal bstan xxx po bshad sgrub 'khor lo gsum //
dag byed klung bzhi'i dpal la co 'dri xxx //
las 'dir 'brel mtshon lus can ma lus pa //
sdig ltung nyes pa gdung kun bcil nas //
sa dang lam gyi bgrod pa myur phyin te //
gtan xxx [ye?] shes sku mchog thob par shog //
ces pa 'di ni tâ ri ganggi'i ser gyis lha ldan xx xx [sku skye?] byams pa rab rgyas kyis bskul ngor 7shâk btsun chos dbyings ye shes rdo rjes bris pa.
Note: This was certainly composed by the Seventh Lcang skya Rin po che Chos dbyings ye shes rdo rje (1891‑1957) He mainly stayed in Peking and died in Taiwan (in 1958?).
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Source: Heather Stoddard, The "Indian Style" Rgya lugs on an Early Tibetan Book Cover. TS7 VII 121-132. I've actually transcribed the handout version given at the IATS conference, and I may have changed a thing or two according to my own lights, based on the published photos. I haven't compared the reproduction of the same book cover found (with an English translation by Lhalungpa) in Pal, Tibet: Tradition & Change, pp. 192-3.
This inscription is on a book cover:
dus gsum rgyal ba thams cad skyed pa'i yum //
skyob pa rkang gnyis gtso bos legs gsungs pa //
shes rab pha rol phyin pa stong phrag brgya pa'i 'bum //
thar pa 'dod phyir gsung rab 'bum snyon (?) bzhengs //
sngon gyi dus su dge spyad tshogs bsags pa //
bdag gzhan 'byor ldan mi'i rigs su 'khrungs //
nor gyi 'byor pa rnam thos bu bas lhag //
yab mes gdung rus btsun pa mar pa'i sras //
rgyu rtsal kun la mkhas pa yon btsun yab sras dang
'dzangs la 'phrul ldan rog mo gzung sgron gyis // [gzungs sgron, gzungs kyi sgron ma]
chos kyi zhabs thog rgya glegs lugs su bgyis //
ngam shod..u..kas? l?e mo gzung nge* dang //
pho rtsal ldan gyi mar pa 'go yor gyis //
dge 'u tshul du // (bskrun?)* pa gyis pa lags //
rgya gar lugs kyi ri mo legs mo 'di //
g.yo ru dol gyi gong rje lha bzo... ?i...* dge'o //.
*From looking at the photo, I think I can read: ngam shod klungs . . .s l[d/h]e mo gzung nge dang //
*From looking at the photo, I think this line reads: dge 'u tshug [dang?] bskrun par gyis pa lags //. 'u tshug is a slight mispelling for "u tshug."
*I think this part should read lha bzos bris pa [with a letter or two still missing at this point].
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Source: Rob Linrothe, Holy Madness, Rubin Museum (NYC 2006), p. 318:
rjes su gdams pa zab mo yis //
nyid kyi thugs ni rnam grol nas //
brtul zhugs spyod pas gzhan don mdzad //
nag po pa la phyag 'tshal lo //
Note that Nag po pa did the rnam grol (disentanglement) of the Rdo rje'i tshig rkang, which explains some of the wording here.
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Source: Rob Linrothe, Holy Madness, Rubin Museum (NYC 2006), p. 321:
nag po pa la na mo // dbu legs bla brang //
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Source: Rob Linrothe, Holy Madness, Rubin Museum (NYC 2006), p. 326 (spelling errors corrected; basically the same inscription appears on two sculptures, one of Tilopa and one of Naropa; the mispelled name originally reads as Blo gros brgyam mtsho, which certainly cannot be read as Blo gros rgyal mtshan!):
rje btsun ti lo pa la na mo / 'gro ba'i mgon po blo gros rgya mtsho'i nang rten chos rgyal grogs mched gyis bzhengs.
{{I don't think this has any reference to 'Phags pa Blo gros rgyal mtshan. Just hopeful thinking of the image owners.}}
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Note: This and following are part of a larger set that once belonged to Ngor E wam Monastery (some of the set still exists there, other pieces have gotten sold).
Source: Rob Linrothe, Holy Madness, Rubin Museum (NYC 2006), p. 336-7 (on image of Jâlandhara):
khyod ni xxx pas grub brnyes te //
'bar bas 'bar ba'i spyod 'dzin cing //
kun la phan par mdzad pa la //
rtag tu phyag 'tshal gsol ba 'debs //
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Source: Rob Linrothe, Holy Madness, Rubin Museum (NYC 2006), p. 336, 339 (on image of Vijayapâda):
mi mthun phyogs rnams rab spangs te //
dkar po rnam par 'phel mdzad pa //
rnam par rgyal ba'i zhabs pad la //
rtag tu phyag 'tshal gsol ba 'debs //
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Source: Rob Linrothe, Holy Madness, Rubin Museum (NYC 2006), p. 338, 340 (on image of Krsnâcarya):
nus pa la ni mnga' brnyes xing //
spyod pa kun gyi rmad byung ba //
'jig rten 'dren par mdzad pa la //
rtag tu phyag 'tshal gsol ba 'debs //
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Source: Linrothe, Holy Madness, pp. 374-5 and Jeff Watt's notes at the Himalayan Art website:
sngag 'chang kun dga' rin chan la na mo. [... ? ...]. ... sga ra ... dbang phug la na mo. dam ... lo tsa ba la na mo. pal ldan chos skyong la na mo. yab chen bsod nam rin chen la na mo.
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Source: Linrothe, Holy Madness, pp. 380-1 (inscription on base of Dran pa nam mkha' image).
bla chen bran pa nam kha la na mo // ya 'gran bla ma 'thigs dgos rdzogs phyir gzhengs //
Corrected spelling: bla chen dran pa nam mkha' la na mo // yar 'dren bla ma thugs kyi dgongs pa rdzogs pa'i phyir du bzhengs pa'o //
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Source: Linrothe, Holy Madness, pp. 382-3 (a thangka with central figure of Dran pa nam mkha', although the complete thangka is not illustrated, and one must go to the Himalayan Art website). The names on the inscriptions are said to be partly illegible, but not so. They are entirely legible in the digital version at the website, no. 65401).
I've tried to correct KSB's readings of the labels as follows (no guarantee of accuracy, and a closer study ought to be done):
spa ston nam mkha' bzang po [founded a mon. in 1847]
spa ston don grub 'bum
dpon gsas khyung rgod rtsal
spa ston rgyal ba gshen rab [i.e., rgyal ba shes rab, disc. of khyung rgod rtsal]
mnyam med dpal ldan bzang po
spa ston nyi dpal mchog bzang po [i.e., nyi dpal bzang po]
spa ston stobs chen bzang po.
spa ston zla rgyal bzang po
spa ston g.yung drung bstan pa'i nyi ma
rin chen lhun grub.
rin chen lhun grub dpal bzang
spa ston bstan rgyal bzang po [author of the famous history]
bstan 'dzin rin chen rnam rgyal
spa ston rin chen bzang po
Source: Collected Works of Go ram Bsod nams seng ge as contained in Sa skya pa'i bka' 'bum, vol. 11, p. 15.3.4 (a lam 'bras lineage prayer from the surface of a thangka that was constructed by Go rams pa):
rje nyid kyis bzhengs pa'i gsung ngag brgyud pa'i bris sku'i ngos nas bshus te bris pa'i brgyud 'debs / om swa sti /
zung 'jug mchog gi sa brnyes rdo rje 'chang //
gsang ba kun bdag ye shes mkha' 'gro'i gtso //
phung sogs rnam dag gdan gsum tshang ba yi //
skur bskyed dkyil 'khor lha la gus phyag 'tshal //
mthu stobs bsam yas dpal ldan birwa pa //
rdo rje'i tshig gis rnam grol nag po pa //
bde stong mchog gi dbang phyug .da ma ru //
gnyis spangs spyod pa mdzad pa gus phyag 'tshal //
gangs can 'dul mdzad ga ya dha ra dpal //
dam chos gter mdzod bla chen 'brog mi'i zhabs //
nus mthu mthar phyin se ston kun rig dang //
yon tan mnga' brnyes chos dbang la phyag 'tshal //
'gro kun thugs rjes dga' mdzad spyan ras gzigs //
rgyal ba'i ye shes snying po 'jam pa'i dbyangs //
gsang gsum kun 'dus gsang bdag rdo rje 'dzin //
rje btsun sa skya pa la gus phyag 'tshal //
mi thub zla ba'i sprul pa bsod nams rtse //
rdo rje 'dzin sa bdun brnyes grags pa'i mtshan //
'jam dbyangs mi yis don mdzad chos kyi rje //
bla chen 'phags pa'i zhabs la gus phyag 'tshal //
sgrub pa'i rgyal mtshan legs 'dzin tshogs sgom pa //
nyams dang rtogs pa mthar phyin nyan chen pa //
snyan brgyud gdams pa'i mdzod 'dzin dkon mchog dpal //
rim gnyis mthar phyin brag phug pa la 'dud //
'gro ba'i bla ma bsod nams rgyal mtshan dpal //
mdo rgyud kun mkhyen mtshungs med ri khrod pa //
snyan brgyud gdams pa'i bdag po dpal ldan pa //
sbas pa'i rnal 'byor buddha shrî la 'dud //
gsung rab kun 'dzin mkhyen pa'i gter mnga' ba //
kun dga' bzang po'i zhabs la phyag 'tshal lo //
'gro ba kun 'dzin thugs rje'i gter mnga' ba //
dkon mchog rgyal mtshan zhabs la phyag 'tshal lo //
grong khyer gsum 'jig thub bstan grong khyer skyod //
'jigs rung zhal gdangs 'jigs rung gad rgyang sgrogs //
dpung chen nus mthus bdud kyi dpung chen 'joms //
bstan srung khyod kyis bstan pa 'di skyongs shig // //
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Source: HAR no. 30922 (inscription on front bottom, with six small figures each with its own label):
mkhyen ldan khyod kyis gzhan don phyir //
bsgrub la brtson pas ting 'dzin dang //
mngon par shes dang rdzu 'phrul la //
mnga' brnyes chos 'bar la phyag 'tshal //
'jam pa'i dbyangs la mngon sum du //
khyod kyis chos rnams thugs chud pas //
shes bya kun la ma rmongs shing //
mkhas mchog rnams kyi bla mar gyur //
thugs rje chen po dang ldan pas //
rtag tu gzhan [line 2] kyi don mdzad pa'i //
rnal 'byor dbang phyug sa skya pa //
kun dga' snying po la phyag 'tshal //
bsod nams dpag med las grub cing //
mkhyen pa'i ye shes rab rgyas pas //
'gro ba'i rtsa lag mchog gyur pa //
bsod nams rtse mo la phyag 'tshal //
chos rnams kun gyi de nyid gzigs //
gsang sngags rgya mtsho'i pha rol son //
rdo rje 'dzin pa kun gyi rje //
grags pa rgyal mtshan la phyag 'tshal // manga lam //
The Chos 'bar ought to be Zhang ston Chos 'bar, of around early 11th century, perhaps born already in late 10th.
https://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Zhangton-Chobar/7024
He was the Lam 'bras teacher of Kun dga' snying po.
Kun dga' snying po is Sa chen Kun dga' snying po (1092-1158), the only son of Dkon mchog rgyal po (founder of Sa skya). His four sons included the other two persons depicted here: Bsod nams rtse mo (1142‑1182) and Grags pa rgyal mtshan (1147‑1216).
The small figure are in order they appear (which is not the order of transmission!) Naropa, Tilopa (shown crushing sesame seeds), Rnam rgyal zhabs (Vijayapāda), Klog skya ba (?), Sku mched (?), and Pham 'thing. I think the explanation of these last two is that there were two brothers of what is now called Parping in Nepal Valley.
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Source: Pratapaditya Pal, Art from the Himalayas & China [Asian Art at the Norton Simon Museum, Volume 2], Yale University Press (New Haven 2003).
p. 150 (plate 101); A bronze image dated to ca. 1500. Inscription legible in the photograph: pha 'jam dbyangs mgon po la na moh.
p. 262. Thangka of Karma pa Mi bskyod rdo rje with hand and footprints.
2 yan lag bdun ldan zhi rgyu nas /
mi bskyod rdo rje karma pa'i /
byin rlabs mos pa'i rten phobs la /
mthong thos dran reg 'gro ba yang /
thun mchog grub pa'i dngos grub tshar /
sgrub pa po la rtsal nas kyang /
ye shes snang ba rab tu rgyas /
rdo rje myur du brtan par mdzod //
Note: I believe the name Ye shes rdo rje (name of the 10th Karmapa) is hidden in the last two line.
p. 197. Giant applique silk with Maitreya as central figure, but including image of Dalai Lama VIII 'Jam dpal rgya mtsho and Tshe mchog gling Yongs 'dzin Ye shes rgyal mtshan. Dated to 1793-1794, it was made at the order of the Dalai Lama VIII as a completion of the intentions of "my tutor Ye shes."
om svasti / dga' ldan lha brgya'i gtsug rgyan mi pham mgon //
rgyal ba byams pa mgon po'i snang brgyan dang //
'jam mgon bla ma blo bzang grags pa'i sku //
gang de'i bzlos gar gzigs pa lnga dang ni //
rje btsun bla ma ye shes rgyal mtshan zhabs //
spyan ras gzigs mgon 'jam dpal rgya mtsho dang //
chos skyong rgyal po chen po bzhi la sogs //
mtshan dpe'i dpal 'bar rgyal ba'i snang brnyan mchog //
bzang gos dbang po'i gzhu ltar rab bkra ba'i //
bkod mdzes rgyal ba'i sku mchog bzhengs pa'i dges //
rgyal bstan snying po 'jam mgon ring lugs mchog //
nam mkha'i mtha' khyab srid mthar rgyas gyur cig //
khyad par bdag gi yongs 'dzin bla ma mchog //
bka' drin sum ldan ye shes mtshan ldan gyi //
dgongs pa rdzogs shing slar yang zhing mchog 'dir //
rgyal bstan snying po'i mgon du myur bzhengs shog //
yangs pa'i rgyal khams spyi dang gangs ljongs 'dir //
mi 'dod rgud pa'i ming yang mi grag cing //
chos 'byor dge bcu'i khrims la rtag gnas sogs //
bkra shis bde legs chen pos khyab gyur cig //
[English translation by Rato Khyongla Rinpoche on p. 263]
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Source: Tshe mchog gling Ye shes rgyal mtshan (1713-1793), Bris sku gsar bzhengs sogs kyi dge ba rdzogs byang du bsngo ba'i smon tshig phyogs gcig tu sdebs pa, contained in: The Collected Works (Gsung 'bum) Of Tshe mchog gling Yongs 'dzin Ye shes rgyal mtshan, Tibet House Library (New Delhi 1974) [in 25 volumes], vol. 13, pp. 219-243. Contrary to the title, most of the dedication verses are not for new thangkas, but for scriptural volumes, Kanjurs, butterlamps etc.
pp. 220-223 has his inscription to be inscribed on the back of a thangka of the Sixteen Dots (bka' gdams thig le bcu drug gi lha tshogs kyi bris thang).
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Source: Thurman & Rhie, A Shrine for Tibet, p. 127. This large applique thangka of Tsongkhapa (the 'painted' area is about 3 feet high) has an inscription on a yellow silk cartouche on the front side, which is supposed to have the date 1834 on it, but it doesn't (there is some confusion here, it seems). Here is what the cartouche actually says:
ral gri'i gdengs ka blo bzang blo yi tshul //
li khri'i lang tsho ngur smrig gos kyis bkab //
nî la'i zur phud gser sbyangs zhwa ru sbas //
'jam dbyangs sbas pa'i brtul zhugs khyod kyis skyongs //
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Story of Mu tig can
— To follow Lokesh Chandra's Tibetan-Sanskrit Dictionary, the Sanskrit would be Mâlikâ (q.v.), but I think Mâlikâ ought instead to correspond to Tibetan Phreng ba can. Banerjee, Sarvastivada Literature, p. 236. Daughter of the King of Ceylon (Singga la'i gling).
Source: See Csoma de Koros, A Grammar of the Tibetan Language in English, Baptist Mission Press (Calcutta 1834; reprint New Delhi 1983), p. 164. Here her name is [mis]Sanskritized as Ratnavali. She heard Buddha's name from some merchants of central India, and sent some gifts to him together with a letter. In return she received a painting of the Buddha on cotton cloth (ras bris?), with some verses also inscribed on it. This story is told in a Vinaya text. The inscribed verses (which I have also noticed on some thangkas of the Wheel of Life) are (copying de Koros):
brtsam par bya zhing 'byung bar bya //
sangs rgyas bsnyan la 'jug par bya //
'dam bu'i khyim na glang chen bzhin //
'chi bdag sde ni gzhom par bya //
gang zhig rab tu bag yod par //
chos 'dul 'di la spyod gyur pa //
skye ba'i 'khor ba rab spangs nas //
sdug bsngal tha mar byed par 'gyur //
de Koros translates: <<1. Arise, commence a new course of life. Turn to the religion of Buddha. Conquer the host of the lord of death (the passions) that are like an elephant in this muddy house (the body; or conquer your passions, like as an elephant subdues every thing under his feet in a muddy lake). 2. Whoever has lived a pure or chaste life, according to the precepts of this Dulva, shall be free from transmigration, and shall put an end to all his miseries.>>
These verses occur twice in the Vinayavastu:
The first time:
tshigs su bcad pa 'di gnyis kyang bsgrags so / /
brtsam par bya zhing 'byung bar bya / /
sangs rgyas bstan la 'jug par bya / /
'dam bu'i khyim la glang chen bzhin /
'chi bdag sde ni gzhom par bya / /
gang zhig rab tu bag yod pas / /
chos 'dul 'di la brtson gyur na / /
skye ba'i 'khor ba rab spangs nas / /
sdug bsngal tha mar byed par gyur / /
The second time (here I've given the larger passage, from ACIP data file, including what must surely be the first example of an inscribed Buddhist thangka ever):
BTSUN PA SING GA LA'I GLING NA SING GA LA'I RGYAL PO'I BU MO DES MCHID YI GE GSOL BA 'DI LAGS SO / / BCOM LDAN 'DAS KYIS MU TIG CAN GYI 'DUL BA'I DUS MKHYEN NAS NYID KYIS BLANGS TE BKLAGS SO / / BKLAGS NAS BKA' STSAL PA / GANG GI TSHE KHYED CAG SLAR 'DONG BAR GYUR PA DE'I TSHE [226B] NGA'I SNYAN DU GSOL CIG / BTSUN PA BKA' BZHIN 'TSHAL ZHES TSHONG PA RNAMS KYIS BCOM LDAN 'DAS KYI ZHABS GNYIS LA MGO BOS PHYAG BYAS TE DONG NGO / / DE NAS ZONG BSGYUR TE BSGYUR BA'I ZONG THOGS NAS BCOM LDAN 'DAS KYI SPYAN SNGAR SONG STE GSOL PA / BCOM LDAN 'DAS BDAG CAG MCHI NA BDAG CAG GIS MU TIG CAN LA JI SKAD BGYI BKA' STSAL PAR GSOL / BCOM LDAN 'DAS KYIS BKA' STSAL BA / SHIN TU LEGS PAR BYI DOR BYAS PA'I RAS DANG RI MO MKHAN DAG KHUG SHIG / DE RNAMS KYIS RAS DANG RI MO MKHAN DAG BKUG NAS PHUL BA DANG / BCOM LDAN 'DAS KYIS BKA' STSAL PA / RAS LA DE BZHIN GSHEGS PA'I SKU'I GZUGS BRNYAN BRIS SHIG / RI MO MKHAN RNAMS KYIS SANGS RGYAS KYI SKU'I GZUGS BRNYAN BRI BAR BRTSAMS PA LAS DE BZHIN GSHEGS PA NI BSOD NAMS BRGYA PHRAG DU MAS BSGRUBS PA YIN PAS RI MO MKHAN RNAMS KYIS BCOM LDAN 'DAS KYI SKU'I GZUGS BRNYAN BRI BAR MA NUS NAS / BCOM LDAN 'DAS KYIS BKA' STSAL PA / RAS STON CIG DANG 'OD GTANG NGO / / DE RNAMS KYIS RAS BSTAN PA DANG BCOM LDAN 'DAS KYIS 'OD BTANG BA LA RI MO MKHAN RNAMS KYIS TSHON RTSI SNA TSHOGS KYIS RGYAS PAR BYAS SO / / DE NAS BCOM LDAN 'DAS KYIS SKU'I GZUGS BRNYAN GYI 'OG TU GSUM LA SKYABS SU 'GRO BA DANG / BSLAB PA'I GZHI LNGA RNAMS DANG / RTEN CING 'BREL BAR 'BYUNG BA'I YAN LAG BCU GNYIS PO LUGS DANG MTHUN PA DANG / LUGS DANG MI MTHUN PA DANG / 'PHAGS PA'I LAM YAN LAG BRGYAD PA BRIS SO / /
GONG DU NI TSHIGS SU BCAD PA GNYIS PO /
BRTSAM PAR BYA ZHING 'BYUNG BAR BYA / /
SANGS RGYAS BSTAN LA 'JUG PAR BYA / /
'DAM BU'I KHYIM LA GLANG CHEN BZHIN / /
'CHI BDAG SDE NI GZHOM BAR BYA / /
GANG ZHIG RAB TU BAG YOD PAS / /
CHOS 'DUL 'DI LA SPYOD 'GYUR BA / /
SKYE BA'I 'KHOR BA RAB SPANGS NAS / /
SDUG BSNGAL THA MAR BYED PAR 'GYUR / /
ZHES BRIS NAS SING GA LA'I RGYAL PO LA BKA' YIG SPRING PA / RAS LA RI MOR BRIS PA NGAS MU TIG CAN [227A ] / / LA SKYES SU BSKUR BA YIN GYIS / KHYOD KYIS DE LAS PHYOGS YANGS SHING RGYA CHE BAR SING GA LA'I GLING NA GNAS BA'I SKYE BO'I TSHOGS BSDUS LA / BKUR STI CHEN POS RAS 'DI KHROM SHIG / TSHONG PA DE RNAMS LA BKA' STSAL PA / GAL TE MU TIG CAN 'DI CI YIN ZHES 'DRI NA / 'DI NI BCOM LDAN 'DAS DE'I SKU'I GZUGS BRNYAN YIN NO ZHES BRJOD PAR BYA'O / /
Source: See Csoma de Koros, A Grammar of the Tibetan Language in English, Baptist Mission Press (Calcutta 1834; reprint New Delhi 1983), p. 165 (here are more scriptural verses that might [well, at least the first one] also be found as inscriptions on thangkas).
4. sdig pa ci yang mi bya ste //
dge ba phun sum tshogs par bya //
rang gi sems ni yongs su gdul //
'di ni sangs rgyas bstan pa yin //
5. thams cad chos ni mnyan par bya //
thos nas rab tu gzung bya ste //
gang zhig bdag nyid mi 'dod pa //
de dag gzhan la mi bya'o //
6. 'jig rten bde ba ji snyed pa //
de kun gzhan bde 'dod las byung //
'jig rten sdug bsngal ji snyed pa //
de kun bdag bde 'dod las byung //
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Source: Mary Shepherd Slusser, The "Spice Goddesses": Notes on a Tibetan Painting. Archives of Asian Art 46 (1993) 53-62, based on photo on p. 54:
lha spos phye ma'i char 'bebs ma //
sna tshogs spos kyi phye ma 'dzin //
gos rgyan skra tshogs thams cad la //
phye ma'i char gyis khyab par mchod //
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Source: For a xylographic print thangka of Rudracakrin ('khor lo che drag po), and his opponent Byis pa'i sbrang rtsi, see Lubos Belka, The Myth of Shambhala, Archiv Orientalni, vol. 71, no. 3 (2003), p. 262. 'Jam dbyangs grags pa, the Kulika King, is also illustrated here. The inscription at the bottom reads: rje btsun bla ma mchog khyed ma 'ongs dus // ka lâ pa yi grong du 'khor lo che // drag por gyur nas kla klo'i rgyun gcod tshe // bdag kyang 'khor gyi thog mar rjes 'dzin mdzod. Panchen Blo bzang ye shes is depicted at the top.
* * *
Source: Pratapaditya Pal, Desire and Devotion, Walthers Art Museum (Baltimore 2001). The inscriptions are taken from the back of the book (pp. 325-335), with rather dubious corrections made by myself.
p. 330 (illus. no. 137b), final leaf of a Prajñâpâramitâ Manuscript.
bcom ldan 'das ma shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyind pa brgyad stong pa rdzogs so //
e ma ho / 'dzam bu'i gling / khyad par 'phags / lam kha shangs // dad gus ldan yab yum gnyis // phyi ma'i rten brgyad stobs [stong pa?] // gzabs gzhungs byas // dbus tsho rnams // 'di la brten nas byang chub thob par shog.
A couple is depicted with names in labels: Jo sras Bde chen and Jo mo Lo tse (JCS reads Rum mo 'tsho; it isn't clear enough for me to judge).
p. 133: "Namgyal Dragpa Bzang po" (Lhalungpa has misidentified him as one of the Kulika kings of Sambhala; he is surely identifiable as a 15th century figure important in the history of Tibetan medicine). Can be seen at the Walters Museum website.
rigs ldan sprul pa rnam rgyal grags pa bzang po la na mo.
p. 333 (Bronze with inlays, dated to 16th century, with Jampa Karma Dargyay as subject), can be seen at the museum website, with part of the inscription only visible.
'gram gyi do med lha rga rgyal mtshan la na mo /
bstan pa'i gtso bo rgyal tshab byams mgon gsum //
dpal ldan bla ma'i thugs dgongs rdzogs pa dang //
sangs rgyas bstan dar 'gro la bde skyid 'byung //
blo dad gshin pa thams cad sangs rgyas thob //
zhabs drung byams pa karma dar rgyas yum sras kyi lhag bsam dag pa'i rtsal 'di ni ngo mtshar cha lag rigs lha so dang dpon mgon khu mtshan yin kris kris [bkra shis bkra shis].
Note: Perhaps lha so dang dpon is to be read lha bzo ded dpon.
p. 333 (fig. 180, labelled as "Ascetic Master," a bronze with silver inlay of the 16th century. Note the spiral earrings [reminiscent of Phadampa]. He is holding tshe bum and rdo rje, with what appears to be a book worked into his topknot)
mkhyen rtse'i nus ldan mngos bde mtshan bcan la na mo [mkhyen brtse'i nus ldan mngon bde mtshan can la na mo?]
p. 333 (fig. 181, Nâgârjuna)
dus gsum sangs rgyas sprul pa yi //
dpal ldan klu sgrub la gus pas //
rdzing rdul mnyam par bstod byas nas //
bdag nyid btud pa'i phyag 'tshal lo //
pan chen gyi dgongs rdzogs dang //
lo chen gyi thugs dam du //
nye gnas chen po sgrub pa dge slong gis bzhengs //
lha bzo rog pa tsa ban rgyal gyis bgyis so //
p. 334 (fig. 183, Mahâkala)
om gu ru om ma ha ka la /
ha ri ni sa siddha dza /
rten 'di la gnas par mdzad du gsol gnas 'dir skye bo thams cad gus pas 'dud cing 'byor pa thams cad rgya mtsho che la chu bo bzhin 'du bar mdzad du gsol.
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Source: Giuseppe Tucci, Gyantse and Its Monasteries: Part 2, Inscriptions, p. 5 ff. Only the first few pages are transcribed here.
[5]
[Samada]
swasti / bder gshegs bstan 'dzin skyang btsun zhe snga'i mtshan /
dang po chos la bar gyi tshig /
myi mngon blo gros brgyan pa'i sa /
g.yas ru mdog gi phyi 'brungs su /
'gon po 'jam dbyangs khru bzhi tshad /
'od mdangs 'dzom pa bzhengs gyurd kyang /
phyogs 'dir bstan pa gnas phyir dang /
dang po'i bla ma skur gyurd pa /
zhe snga bkra shis 'gon po dang / [bkra shis mgon po]
rdo rje'i spun grogs rnal 'byord pa /
bsod nams mying la rgya mtsho'i sa /
smras pa gnyis kyi bsod nams su /
bdag kyis 'bad pa drag po'i sa / [6]
'jam dbyangs bzhengs pa'i dge ba 'dis /
bstan pa ring du gnas pa dang /
'gro bas gnyis med don mthong shog /
yongs kyi don du bshes gnyen mchog /
bsten las bdud rtsir ldan dge ba'i /
bshes gyurd dam pa rnams kyis bdud /
mthon dman kun gyi gnyen gyurd cing /
chos phyir rnyad pa khyad gsod pa /
tshul khrims kyi ni rgyan dang ldan /
bdud rtsi kha 'byed blo gros kyi /
zhal snga nas kyi thugs dam mdzad /
dus gsum rgyal ba ma lus pa'i /
sku gsung thugs kyi rnam sprul pa /
rigs gsum bzhengs pa'i dge ba yis /
srid gsum 'gro ba ma lus kun /
snying rje sa gzhi la brten nas /
shes rab lo tog bdud rtsi yi /
mthu yis nyon mongs dug 'joms shing /
ye shes bdud rtsi 'thung bar shog /
[7]
yongs kyi bla mar gyurd pa skyang btsun thugs dam 'di /
dbus gtsang kun tu skad yi myi mthun pa /
'dod pa'i dbang gyis sku mkhan mang 'ongs kyang /
thugs mnyes bya phyir gzhon nu 'od sogs kyis /
mkhas pa chen po bram ze'i rigs /
ban tso rar skyes ma ti la /
dka' bas gnyer cing mgu byas pas /
na tshod 'das shing yan lag gyong gyurd kyang /
gsang ba'i dbang gis 'di las lhag pa myed /
de yang nyid gzhan byang chub thob phyir las /
tshe 'dir grags pa bzhed phyir tshig tsam myed /
[Iwang (G.ye dmar), Central Chapel]
swasti / kyai / gling bzhi mchog lho yi dzam bu gling /
gling las khyad par 'phags pa kon rig bza' mi yis /
sangs rgyas khyad par 'phags pa rgyal ba byams pa'i skus /
bsod nams khyad par 'phags pa bla med byang chub thob /
rgyu sbyor yon bdag 'khor bcas dang / [8]
bdag dang mtha' yas sems can rnams /
bla med byang chub thob par shog /
na mo buddha ya / ri mo snum 'tsher rgya gar lugs /
kho bo 'bri phrug rgyal mtshan grags //
[Chapel of Tshe dpag med, Amitâyus]
bde bar gshegs 'bri ba li lugs
mi mthun
lo chung dbang bang 'dugs [reading uncertain] ...
sa 'tsa' ... gzigs ...
gtsang khang nang gi ri mo 'phas 'jam dpal
[Grand Temple of Gyantse]
shar phyogs kyi skal bzang brgya dang nyi shu rtsa lnga'i zhing khams 'di / dad pa'i stobs 'chang... bsod nams kyis sgrib gnyis sbyang phyir / dgos kyi sbyin bdag chos rgyal dpal bzang gis bsgrubs / ri mo khas pa dpon gang bzang gis [9] bris / dge ba 'di yis pha mas gtso byas pa'i mkha'i dang mnyam pa'i sems can ma lus pas gzugs sku rnam gnyis thob pa'i rgyur gyur cig / bla ma lhar bcas de ltar 'grub par mdzod //
lho phyogs kyi skal bzang brgya dang nyi shu rtsa lnga'i zhing khams 'di'i dgos kyi sbyin bdag dpa' ba'i 'khur khyer rtse spe dge slong zhes byas bgyis / ri mo khas pa snye mo bzang ri... gis bris /
bdag gi dge ba 'dis mtshon 'gro rnams kyis /
dus gsum dge ba ji snyed yod pa kun /
gcig tu bsdus te byang chub chen por bsngo /
skyabs mchog gsum gyi bden pas 'grub gyur cig //
[Sku 'bum, First Floor, Third chapel]
na mo badzra pâ na ye / phyag na rdo rje 'byung po 'dul byed kyi lha khang 'di'i lho phyogs kyi ngos la / phyag na rdo rje 'byung po 'dul byed lha sum cu rtsa bzhi'i bdag nyid can gyi lha tshogs kyi bkod pa / dpung zur g.yas g.yon na rdo rje 'chang dang / bla chen gyi sku 'dra dang bcas pa'i zhing khams 'di'i dgos kyi sbyin bdag rdo rje 'dzin pa [10] chen po bla ma ma lung pa dpon slob yis bsam sbyor dad pas bsgrubs / nub phyogs kyi ngos la phag na rdo rje û tsa rgya sprul pa'i khro bo'i tshogs dang bcas pa / steng gi dpung zur na bla ma'i sku 'dra gnyis dang bcas pa 'di'i dgos kyi sbyin bdag rgyang ro sa lu pa 'gar btsun gyis bgyis / byang phyogs kyi ngos la bya ba'i rgyud las gsungs pa'i gar mkhan mchog gi brtag pa las 'byung ba'i ... dbus na phyag na rdo rje gar mkhan mchog / sku mdog sngon po zhal ... phyag bcu drug pa / rol pa'i gar stabs ... pa'i / phyag na rdo rje lha bcu bdun ma dang / gnod sbyin gar mkhan mchog gtso 'khor gsum / g.yon phyogs na rdo rje sa 'og nas gsungs pa'i phyag na rdo rje sa 'og gtso 'khor bdun dang / stod tshar la 'byung po 'dul byed kyi bla ma brgyud ris dang / de rnams kyi 'og na / phyag rdor gar mkhan mchog gi 'khor / rgyal chen rnam thos sras / gnod sbyin rta bdag brgyad / sde dpon / stobs chen / ljongs chen dang / yul 'khor skyong ba / 'phrog ma ma mo srin mo rnams kyis yongs su bskor ba 'di rnams kyi dgos kyi sbyin bdag ... gnyis ni ... ri mo mkhas pa dpon mo che rgya kun dga' ba dpon slob kyis bzabs /
de'i dge bas yon mchod 'khor dang bcas rnams /
gnas skabs mi mthun phyogs kun zhi ba dang /
mthar thug rdo rje 'chang gi go 'phang nyid /
myur ba nyid du gegs med 'grub par shog /
[11]
[Fourth chapel]
na mo ba dzra bidha ra .na ye / rje rtsegs kyi lha khang 'di'i dbus na / chos rje sa skya pan di ta mdzad pa'i khro bo rje rtsegs sku mdog dud kha zhal gsum phyag drug pa me ri'i dbus na bzhugs pa'i / g.yas na mkha' 'gro rme rtsegs sngon mo phyag gnyis ma / g.yon na khro mo rme rtsegs sku mdog nag mo gter ma lugs rnams lde skur bzhugs pa'i xxx don lnga'i bdag nyid / steng gi dpung zur la sa 'bir zhal sprod / sa pan khu dbon / 'og tshar la sga xxx [sgo?] brgya dang / 'dod yon lnga'i lha mo dang / lho phyogs kyi ngos la xxx gshin rje gshed zhal gsum phyag drug pa dang / khro bo bgegs mthar byed sku mdog sngon po zhal bzhi phyag brgyad pa / stod tshar la ri khrod lo ma gyon ma / gdugs dkar can / lha mo 'od zer can / smad tshar la gur mgon lcam dral / bum pa dpag bsam shing dang bcas pa dang / nub phyogs kyi ngos la mdo nas gsungs pa'i khro bo rme rtsegs sku mdog ljang nag zhal gsum phyag drug pa / rme rtsegs rigs bzhis bskor ba / stod tshar la rnam 'joms kyi rgyud ris / smad tshar la nyer spyod kyi lha mo / sgo gong la rdo rje phreng ba nas gsungs pa'i gungs xxx mo lnga dang bcas pa bkod pa 'di rnams kyi lde sku gtso 'khor gyi sbyin bdag rgyang 'khar thang dpe bas bgyis / ri mo zhing khams gnyis kyi sbyin bdag bla ma sangs rgyas rgyal mtshan dang / mkhas spyod pas byas / lha bzo mkhas pa dpon brtson pa yab sras dang / ri mo mkhas pa dpon dge sbyong shes rab dpal bzang pa dpon slob kyis legs par gzabs / dge legs 'phel // [12]
[Fifth chapel]
na mo u ni sha si dha ta ba trai ya / gzhan gyis mi thub ma gdugs dkar mo can gyi lha khang 'di'i dbus na /
.... .... .... continues to p. 130.
*** *** ***
Source: John Guy, Palm-leaf and Paper: Illustrated Manuscripts of India & Southeast Asia, National Gallery of Victoria (copy in Kern Institute library), pp. 52-53.
no. 24 (4-armed goddess figure, crosslegged)
bla ma'i thugs dam yum chen mo lags so /
no. 25 (a bla ma figure with very broad-brimed hat, holding in fisted right hand a long stick, almost horizontally, with index finger of left hand pointing down).
bla ma'i yab las bla mar gyur pa'i sku drin can / gzhig rka ba mdo' rgyud xxx xus pa'i don 'byed pa zhang rtsang 'od lags /
no. 26 (a large bla ma with right in fearlessness and left with index finger looking down), accompanied by a 'patron' figure.
bla ma grub thob mngon shes rig pa mnga' ba lnga'i bdam ngag thugs phyung ba sras chos kyi bla ma la gdam ngag rnang pa bla ma zhang 'dron la sprul sku rog yu lagso /
*** *** ***
Source: Bulletin van het Rijksmuseum vol. 47, nos. 2-3 (1999), p. 231. Apparently it was already published in Aziatisch[e?] Kunst, vol. 27, no. 4 (1997), p. 36. This silver image of a Sakya Lama (here said to be 17th century), with right hand in earth-touching, and left hand on lap (in 'meditation' posture) holding what appears to be a jewel (or a mirror). The hair is parted in the middle, with a youthful face, monastic robes. The inscription on the cushions (there are no lotuses) reads as follows:
dpal sa skya pa chen po sngags 'chang ngag dbang bsod nams dbang phyug la na mah.
__ __ __
Metropolitan Museum of Art Accession Number: 2004.139
A painting of the Pure Land of Amitabha.
ôm svamstu // bde gshegs rin chen snyon ba'i spyed ltar ru //
byong chub thug spyod rgyal ba tshe thar yus //
do dang sngon ba rdzog pa'i sangs rgyas nas //
zhis ru bkod pa phun sum mtshogs pa grub //
rgyu sbyor yang bdag mdzod ming snyan snyon dra gi //
snang snyag 'di yes bzhis ba'i // [snang brnyan 'di cis (?) bzhengs pa'i]
dge bas mthos skye ba 'di nas tshe rab thams cad du //
'od dpag med 'gon rgyus su bzung ba shogs //
chad bar tshe 'di rnang bste ba rmin //
bde ba can du per mo rdzing skyes nas //
sa lo sgrod ba sdan pa mthar phyin te // [sa lam 'grod pa yon tan mthar phyin te]
rnams mkhyon rgyal bas go pho thob pa shogs // [rnam mkhyen rgyal ba'i go 'phangs thob par shog]
tsig pa 'di yang phyag mdzod blo bzang snyin grag nas bskur dor [bskul ngor] //
bla ma ka chen nas // bris sor dza yon tu // dge'o / yag sam // bkra shis /
Here is Christian Luczanits' transcription and translation as posted on the Met website:
*| | ōṃ svaṃ stu|
|bde gshegs rin chon snyon ba'i spye[a]d ldar ru |
|bde gshegs rin chen (byon?/ston) pa'i spyan sngar ru |
|byong chub thugs sbyod rgyal ba tshe thar yus |
|byang chub thugs bskyed rgyal ba tshe mtha’ yas |
|do dbang sngon ba rdzag pa'i sangs rgyas nas|
|do dbang(?) mngon par rdzogs pa'i sangs rgyas nas|
|zhis du bkod pa phun sum mtshogs pa grub |
|zhing du bkod pa phun sum tshogs pa grub |
|rgyu spyor yad bdag mdzod ming snyan snyon dra gi|
|rgyu sbyor yon bdag mdzod ming snyan (snyan) grags gis|
|snang snyag 'di nyis bzhis ba'i | |dge bas mthos
|snang brnyan 'di nyid bzhengs pa'i dge bas mthus|
skye ba 'di nas tshe rab thams cod du|
skye ba 'di nas tshe rabs thams cad du|
|'od dpag mod 'gon rgyus su bzung ba shogs |
|'od dpag med mgon rjes su bzung bar shog |
|chad bar tshe 'di rnang/d ba ste ba rmin |
|chad par tshe 'di (rnang/d ba ste ba rmin ??)|
Sukhāvatī Inscription:
|bde ba can du ped mo rdzing skyes nas |
|bde ba can du pad mor rdzus skyes nas |
|sa lo sgrod ba sd/ngan pa mthar phyir te |
|sa lam bgrod pa ldan (?) pa mthar phyin te |
|rnams mkhyon rgyal bas go pho thob pa shogs|
|rnam mkhyen rgyal ba’i go 'phangs thob par shog|
|tsig pa 'di yang phyag mdzod blo bzang snyin grag nas bskur ngor|
|ces pa 'di yang phyag mdzod blo bzang snyan grags nas bskur ngor|
|bla ma ka chen nas| |bris song dza yon tu |
|bla ma ka chen nas| |bris song (pa rdjogs so?) dza yantu |
|dgo 'o| |yag saṃ| |bkra śis|
|dge 'o| |yag saṃ| |bkra śis|
Tentative translation:
In the presence of the Buddha jewel teacher (ston pa)
the Jina Amitāyus created the thought of enlightenment and
since he has reached complete Buddhahood
completed the excellent arrangement of [his Buddha] field.
May the renowned and wealthy patron who
has created this picture by virtue of it
in successive lives after this one
be accepted by the lord Amitābha.
May [he] when this life ends ...
be instantaneously born on a lotus in Sukhāvatī (bDe-ba-can)
and after having completed the [five] paths and [ten] bhūmi
attain the dignity of the all-knowing Jina.
This has been written by bla-ma Ka-chen in veneration of the treasurer Lobsang-nyendrag
(bLo-bzang-snyan-grags).
_Trans. by Christian Luczanitz, 2/5/2004
*** *** ***
Source: Inschrift aus dem Kloster Hémis, in Ladakh. Sitzungsbericht der Königlichen Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften 2 (1864) 305-318. The Seng ge rnam rgyal named in this inscription ruled Ladakh until 1642. He was a patron of Stag tshang ras pa (1574‑1651) who is also mentioned. The date of consecration given here is a Water Horse (it isn't sure if the inscription is for any particular temple that formed a part of Hemis or what. Note the mention of Mi pham 'jam dpal mthu stobs rdo rje, an incarnation of Stag tshang ras pa alive in 1753.
om svasti /
na mo gu ru bhya /
mtshan dpes gsal rdzogs yang dag rdzogs sangs rgyas //
bden pa ma lus ston la dam pa'i chos //
grol ba don gnyer 'phags tshogs 'dus pa'i sde //
mchog gsum bla ma'i zhabs la gus pas 'dud //
de yang // gsang gsum rgyal ba kun gyis 'byung ba'i gnas // rgyal ba thams cad kyi mngon par dbang bskur zhing // srid bzhi kun gyis mchod cing mngon par mchod 'os chen po'i bdag nyid dpal mnyam med 'brug pa zhes yongs su grags pa sangs rgyas kyi bstan pa'i snying po yang dag pas nam mkha'i gos can yangs por khyab cing lhag par 'dzam bu gling gis gnas dang gnas khyad par yongs la dar zhing rgyas la / de snyid kyi gdul bya rnams kyang smin smin cing grol ba'i / lam la bkod pa'i mdzad pa'i 'phrin las bsam / gyi mi khyab pa'i sa gsum du bstan pa 'dzin pa kkun las lhag par bka' drin che bar // skye chen dam pa rnams kyang ched du bsngags brjod bla na med par mdzad // zhing 'dir yang brje 'gro ba'i mgon po'i thugs sras rdo rje 'chang rgyal ba rgod tshang pa yab sras kyis byin gyis rlabs shing bsgrub pa'i ting nge 'dzin la bzhugs dus ma dang mkha' 'gro sprin tshogs ltar 'du zhing mchod cing bstod pa na dpal tswa ri tra ye shes kyi 'khor lo sogs gnas nyer bzhi dang mtshungs // rim pa'i mtshan ldan gyi bla ma skyes che 'ga' yang byon // khyad par mchog gis bsnyes pa'i grub dbang stag tshang ras pa chen po'i zhabs la // chos kyi rgyal po seng ge rnam par rgyal ba [~seng ge rnam rgyal] yab sras rje blon 'bangs dang bcas pas mi phyed pa'i dad pas spyi bos mchod cing bstan pa'i lugs gnyis kyi dpal 'byor phun sum tshogs par bsten // gdan sa chen po ma bu rnams dang // rgyal po'i pho brang rnams su yang sangs rgyas kyi sku gsung thugs kyi rten gsum rin po che gtsug lag khang sogs phyi nang du rgya cher krun pas bstan pa'i nyi ma shar ba ltar byung // skyabs rje yab rin po che mi pham 'jam dpal mthu stobs rdo rje'i sku ring la / rigs kyi bdag po dpal mnyam med rje 'brug pa thams cad mkhyen pa chen po rang phebs nas smin grol dam pa'i chos kyi rjes su gzung zhing byin gyis rlabs // rje mnyam med bstan 'gro'i mgon po skyabs kun dus zhal dpal rig pa 'dzin dbang chen pos ris su ma chad pa'i bstan 'gro spyi dang bye brag ljongs 'dir sangs rgyas kyi bstan pa dang 'gro ba'i bde skyid la dgongs pa'i bka' dang thugs rjes kho bo la'ang skal ldan gyi skyes bur rjes su bzungs nas mtshan mi pham tshe dbang 'phrin las bstan 'dzin mi gyur rdo rje zhes dbang bskur gangs bas byin gyis rlabs nas sangs rgyas kyi bstan pa dge 'dun la rag las pa'i 'bags // //
dgon phan tshun 'dus sde rnams la slabs gsum gyi sdom khrims la gnas nas dge ba bcu'i spang blar 'dzol med du spyod rgyu'i phyag rgya dang bcas bka' drin du rtsal zhing / der bsten rang ngos nas kyang rje btsun dpal ldan rtsa ba'i bla ma yab sras kyi bka' drin yid la bcangs nas dgongs pa rdzogs phyir sngar lo chu pho stag gi dbo zla nas 'gu tshugs chu pho rta'i lor gtsug lag khang legs par grub rab gnas bkra shis mnga' gsol dga' ston rgya che ba grub pa'i thog // lcags pho khyi'i lor seng ge sgo mo'i phyir rims pa'i man thad so so'i ngos su ma ni 'bum gsum yod pa spen pad dang bcas pa phyi nang kun tu bkod pa po phyag mdzod bkra shis kyis bla ma mchog gsum la gus shing lhag pa'i bsam sbyor zla ba ltar dkar bas zhabs rtog phul du byung ba zhus shing / las su sbrel po lta bur shes rab tshe dbang sogs dang / las mi shing mkhan rtsig bzo ba rnams dang / mtha' na 'u lag gi las mi thams cad kyi kyang dad pa dad pa chen po'i bsam sbyor rnam dag gi ngang nas bsgrubs pa yin pas /
di ge ba [~'di dge ba] rgya chen zag med nus pa'i mthus //
skyabs kun 'dus pa'i bla ma'i zhabs brtan cing //
smin grol chos char 'dzam gling khyab pa dang //
bstan pa'i sbyin bdag chos rgyal rje 'bangs bcas //
bde skyid yar ngo'i dpal la spyod pa dang //
dbus mtha'i dmag dpung bsam sbyor ngan pa'i tshogs //
ma lus kun zhi phan tshun dga' bde dang //
thugs mthun chos bzhin bsgrub la brtson gyur nas //
rgyu sbyor yon gyi 'brel thogs thams cad kyang //
rnam kun chos spyod bcu la 'bad pa'i mthus //
phyogs bcur bkra shis char chu dus su 'bab //
lo phyugs rtag legs rdzogs ldan bzhin spyod nas //
sangs rgyas go 'phang myur thob rgyur gyur cig // // sarba mangga lam // dza ya dza ya su dza ya // //
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Source: E.V. Ganevskaya, E.D. Ogneva and A.F. Dubrovin, The Portrait of Kunga Gyaltsenpel Sanpo. Marg, vol. 53 no. 1 (Sept 2001), pp. 62-67. This is a small gilded metal image of a hatless lama, with right hand in earthtouching, and its left in meditation. The inscription goes around the sides and front of the base beneath the lotus seat. A vajra is inscribed on the flat surface between the figure proper and the lotusses.
gdan sa chen po thel gyi mkhan chen rin po che spyan snga kun dga' rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po lha bzo slob dpon bsod nams bkra shis kyis bzhengs // phyag nas ma.
I don't really believe the identification made by the authors, but need to check into the problem further. Surely the subject of the statue is Spyan snga Kun dga' rgyal mtshan (b. about end 14th cent.), on whom see Gangs can mkhas grub, p. 1027 and Blue Annals, p. 92. Spyan snga Kun dga' rgyal mtshan is also mentioned in Las chen's history, vol. 1, p. 624.
The artist Slob dpon Bsod nams bkra shis couldn't yet be positively identified, but try again.
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Israel Museum Tibetica
-I-
Thangka with central figure 'Brom ston, with Atisha above, with a number of Bka' gdams pa teachers at the top center and sides. Gter ston Bzang po grags is on your left side, while Nor bzang rgya mtsho (with image of green Târâ above him) on your right. At bottom is a Klu bdud Dbu dgu pa (at center) with Nyang ral on your left and Gu ru Chos dbang on your right. Two emperors, Khri srong lde brtsan and Srong btsan sgam po are (relatively large size) in the upper right & left corners.
I had an idea (which may be wrong) that this could represent 'Brom ston as a former rebirth of the Fifth or Seventh Dalai Lama (with other rebirths depicted around him). For a thangka of 'Brom ston (as part of a series showing the prior rebirths of the Dalai Lamas, see Per Sørensen, The Dalai Lama Institution: Its Origin and Genealogical Succession, Orientations, 36 no 6 (Sept 2005), at p. 59.
('Brom ston) RGYAL BA'I 'BYUNG GNAS (1004/5-1064) TH 147. 52 2. Lay disc. of Atiwho in 1057 founded Rwa-sgreng Mon., which later became center of Bka'-gdams school. TH 142. Born at Stod-lung-phu, he left home because of a quarrel with his stepmother and met Atia in 'Phan-yul. Ferrari 77-78. Bio. in BD of T&TB V 17. 320 XXVII 633.5. 17 II 370.1 ff. Pictured in 128 77A, 844. Bio. in 165 383. Beyer 11-12, 322, 387, 418. He may be shown in iconography with lay robes, long hair, a flower held in the right hand (in teaching mudrâ), with the left hand pointed downward in 'giving' mudrâ.
(Sprul-sku) BZANG PO GRAGS PA (14th cent.) BD of T&TB III 519-522. Excavated Le'u-bdun-ma, q.v., which was 'transcribed' by Rgod-ldem (N-Tib 73-928269). Ferrari 154. Ri-khrod-pa Bzang-po-grags-pa. 217 283.2 ff. 410 118B.3.
(Mkhas-grub) NOR BZANG RGYA MTSHO Also, (Dus-zhabs). (1423-1513) Bka'-gdams-pa. BD of T&TB V 435. Dhongthog, p. 72, says he was Jo-nang-pa. Author, 351. An astronomer who codified the Phur-lugs (q.v.). Pictured in 128 1024. Bio. in 165 II 665. Beyer 395. Gsang Rdzogs in FM (have copy), a comm. on Guhyasamâja Tantra and its 5 stages. Zhwa-ser Bstan-pa'i Sgron-me Rje Tsong-kha-pa Chen-pos Gtsos Skyes-chen Dam-pa Rim Byung-gi Gsung-'bum Dkar-chag Phyogs-gcig-tu Bsgrigs-pa'i Dri-med Zla-shel Gtsang-ma'i Me-long, Bod-ljongs Mi-dmangs Dpe-skrun-khang (Shin-hwa 1990), p. 166 (list of works and brief bio.).
I imagine that this might be a 'prior rebirth' thangka for some Gelugpa Rinpoche.
-II-
They also have an interesting thangka that provides narrative scenes from the life of Tsong kha pa (it has no central figure, only a large 'votive' figure [a monastic] off to your left side holding a mandal in his hands). This certainly seems to be a part of a larger set of thangkas of Tsong kha pa's life, one of which would have contained a large sized figure of Tsong kha pa.
They also have an interesting mandala thangka, with all the 17 (!) Black Hat Karma pas congregated around the Bka' brgyud founders at the top.
For 'portrait' bronzes, they don't have anything except an inscribed image of O rgyan Padma, and an inscribed image of 'Khan chen She rab dngal (i.e., Mkhan chen Shes rab dpal).
One lovely image of 'Lokesvara' has dedication by a patron, Bu 'dren (?). Inscribed on front are Rgya mo na mo and Bal mo na mo on the right and left sides of the throne.
There are several Phur pas, including one incredibly heavy and large one. There are two bells, one quite beautiful with a ring (the face is almost completely worn away). There are a number of Yamântakas.
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Source: Per Sørensen, The Dalai Lama Institution: Its Origin and Genealogical Succession, Orientations, 36 no 6 (Sept 2005), at pp. 56-57, including reproduction of a thangka painting from the Rubin Museum. The inscriptions are typed out here following Per S.:
Upper Register: gling phran rgyal po, dad pa brtan pa, pho rong ra dza, rgyal po seng ge'i sgra, Buddha Shâkyamuni, Lha'i rgyal po,sprul pa'i ri bong, dge slong bsam gtan bzang po, rgyal po skyabs sbyin.
Middle Register: rgyal po dge ba dpal, rgyal po khri srong lde btsan, 'dus srong mang po rje, i sho legs, lha tho tho ri snyan shel, mnga' bdag khri ral [ral pa can].
Lower Register: myang ral nyi ma 'od zer, chos rgyal 'phags pa, Dalai Lama II, Dalai Lama III, Dalai Lama I, gter ston padma dbang (mnga' ris pan chen padma dbang rgyal).
Source: The same article by Per Sörensen, p. 59:
Upper Register, the boy zla ba, gu ru sangs rgyas ye shes, atisa, amitabha, rin chen snying po (ratnagarbha).
Middle Register: the boy padma, guru Vasubandhu, the boy 'od zer, the monk Amitabha.
Lower Register: Acala and Mahakala.
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Source: Emma Martin, The Tibetan Collection at World Museum Liverpool,, Orientations, 36 no 6 (Sept 2005), at p. 95. In scription on the front side of seating cushion of silver gilt image from Sir Charles Bell collection. Black Hat has visvavajra at front. Right hand in Earth Touching. Left hand in meditation gesture with book laying on it.
rje btsun dbang phyug rdo rje la na mo.
* * *
Source: Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures of the Alain Bordier Foundation, Visual Dharma (Hong Kong 2010). PDF.
p. 30
bla ma dam pa bsod nams rgyal mtshan pa'i rten rdo rje 'chang la na mo [slight spelling corrections made]
p. 38 (on an image of a bearded monk, not further identified)
chos kyi rje grags pa 'byung gnas la na mo.
p. 46 (back side of image)
lha btsun grags pa rgyal mtshan la na mo.
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Source: The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, vol. 81, no. 6 (July 1994), p. 157.
<<A Portrait of Lama Rinchen-Pel, Founder of the Drigung Monastery. Central Tibet, 13th century. Gilt bronze, inlaid with gold, silver, copper, turquoise, lapis, and coral, 20 x 19 x 14.2 cm. Purchase from the J.H. Wade Fund. 93.160.>>
This has an especially elaborate throne beneath the seating lotus, with hangings with ornaments (umbrella, vase, endless knot) in between. What looks like Shaivite deities, including ganesha, lions, flying figures etc. 'Jig rten mgon po (Rin chen dpal) is depicted with right hand in earth-touching, left hand in meditation mudrâs. His face is broad and he appears rather corpulent overall.
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A Lama by the name Byams pa bkra shis (Cham-pa-tra-shi) is depicted in a copper alloy statue at the Huntington Archives (Scan no. 0000381), kept in Tibet House, New Delhi. See also HAR, item no. 71823, which has the inscription mkhas sgrub byam pa kra shis sku 'di // dge byong sangs rgyas grib pa byang phyir zhengs // dge bas sangs rgyas thob par shog //. Of course it ought to read mkhas grub byams pa bkra shis... This may be the 43rd Dga' ldan Khri pa, who has the name Byams pa bkra shis.
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Source: An image belonging to Musee Guimet, HAR item no. 85917. A nice monk image with metal insets of copper and possibly silver, turning wheel mudra. Can only make out part of the inscription around the base:
rnal 'byor gyi dbang phyug sangs rgyas rin chen pas bdag bsogs sems can thams cad ...
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Source: Michael Henss, review of Ingrid Kreide-Damani, ed., Dating Tibetan Art, contained in: Tibetan Journal, vol. 29, no. 4 (Winter 2004), at p. 82. Copied as in the source. It belongs to a thangka depicting two Ngor monastery abbots.
bla ma rnams dang lhag pa'i lha tshogs la mchog tu dad pas tshul bzhin mnyes nas rgyud dang man ngag du ma'i mdzod bzung ste ji bzhin smra ba'i seng ge la 'dud dkon mchog gsum dngos yongs 'dzin mgon gyis bzung khrims ldan thos bsam sgom pa'i nor gyis phyug lhun grub phrin las phyogs brgyar spel mkhas pa'i blo ldan dge ba'i bshes la gsol 'debs rtsa brgyud bla ma rnams kyis 'dzin sangs rgyas seng ge la [byin?] gyis brlabs tu gsol manggalam.
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Source: P.T. Denwood & N.F. Howard, Inscriptions at Balukhar and Char Zampa and Archaeological Observations on the Fort of Balukhar and Its Environs, contained in: Tadeusz Skorupski, ed., Indo-Tibetan Studies: Papers in Honour and Appreciation of Professor David L. Snellgrove's Contribution to Indo-Tibetan Studies, The Institute of Buddhist Studies (Tring 1990), pp. 81-88.
Francke's reading (p. 81) of the Balukhar inscription:
mthing brang gzhungslas khrungspa'i mdo gtsong
rtso khri shong 'bum rdugs khrung sras stag
gtshar rlabs cen nyidkyis bzo
bgyis dpel legs ta / yun
ta myi gyur g.yung drung btan
ba'i mkhar 'di la
la par stsog ba'o.
Denwood's reading of the same:
mthing brang gzhung las khrungs pa'i mdo gcod
xx gyi rtse / khri shor 'bum rdugs khrung sras stag
xx xx / rlabs cen nyid kyis bzo
bgyis dper legs te / yun
tu myi gyur g.yung drung brtan
pa'i mkhar 'di x x
x x x stsig pa 'o.
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Heller in JIABR 1 (2013) 275 (on base of a silver flask with remnants traces of gilding):
g.yung drung brtan ba'i dkor ya re la srang bcu bzhi /:/
Heller in JIABR 1 (2013) 282 (on a piece of a golden horse saddle):
sga gser gyi zhu lub srang sum cu rtsa lnga dang zho nyis / spang rgyan da a long gyi dngul srang pyad dang bcu gcig.
Heller in JIABR 1 (2013) 282 (on a seal of various metals showing a male rider mounted on a horse):
mang zigs rgya [Heller identifies it as meaning the seal of the minister Mang gzigs].
XZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZ
Source: David Jackson's article contained in Rob Linrothe, Holy Madness (NY 2006), p. 102 n. 21 (inscribed on the back of a thangka from the series of Eight Siddhas designed by Situ, it's author is Bdud 'joms Rin po che):
om svasti / ma gcig dbyings kyi yum chen lab ki sgron //
rab 'byams rtsa gsum 'khor lor 'char ba'i phrin //
dam tshig rten 'dir dbyer med brtan bzhugs la //
skal ldan sgrub por grub gnyis byin dbang stsol //
gnyis chos 'khrul ngor shar ba'i re dogs blo //
thabs chen phat kyis gtor las shes rab dbyings //
mngon byed dam chos bdud kyi gcod yul gzhung //
ma nor lam du longs par byin gyis rlobs //
zhes pa'ang 'jigs med rdo rje'i dad rten bris sku'i rgyab byang du gcod smyon yan pa blo bde'am 'jigs bral ye shes rdo rjes lag bris su btab nye rab tu gnas par bgyis pa mthong ba don ldan gyi rgyud gyur cig / mangga lam /
XZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZXZ
Source: http://www.askasia.org/teachers/images/image.php?no=518
//Om sva sti/ kun mkhyen lha'i lha mchog spyan ras gzigs// padma dbang rgyal dgongs pa rdzogs phyir tu// bzang po lha sbyin rab gus dad pa yis// cho mo lug gi cho 'phrul dus chen la// ne bal mkhas pa a pha jayatis bsgrubs// dge bas 'gro kun sangs rgyas myur thob shog// mamgalam// "Om sva sti, To honor the memory of Padma Wangyal [who is one with] the omniscient Avalokiteshvara, best god of gods [the donor] Zangpo Lhachin had this [image] completed with deep reverence and faith by the skilled Newar Apha Jayati on the 15th day of the 1st month of the water-female-sheep year. By the virtue [of making this image], may all beings rapidly attain Buddhahood. Blessings." Translated by Amy Heller.
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Source: Himalayan Art (Rubin Collection) no. 105:
Image of Shri Devi (Dmag zor rgyal mo). Inscription on back (transcription by Jeff Watt).
na mo ma ha ka li ye.
bde stong dbyer med nges don tsan tra li.
snying rje ngam nag bstan bsrungs mthu mo che.
bris sku 'di la dbyer med brtan par bzhugs.
ngag dbang byams pa blo bzang dar rgyas dang.
byams pa ye shes blo bzang 'phrin las sogs.
bdag cag 'khor bcas bu ltar skyong mdzod la.
zhi rgyas dbang drag las rnams thogs med sgrubs.
ngag gi sgo nas 'chad rtsod brtsam la dga'.
sems ni byams dang blo gros bzang po'i dpal.
'gro ba 'dren la snying stobs dar zhing rgyas.
bde stong ye shes zung 'jug thob par mdzod.
mangalam.
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Source: Internet address http://www.asianart.com/exhibitions/antwerp/61.html
Evidently the cataloging work is by David Weldon.
18. Tsang Nyön Heruka. Tibet 16th century Gilt copper H. 25.6 W. 17.8 D. 14.0 Collection J. and M. Meijer, The Netherlands catalogue #61
Inscription (fixed slightly): mos gus yid bzhin nor bu'i byin brlabs kyis / rnal 'byor rgod tshang ras pa'i bsam pa bzhin / rke tshang sgrub sde'i mchod gnas / e ma ho / dus gsum sangs rgyas thams cad kyi / sku gsung thugs dang yon tan dang / 'phrin las gcig tu bsdus pa'i dpal / snyigs dus 'gro ba'i mgon gyur pa / phyogs las rnam rgyal he ru ka / rdor [illegible] khrag 'thung rgyal po'i sku / don gnyis lhun grub e ma ho / dran mcho gtsang smyon rje la 'dud /
Translation provided in webpage: By the blessing of fervent devotion which is like a wishfulfilling gem, he became the lord of the beings of these degenerated times, his glory encompassing the Body, Speech and Mind of the three times as well as their accomplishments and powers, and [he became] the object of devotion of the community, dwelling in asceticism as advocated by the yogi Götsang Repa. Emaho. In the guise of Dor[illegible] Thrathung Gyalpo, the Heruka victorious over all directions, he accomplished spontaneously the two purposes. Emaho. Salutation to the dearest lord Tsangnyön. Gtsang smyon He ru ka.
()()()()()
Source: Rubin Museum item no. 418: Sgom chung Shes rab byang chub as central figure. Several figures have inscriptions that are more or less readable.
Wylie Transliteration of Inscription: slo [?] dpon nyo [?] ming. rjna' re ba [?]. sgom chung shes rab byang chub la na mah. gcung grags mdzes. sgom zhi mdzes.
(This same painting has now been studied in Jackson, Patron & Painter 105. He reads Slob dpon Thogs med & Rje Na ro pa...)
Source: Rubin Museum item no. 874: Inscription on recto:
spyan snga rin po che ngag gi dbang phyug.
Source: Rubin Museum item no. 873, verso, painting of the 'Brug chen VII (1718-1766) (reading not entirely clear, cursive letters):
Note the devanagari letters Omsupratisthavajrayasvâhâ.
dkar brgyud rgyal ba ma lus pa'i /
'phrin las shing rta chen po pa /
'jig rten gsum gyi mchod 'os ni /
kun gyi bla na 'phags der 'dud /
gang gi rnam thar ngo mtshar bkod /
rnam 'dren yongs gyi bsngags byas pa /
'brel tshad don ldan phul byung nyid /
bris 'dir ye shes rab tu gnas /
de snyad smon tshig byed pa po /
bde chos yongs 'dzin ming 'chang ba /
thams cad mkhyen pa'i mdun na lon /
byang chub sems dpa'i thugs bskyed brtan /
lde chos lde 'chang mi pham gyi /
bzhi don sgrub le dza yantu /
On the front three figures are transcribed (one of them being Târanâtha):
thams cad mkhyen pa sgrol ba'i mgon. rigs 'dzin chen po tshe dbang nor bu. rje gong ma 'phrin las shing rta la na mo.
()()()()()
Source: Rubin item no. 171, a portrait of Karma blo bzang surrounded by the lineage of the ras chung snyan rgyud.
Transcription of inscription on front side, bottom, according to Jeff Watt (this is only a small part of the quite long inscription, which isn't entirely legible):
lung rtogs bstan pa'i mdo mdzod kha phye nas // snyan brgyud yid bzhin nor bu legs blangs te // bskal ldan blo yi dbul pa sel mdzad pa'i // karma blo bzang zhabs la bsol ba 'deb ... par rgyur cig //
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Source: http://www.himalayanart.org/pages/choying2/index.html
karma chos dbyings rdoe'i phyag bzo / karma pa dbang phyug rdoe la na ma / srang [remainder not visible]
Clearer reading: karma chos dbyings rdo rje'i phyag bzo / karma pa dbang phyug rdo rje la na mo / srang [remainder not visible]
Source: Rubin Museum item no. 90067 recto:
mkhas btsun tshe dbang tshul khrims la na mo (misplaced tshegs, a few vowel signs missing: tshul khram la na mo).
Tre ston TSHE DBANG TSHUL KHRIMS — 253 II 387.2, 436.2. 428. There is an image with the inscription mkhas btsun tshe dbang tshul khrims la na mo in Rubin collection of Tibetan art (HAR 90067). Its right hand is in teaching gesture, left hand holding book. Yet another statue is stated to be that of Tre ston Tshe dbang tshul khrims (HAR 66766), with long‑life vase in left, earth‑touching on the right. Notice the silver inset eyes.
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Source: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23698/lot/110/
Note the inscription on this image said to be a composite of Vajrapani and Kubera, auctioned by Bonham's: rje btsun chos dbyings rdo rje'i phyag bzo. (the last two syllables are rather unclear)
- - -
Source: Karl Debreczeny, The Black Hat Eccentric, Rubin Museum (NY 2012), p. 290, note 10 (with tr. by David Jackson):
rje btsun chos dbyings rdo rje'i phyag bris dam can skyes bu chen po bstan dgra la cad pa grug pa tshur gcong kyi sku brnyan 'di thugs sras kun tu bzang pos gsol ba btab pa ltar lugi lo la mi nyag mgu ra shar kha'i yul du gnang ba'o.
— The Sheep year is identified as 1655. On front of a silk thangka of a religious protector.
p. 290, note 15:
mar pa lo tsâ'i sku brnyan 'di rje btsun chos dbyings rdo rje phyag bris thugs sras kun tu bzang po la gnang ba byin brlabs can.
* * *
Source: Himalayanart website: Rubin item no. 894 (ink drawing of footprints, published also in "Eternal Presence."
zhabs rje 'di bcom ldan 'das mdangs pa bde 'dul kyis zhabs rje yin mya kar nas ri bo rtse lngar gdan drangs nas chos grangs bzang po la mu sa khen spar du bskos pa yin / dge'o / [several readings are uncertain]
Rubin item no. 65078 (Milarepa biographical painting, with quite a few inscriptions identifying the individual scenes):
skyi bton gyi chang sa [wedding of skyi ston]
rtsang gi khu lung du lha rje glubs dang 'jal [lha rje gnubs?]
skyor po grong du rong ston dang 'jal
Rubin item no. 57856:
gnas dbang rdo tsha gser chen la na mo / [very uncertain reading]
Rubin item no. 65599 is a portrait painting of Aryadeva ('Phags pa lha).
Rubin item no. 65597 is a wrathful portrait of Mthu chen Dbang sdud snying po (ca. 1763-ca. 1806/1809).
Rubin item no. 65591 is a quite dramatic painting of scenes from the life of Jo bo rje Atisha, including sea voyage scenes.
Rubin item no. 65603:
g.yas bzhi pa 'gro mgon ras chen la na mo //
I think most likely identification is with 'Gro mgon Sangs rgyas ras chen.
Rubin item no. 65619:
Identified as Gunaprabha (Yon tan 'od) together with Shakyaprabha (shâkya 'od).
Rubin item no. 65622:
Kun mkhyen padma dkar po la na mo. Other surrounding figures are labeled but the inscriptions are quite difficult to read.
Rubin item no. 65634:
Identified as Kun bzang rgyal ba rgya mtsho (form of Avalokiteshvara).
Rubin item no. 65666:
Identified as red Mkha' 'gro ma of Ma rgyud Gsang mchog mthar thug cycle of Bon. There is a long discussion of the iconography at the website.
Rubin item no. 65670:
Identified as Mchog 'gyur gling pa.
Rubin item no. 65684:
It is labeled as Padmasambhava, but I think it's probably a narrative scroll for the life of Padma 'od 'bar (as studied by Blondeau).
Rubin item no. 65719: The Supine Demoness (srin mo) of Tibetan geomancy.
Rubin item no. 65734: An edict of the Panchen Lama (Pan chen Bla ma).
Rubin item no. 65798: Identified as Shantarakshita (Zhi ba 'tsho). Identical verses are found on the back of an Atisha thangka sold by Sotheby's lot no. 308 (HAR 13721).
g.yas brgyad pa [inscription on front, it translates "eighth on the right"]
om sva sti / brgyad khri bzhi stong chos kyi snying po'i don //
byang chub lam gyi rim pa ston mdzad pa'i //
rtsa rgyud bla ma thugs rje can rnams kyi //
ye shes bris sku 'di la rtag bzhugs gsol //
bris sku 'di nyid mthong ba'i sems can rnams //
lam ston bshes gnyen dam pas rjes bzung ste //
nges 'byung byang sems yang dag lta ba dang //
zab lam rim gnyis nyams len mthar phyin shog //
phan bde ma lus gang las 'byung ba'i rgyu //
byang chub lam gyi rim pa'i man ngag 'di //
phyogs dus kun tu dar zhing rgyas gyur te //
'gro kun lam bzang 'di yis grol gyur cig // //
om su pra ti shta badzra swa ha // //
Rubin item no. 65799: A thangka depicting Tsong kha pa. Here is only part of the long inscription on the back (the other things being Sanskrit mantras, the Bzod pa bka' thub verse, etc.:
'di yi dge bas bdag gzhan 'gro ba kun //
shi 'pho gyur pa'i mos la dga' ldan du //
chos kyi mtho ba'i khang bzang der skyes nas //
mi pham chos rje'i sras kyi mthu bor shog //
sa bcu'i dbang phyugs rgyal tshab 'dzam gling du //
stobs bcu mnga' ba'i go 'phang rnyed pa'i tshe //
gsung gi bdud brtsi thog mar rab myangs nas //
rgyal ba'i mdzad pa ma lus mthar phyin shog //
'di nas shi 'phos gyur ma thag //
dga' ldan skyes nas yid dga' ba //
myur du byams mgon mnyes byas nas //
byang chub lung bstan thob par shog //
Rubin item no. 74005: Several manuscript miniatures in what appears to be a Prajnaparamita manuscript. The last page has an offering scene, with 4 human figures, evidently the patrons of the manuscript. The labels read:
stong pa nyid stong pa nyid. dad pa'i stobs. shes rab kyi pha rold tu phyind pa (shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa). sbyin ba'i pha rold du phyind pa (sbyin pa'i pha rol tu phyin pa).
Rubin item no. 81546 (from Ashmolean Museum collection). This depicts Ta'i Si tu Chos kyi 'byung gnas at bottom center, with nine Indian masters seated behind him. The last pada appears more distinct in Jackson, Patron & Painter 23 fig. 2.5.
rdo rje rigs kyi skal ba bzang po yis //
rigs mang rnam rtog 'jam dpal grags pas bsam //
nges don dbu ma'i srol 'byed klu sgrub zhabs //
padma sambha sngags kyi rol rtsed mkhan //
'dul pa'i gzhung gsal nyi ma yon tan 'od //
'khor lo gsum gyi bang mdzod dbyig gi gnyen //
dug dor 'phags yul nyi ma nâ ro pa //
snying po'i bstan pa mai tri guptas gsal //
rgyu 'bras dbu ma'i thig le bi rû pa //
zla bas thal 'gyur dbu ma'i gzhung chen phyes //
de rnams kun gyi yon tan mngon gsal ba //
tâ'i si tu chos kyi snang ba ste //
thub bstan ku mu ta sar pa'i 'dab ma yang //
grub pa'i blo gros las byung dag byed kyis //
rnam gsal rgyas pa rnams la phyag 'tshal lo //
mangga lam.
David Jackson, Patron & Painter, p. 35, inscription on a silver portrait statue of a Red Hat (Zhwa dmar) Lama:
rgyal ba zhwa dmar cod pan 'dzin pa drug pa gar dbang chos kyi dbang phyug zhabs kyi 'dra sku rje nyid kyi phyag nas ma la na ma // The number in the series as well as amount of silver are indicated also.
David Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha p. 17 (statue of Thang stong):
grub thob thang stong rgyal po'i sku rje rang nyid gyi phyag nas bzhugs so.
and on the same page (fig. 1.14):
bla ma 'phag mo bgrub pa la phyag 'tshal zhing skyabs 'chi'o // bla ma dags po on chung ba la phyag 'tshal zhing skyabs 'chi. [phag mo gru pa, dbon chung?]
David Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha p. 11 (as Jackson points out, the elements of the ordination name of Sa bzang 'Phags pa Gzhon nu blo gros are hidden here):
gzhon nur rab byung dam pas rjes su bzung // blo gros khang bzangs rgyud sde'i nor bus gang // dbang bzhi'i rgyun gyis 'gro kun tshim par mdzad // chos rje 'phags pa'i zhabs la phyag 'tshal lo.
David Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha p. 44:
'brom ston rgyal ba'i 'byung gnas la na mo.
David Jackson, Patron & Painter, p. 101 (Rubin no. 90005). This inscription on a thangka of a Black Hat Karmapa is partly effaced, and the reading is strictly according to Jackson (I couldn't even locate an inscription!):
rdo rje'i sku thang 'di //
rgyal ba nyid kyis ljags bkod pa[s?] grub pa'i / dbon shar phyogs kong btsun gyis // skal ba bzang phyir u btsug [...oil stain...] dge 'dis 'gro kun sangs rgyas sa dgod shog //
David Jackson, Patron & Painter, p. 101 (Rubin no. 90011, no photo available):
rje nâ ro pa chos kyi rgyal mtshan. rnal 'byor ma bi ta sa (dot under the 't').
David Jackson, Patron & Painter, p. 154 (Rubin no. 65420), a label attached to the back of a multiple Mahâsiddha tangka (endnote 402):
grub brgya'i gtso thang sku zhabs 'jigs med mgon pos bzhengs kar shod pas bris pa'i si tu'i lugs.
Rubin item no. 81827:
A Mongolian pieced textile image dated to 19th century, the following inscription appears on the bottom of the throne: rje bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan la na mo.
Rubin item no. 88607:
bcom ldan 'das dpal che mchog yab yum.
Source: Rubin item no. 71924, a painting of Abhayakaragupta (evidently based on a woodblock print; there is more than one version of the painting in the Rubin).
rin chen 'byung gnas zhi bas rjes bzungs shing //
rdo rje btsun mo'i zhal dkyil mngon sum gzigs //
gtum chen ma hâ ka las bran mdzad pa'i //
rdo rje gdan pa a bhya ka ra'i zhabs //
()()()()()
Source: Franco Ricca & Lionel Fournier, Notes concerning the Mgon-khang of Zha-lu, Artibus Asiae, vol. 56, nos. 3-4 (1996) 343-363, at pp. 362-3. (These cursive inscriptions are on paper pasted tightly to the wall. The Blo gsal Grags pa mentioned here was b. in 1365, became abbot of Zhwa lu in 1389; another abbot Mkhas grub sangs rgyas dpal rin pa [1376-1422] was abbot for 8 years in between his two abbacies)
Inscription A
om swasti siddham /
rgyal ba thams cad kyi mkhyen pa'i nus pa gcig tu bsdus pa'i ... gsum pa rab gsal gyi rnam par 'phrul ba rgya gar kasmi ra'i mahâ pandi ta shâ kya shrî bha .ta ... ljongs du mkhas btsun bzang gsum thams cad kyi gtsug rgyan nor bu'i khri la zhabs sem padma mngon par bkod pa'i snyigs dus kyi rgyan ... mkhyen pa chen po bu ston rin po che yab sras gtso bor bzhugs pa'i rtsa rgyud kyi dpal ldan bla ma dam pa rnams kyi bka' / gsang ... dpal phyag na rdo rje la sogs pa'i yi dam dkyil 'khor gyi lha tshogs rnams dang chos skyong ba'i rgyal po chen po rnam thos sras zhi khro ... dpal mgon chos skyong bsrung ma rnams kyi lung / dpal zha lu gser khang gi gdan sa bcu gsum shâkya'i dge slong rdo rje 'dzin pa blo gsal grags pa rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po zhes grags pa'i bden pa'i gtam /
chos grwa chen po 'di nyid la gtogs lha sde mi sde skya ser bod 'brog chen po slob dpon ... dang bcas pas dgongs shing nges rgyud la / spyir 'gro ba yongs kyi phan pa dang bde ba ma lus pa sangs rgyas kyi bstan pa ... yun ring du gnas pa kho na la rag lus pa yin khyad par chos grwa chen po 'di nyid bod kha ba can pa yongs ... yul dam par gyur pa'i phyi'i mchod gnas zab pa dang rgya che ba'i mdo sngags kyi bstan pa rin po che'i 'byung .. bzhugs rnams / kyang tshul gnas thos dang bstin pa / sgom pa la ni rab tu sbyor / zhes gsungs pa ... dag pa dang ldan pa'i sgo nas dam pa'i chos la rang don du thos bsam sgom gsum dang / gzhan don du 'chad rtsod rtsoms gsum dus 'da' rgyu yin pa 'dug na'ang spyir dus snyigs ma'i dbang dang bye brag tu mkhan thog rim pa bzhugs mi bzhugs kyi skabs slob grwa dpon 'bangs rnams kyang la la phugs bsam chung zhing 'ga' zhig spobs pa zhum zhing sgyid lugs sogs kyi skyon ... ci yang mi shes ... rmongs pa phyi ru wa 'dra zhing nang du stag 'dra ba'i rtsab hral rnams snyi ma 'dogs ma 'pho ba'i dpes sde dkrugs spyod ngan dang srol ngan kho nas dus 'da' bar byas drag sar rlom pa rnams kyis kyang de dag gi rang rgyal ... 'dzin 'ba' zhig byas pa la rten don gyi rnying po lugs gnyis gang gi'ng khrims kyi tha snyad med cing rang gzhan thams cad khrims nyid 'cha' rmod kyi gnas su gyur pa kun gyis dgongs shing nges pa 'di yin de 'thun [mthun?] nged khri thog 'dir slebs nas spyir bya ba sna tshogs cig dang khyad par rtsun pa ngos ma gsod 'dug bla ma chos sne [sde?] thtams cad khyad du bsad pa'ikhrims la rnam par mi 'cham pa byung ba la bsams dus nged la'ang khyi bso bstungs kyi rnam pa 'di bzhin byed phyin gnyen po bstan pa la ...... yul ngan spong ba legs pas nged rang rang yul mgo nas bsgom la 'thad snyam zhing la rgyu med par thag bcad ..... en [chen?] slob rnams kyi'ang ngang bsring lugs dgos dgongs par gyi 'gal ba cis kyang byed gsung ba dang khyad par khri ...... pa nas sde pa'i drung gi thugs bsam rnam par dag pas kun nas blangs pa'i grogs ldan bka' bkod mdzod / chen slob dka' gros pa thams cad kyis ...... rnying po la khang tong lde 'o gsum pos gser srang re'i 'chad pa gtsang bar phul kha[m] chu'i bcod rgya ......
Inscription B
dzâ yantu /
rgyal ba rgya mtsho'i bstan pa bsrung ba'i phyir / rgyal sras gnod sbyin dbang por sku sprul pa'i //
rgyal ba'i bstan bsrung yongs kyi ded dpon che /
rgyal chen ngal tshabs po la phyag 'tshal lo //
drag po 'jigs rung 'thing nag 'bar ba'i sku /
drag shul las mdzad klu dang srin po'i gtso /
drag gtum pha zho psor zhing gdug can 'joms /
drag byed rnam thos sras la phyag 'tshal lo //
dpal ldan mgon po beng dmar srin po'i gzugs /
dpal ldan lha mo las mkhan pho nyar bcas /
dpal ldan thub pa'i bstan bsrung mthu bo che /
dpal chen bsrung ma'i ded dpon de la 'dud /
rab 'jigs gshin rje'i rgyal po dan can che /
rab rgod ma he khros pa'i zhal dmar gdangs /
rab gtum yum mchog 'khor tshogs rgya mtshor bcas/
rab sdang dgra ba'i shang pa khyod la bstod /
ma mo'i gtso mo rdo rje rab snyan ma /
ma rungs 'dul phyir smug nag srin mo'i gzugs /
ma lta brtse bas bstan 'dzin bu bzhin bskyong /
ma gcig dpal ldan lha mo khyod la bstod /
rdo rje lha mo rma bya'i sgro thul can /
rdo rje ral gri mda' dar ne'u le thogs /
rdo rje 'dzin bskyong bstan pa'i gnyer kha mo /
rdo rje ri sbug ma la bstod par bgyi /
+ de ltar dpal ldan zha lu gser khang che /
chos gra gtsug lag khang chen skyong ba yi /
'jig rten 'das dang ma 'das bsrung ma'i tshogs /
bran g.yog mngags pa pho nyar bcas pa rnams /
dngos bsams yid kyis sprul pa'i mchod pa'i sprin /
dam rdzas gtor chen phyi rang gsang ba yi /
brten dang spyan gzigs nam mkha'i khyon gang ba /
'bul lo mchod do dgyes shing rol bar mdzod /
+ rdo rje 'dzin dang padma badzra dang /
dî pang ka ra mi tra dzo ki'i zhabs /
lo ston rdo rje dbang phyug lce btsun rje /
thams cad mkhyen pa bu ston yab sras sogs /
rtsa rgyud bla ma'i bka' dang dam tshigs dgongs /
mthu stobs rdzu 'phrul dmag dpung chen skyed la /
rnal 'byor bdag gi gsol ba btab pa yi /
phrin las da lta nyid du grub par mdzod /
spyi dgos bstan pa rin chen khyod kyis bsrungs /
bstan 'dzin sku tshe phrin las khyod kyis spel /
bstan pa'i sbyin bdag 'khor bcas khyod kyis skyongs /
bstan dgra dam nyams gdug can zhing 'di sgrol /
ma g.yel ma g.yel dam can bsrung ma'i tshogs /
ma pham ma thogs mthu stobs rdzu 'phrul bskyed /
ma hâ pa ra'i las la rings par che /
ma rabs ma rungs dgra bo da lta rgyal / ces xxxx zha lu xxxx dam can dgos pa'i rnal 'byor xxxxx
()()()()()
Source: Asia Society Museum website (www.asiasocietymuseum.org), inscription at the base of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, western Tibet, dated 1543, copper alloy. The piece is by Amy Heller..
Om sva sti/
kun mkhyen lha'i lha mchog spyan ras gzigs //
padma dbang rgyal dgongs pa rdzogs phyir tu //
bzang po lha sbyin rab gus dad pa yis //
cho mo lug gi cho 'phrul dus chen la //
ne bal mkhas pa a pha jayatis bsgrubs //
dge bas 'gro kun sangs rgyas myur thob shog //
mamgalam //
()()()()()
Source: Huntington Archive, Scan no. 0000375 (gilt bronze image, inscription on back of seating cushion):
rje thams cad mkhyen pa blo bzang chos kyi rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po'i sku 'dra rje nyid kyi phyag nas ma'o // mangga lam //
Source: Damarupa image, holding damaru. Huntington Archive, Scan no. 0000434 (Inscription on front and sides of the base below the lotus seat):
grub chen .da ma .du pa la na mo / bsod nams ldan pa bsod nams seng ge yon bdag dang re mchod gyis pha ma'i don du bzhengs / chos lung [inscription continues, but becomes illegible... parts of the legible parts are unsure in their readings...]
Source: Bronze image from Tibet House, New Delhi, Huntington Archive, Scan no. 0000520 (inscription on front, sides & back of base below lotus seat):
rje dkon mchog rgyal dbang la na mo / bdag nam mkha' phyag 'tshal dang skyabs su mchi {'chi'o?} / rjes su 'zung du [bzung du?] gsol /
Source: Bronze image in Tibet House (New Delhi), Huntington Archive Scan no. 0000527, with Vajrahumkara mudra (inscription on base, front side):
rje rtsun grags pa brgyal mtshan la na mo /
(rje btsun grags pa rgyal mtshan la na mo /)
Source: Bronze image in Tibet House (N. Delhi), Huntington Archive Scan no. 0000543 (inscription on base of image partly legible in photo, but surely legible on the image itself):
ma bcos spros bral bla ma chos kyi sku //
[several more lines of verse]
Source: Bronze image in Tibet House (New Delhi), Huntington Archive Scan no. 0000600, depicted with attributes of Manjushri (inscription all around the base below the lotus seat):
swa sti ... [rje?] khams gsum kun gyi [...] gi brgyan //
dus gsum dga' mdzad rgyal ba'i sras //
mtshan gyis srid gsum dpal gter ba //
'phrin las bzang po chos kyi rje //
kun dga' rgyal mtshan sku yi rten //
slob bu dkon mchog dpal ldan gyis //
gsol ba 'debs pa'i rten du bzhengs //
rtag tu rjes su bzung du gsol //
mangga lam //
()()()()()
Source: Bronze image in Tibet House (New Delhi), Hunting Archive Scan no. 0000699 (inscription on front of base):
gran mchog nam mkha' rgyal mtshan la na mo (reading of first syllable uncertain).
- - -
Source: Yury Khokholov & Yannick Laurent, Nam mkha' grags and the Three Silver Brothers: A Sixteenth-Century "Divine Artist" from Western Tibet and His Artistic Legacy, Journal of Tibetology, vol. 22, no. 1 (2020), pp. 236-274. PDF. The transcriptions are in the appendix, and you have to look at the publication for foonotes, translations etc.
1. Portrait of Bsod nams lhun grub (Philadelphia Museum of Art)
1.1 Transliteration
§/ swasti / dge legs bsod nams bye ba'i gzi 'bar zhing/ / nges don gnang ba'i ye shes lhun gyis grub/ / legs pa'i lam ston mthar49 pa'i 'byung gnas kyis/ / 'gro kun dpal 'byor bzang por mdzad la 'dud//mtshungs med bla ma 'jam pa'i dbyangs/ /'jig rten mgon dang rdo rje 'dzin/ / rgyal ba kun gyi sku gsung thugs/ / gzugs sku'i rnam par shar ba 'di/ / sngon dus khri bsrong lde btsan gyi/ / las kha 'dzin zhing ting sang dus/ / a ma dpal gyi gdung 'dzin ba'i/ / mi dbang bka' yi blon gyi mchog/ / tshe dbang rgyal po gang de dang/ / de yi dgongs pa'i dpal 'dzin ma/ / dpal 'dzom gus pas bshengs pa yi [/ /] dge bas sbyin bdag/ 'ched 'grang bcas/ / gnas skabs tshe ring nad med 'byor ldan zhing/ / mthar thug rdzogs pa'i sangs rgyas shog/ sprul ba'i lha bzo nam mkha' grags/ / la(m)ga la(m)/ /
2. The Three Silver Brothers (Pritzker Collection)
2.1 Transliteration
§/ ma rig mun sel rje btsun 'jam pa'i dbyangs/ / thugs rje dbang phyug rje btsun spyan ras gzigg / mthu stobs dbang phyug gsang ba'i bdag po yi/ / lta bas mi ngoms sku yi ya mtshan 'di/ / bzo rig pan chen nam mkha' grags kyis bzhengs/ / drin can pha ma gnyis kyi ched du bsngo/
()()()()()
HAR 1757. Image of Virûpa. Apparently this is same as HAR 200901, with same visible inscription!
...btsan (?) 'phir ba pa'i zhabs la bdag tsha rangs 'khor bcas phyag 'tshal ...
HAR 2119. Based on the Tibetan-script transcription supplied (possible to check it against photos provided):
sku mdog sngo nag phyag g.yas kyis /
gdan steng gnon cing g.yon pa yis /
sdig mdzub gyen bstan sems dkyil can /
gaµ ga zlog la phyag 'tshal lo /
HAR 2308:
dgyer chen po la na mo //
HAR 2316:
chos rje gangs dkar ba la na mo /
HAR 2317:
lha btsun chos rje la na mo//
HAR 2318:
'jag chen kun dga' dpal bzang la na mo/ /
HAR 2319 (on the palm leaf held in th hand):
tshe khrid bzhugs
HAR 2321:
zhang dgon pa pa la na mo//
HAR 2322:
rje rtsun bzhang dgon pa pa la na mo// maµ ga laµ// (rje btsun ba zhang dgon pa ba...)
HAR 2323 (identified as Sa chen Kun dga' snying po, as is HAR 2324, with not easily read inscription):
oµ sva sti / thugs rje'i gter chen lag na padmo yi / dngos ... [illeg.] slad du / gangs ri'i khod 'dir mi'i zugs 'dzin pa / bla chen sa skya pa [grub dbang...?] dge'o //
HAR 2324:
thugs rje chen po dang ldan pas //
rtag tu gzhan gyi don mdzad pa //
rnal 'byor dbang phyug sa skya pa //
kun dga' snying po la phyag 'tshal //
e waµ /
HAR 2325:
swa sti / rje btsun rtse mo la na mo //
HAR 2326:
chos rgyal 'phags pa la na mo //
HAR 2327:
rin can kun dga' rgyal po la
(rin chen kund ga' rgyal po la)
HAR 2328:
yongs rdzogs bstan pa'i snga bdag //
dkun mkhyen sangs rgyas 'phel la na mo / maµ ga laµ /
(yongs rdzogs bstan pa'i mnga' bdag // kun mkhyen sangs rgyas 'phel la na mo)
HAR 2329 (identified as Gu ge Mkhan chen Ngag dbang grags pa):
rje btsun ngag dbang grags pa la na mo // dge'o / kra shis //
(bkra shis)
HAR 2330:
chos rje zhal lu pa sangs rgyas dpal la na mo /
(chos rje zhwa lu pa sangs rgyas dpal...)
HAR 2331 (identified as Bsod nams lhun grub):
[xxx]s tshogs gnyis lhun grub cing //
dge legs bstan pa'i 'byung gnas chos kyi mdzod //
phan bde'i rgyal mtshan mchog ni 'dzin pa'i dpal //
bzang po'i zhabs kyi padmor gus pas 'dud // maµ ga laµ //
HAR 2332 (identified as Glo bo Mkhan chen Bsod nams lhun grub):
na mo 'byam dbyangs bsod nam lhun grub la // dag shâkyi' dge blong bsod rnam dpal bzang // mkhor byas phyag mtshal zhing skyabs phyi'o // tse ba chen po'i jes su bzung du gsol //
(na mo 'jam dbyangs bsod nams lhun grub la // bdag shâkya'i dge slong bsod nams dpal bzang // 'khor byas phyag 'tshal zhing skyabs mchi'o // brtse ba chen pos rje su bzung du gsol //)
HAR 2334:
om swasti / rje btsun dam pa dkon mchog yon tan gyi thugs dgongs rdzogs phyi / bdag shâkya'i dge slong dkon mchog blo gros spun gyis bzhengs / dge 'dis pha mas gtso byas sems can thams cad rjes su bzung du gsol / maµ gha laµ /
HAR 2341 (an Indic lantsa-like inscription is not transcribed here):
chos kyi brjre sings [~sing ge] rgyal mtshan la na mo /
(chos kyi rje seng ge rgyal mtshan la na mo /)
HAR 2342:
chos kyi rje seng ge rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po la ku 'du (gus 'dud?? sku 'dra??) la na mo //
HAR 2374 (this Maitreya being a Kashmir-style bronze, I suppose the Naga in the inscription could be Nagaraja, of western Tibetan royalty):
lha btsun ba na ga
HAR 11714, silver statue of a meditating monk.
shâkya'i drung du zla 'od gzhon nu nyid / slar yang gangs khrod dge slong 'tsho byed zhes / ri bo shântir ston pa'i rgyal tshab mdzad / gangs ljongs gtsug rgyan mnyam med x x x /
Note: Ri bo Shanti is known to be a mountain not far from Tsa ri.
HAR 13177. Image of Virûpa.
xxx pros bral[ la]s / 'di 'dra'i rab rjid dpal 'bar bsam las 'das / gangxxx
HAR 13196. Image of Virûpa.
...dbang myu gu la na mo / chos rje sangs rgyas rgya mtshos dad pas bzhengs /
HAR 20403. Image of Virûpa.
sku mdog dmar nag sdig 'dzub can //
g.yon pa thod pa 'chi med ...
HAR 32719.
kun la gsal // brtse bas dam chos dga' ston 'gyed // phrin las bzang po 'gro kun gyi // 'dren pa mchog la gus pas 'dud // rgyal tshab kun dga' dbang phyug pa'i // thugs [dgongs?] Note that the verso is not available.
HAR 32720.
gcig tu gzhan don la dga' ba / rgyal sras mtshan dpe'i dpal gyis mdzes / paˆ chen bzang po'i zhabs la 'dud / rgyal tshab kun dga' dbang phyug pa'i / thugs dgongs rdzogs phyir...
HAR 30034. Virûpa image.
rnal 'byor gyi dbang phyug rje tsun wir wa pa la / dpon drung khro bo sri thar yab sras phy...
HAR 65232 (Ivory image, back of cushions):
rgyal ba lha mchog seng ge/
Source: Bronze image of Virupa in undisclosed location, Huntington Archive Scan no. 0006715 (inscription on back of base). A clear photo is posted at HAR 68468:
shes bya kun la rab sbyangs pas //
brtson pas go 'phang mchog brnyes te //
brtse bas gzhan gyi don mdzad pa'i //
bir wa pa la phyag 'tshal lo //
HAR 83712 (all around the base):
Rje brtsun blo bzang grags pa'i sku 'bra 'di /
dbang chen mtshan can thugs dgong rdzogs phyir / (now back side:)
pha ma'i rgrib ba rbyong phyir du /
blo bzang rgyal mtshan dad pas bzhengs pa yin /
dge bas 'go kun sangs rgyas myur thob shog //
HAR 83714 (sits on a rock and wears boots, must be Emperor Ral pa can!):
'phags pa'i dge bsnyen dar ma ral pa'i thod cings glegs bam khung / snang mtha' mdun gyi mkha' la gzigs / x x x x x 'dzin phyag 'tshal .
HAR 83723 (front of lotus throne):
mkhyen rab chos rje la na mo.
HAR 83724 (This monk has unusual gesture of left hand supporting himself off to the side. Front of lotus throne):
brag phugs pa la na mo.
HAR 83726 (on back of throne):
rdo rje mo'i bu g.yas pa.
HAR 83727 (front of lotus throne):
gangs ri chen po ti se la / 'phags pa gnas brtan yan lag 'byung / dgra bcom ston... (illeg.). ... [back side] phyag 'tshal // bstan pa rgyas par byin gyi brlobs.
HAR 83731.
g.yas lnga pa pa ku la (i.e. Bakula).
HAR 83734.
xxxxx rab 'byams rtsa ba'i bla ma mchog //
bka' drin 'khor med dkon mchog rgyal mtshan rje // xxxxx mdzes mthong ba don ldan 'di // e ma dkon mchog rgyal dbang bdag 'dras bzhengs. Note: It looks like mdo ba rab 'byams, which could be rdo ba rab 'byams, not sure.
HAR 83736 (front of lotus throne):
Chos kyi rgyal po khr[i] kun dga' rnam rgyal lde la na mo.
HAR 83737:
A min dhe bâ sprul pa'i sku // pad ma badzra 'gro don mdzad // bde chen rdo rje ri khrod pa // rnal 'byor dbang phyug la phyag 'tshal lo.
HAR 85781. Partly legible on front side of the image base:
... ste / sku gsung thugs yon tan 'phrin las cig tu sdus pa'i ngo bo nyid / bla ma rnams dang dpal ldan xxx //
HAR 90839. Bir ba pa la na mo.
HAR 101621. Image of Virûpa.
... chen po gyen la bzlog //
chang la nyi ma rteng par bcug / ...
()()()()()
Source: Bronze image of a Lama with a flat-topped hat, teaching mudra, and lotusses above both shoulders. There must be an inscription, since the figure is identified as "Buddhacharya Srideva" and the date 1682 is given. Perhaps this is Sangs rgyas dpal or Sangs rgyas ston pa or someone like that. Huntington Archive Scan no. 0006779.
()()()()()
Source: A bronze image of Vajrapani. There is a Chinese inscription in front. The Tibetan inscription behind reads:
31 phyag rdor rgya nag thugs dam ma la na mo.
()()()()()
Source: Rubin no. 65349, a painting of Virupa. There is a long lantsa inscription on the back, as well as a Tibetan inscription. The Tibetan part I read like this:
zab don rgyud sde'i bskyed dang rdzogs pa'i rim pa la mkhas mkhas grub du mas gus sten cing //
rig tshul rnam bkra'i brjod pas kun yid kun dgar mdzad pa'i mkhas pa che //
rdo rje 'dzin pa tshul khrims bkra shis zhes grags grags pa'i dril chen 'khrol ba de'i //
thugs kyi dgongs pa chos kyi dbyings su bkod dang slad gsung skyes rdo rje'i slob bu che //
tshul khrims phung po yon gtan gyis rgyan gsum ldan rdo rje 'dzin dbang po //
rin chen bsod nams mchog grub bka' yi cod pan tsû rgya'i padma la bkod nas //
rnal 'byor dbang phyug grub pa'i 'khor tshogs dang bcas byin rlabs ye shes za ma tog //
bsod nams mchod sdong che 'di bkrun par byed po se na'i ming can kun tu rgyu //
dbyangs can spobs pa bzang pos 'bad pas grub po de dge ba gang thob des //
sems can thams cad bde ldan bstan pa rin chen dar zhing rgyas pas sa chen khyab //
khyad par bla med rgyud sde'i 'byung khungs kun mkhyen bu ston bstan pa rin chen ni //
phyogs dus kun tu dar zhing rgyas la yun ring gnas pa'i bkra shis shog // mangga lam //
dpal bla ma dam pa mkhan chen thams cad mkhyen pa rin chen bsod nams mchog grub kyi phyag nas ma bzhugs //
Note: I'm not sure, but the ref. to the author of the inscription (and donor of the thangka) having a "name including sena" might suggest he was one of the several Sakya figures named G.yag sde (Tib. sde corresponds to Skt. sena). The abbot Rin chen bsod nams mchog grub is identified in the entry at himalayanart website.
* * *
Source: Rubin no. 81834: A metal image of a teacher, quite a nice image with copper and silver inlays (they date it to 17th century). The transcription is taken from the internet site:
rje rbas pa'i rigs dzin nam mkha' rgyam mtsho la. krad nam mkha' rin chen gus pas phyag mtshal lo. bdag sogs pha ma'i tso gyas sems kun rnam. gan mchog khyed kyi grung du grib byans nam. nyur du sads rgyas dgo' phang thob par shog.
This is the same, with readings and corrections of my own:
rje sbas pa'i rig 'dzin nam mkha' rgya mtsho la / krad nam mkha' rin chen gus pas phyag 'tshal lo // bdag sogs pha ma'i gtso byas sems can kun / gan mchog khyed kyi drung du grib sbyangs nas / myur du sangs rgyas go 'phang thob par shog.
Note: krad and srad are possibly equivalent.
Source: Rubin no. 223, a painting of La wa pa / Kambala (This is the inscription as copied from the website, evidently done by Jeff Watts):
om svasti /
ma gcig dbyings kyi yum chen lab kyi sgron /
rab 'byams rtsa gsum 'khor lor 'char ba'i phrin /
dam tshig rten 'dir dbyer med brtan bzhugs la /
skal ldan sgrub por grub gnyis byin dbang stsol /
gnyis chos 'khrul ngor shar ba'i re dogs blo /
thabs chen phaT kyis gtor las shes rab dbyings /
mngon byed dam chos bdud kyi gcod yul gzhung /
ma nor lam du longs par byin gyis rlobs /
zhes pa'ang 'jigs med rdo rje'i dad rten bris sku'i rgyab byang du gcod smyon yan pa blo bde'am 'jigs bral ye shes rdo rjes lag bris su btab nye rab tu gnas par bgyis pa mthong ba don ldan gyi rgyud gyur cig / mangalam /
Huntington Archive scan no. 0004594 (back of thangka depicting Atisha in Tibet House Museum New Delhi) The Yedharma formula is omitted here. The rest is in beautiful cursive letters:
bstan pa'i sgron me dpal ldan a ti sha //
sras kyi thu bo rgyal ba rgya mtsho sogs //
bka' gdams bla brgyud mu tig 'phreng ba yis //
yongs su bskor ba'i bris sku zla med 'di //
dge slong bskal bzang rnam rgyal bdag gis bzhengs //
'dir 'bad bsod nams gangga'i chu klung che /
phyin drug bsdu bzhi'i rlab 'phreng g.yo bzhin du //
kun mkhyen ye shes rgya mtshor 'jug gyur cig //
rnam pa kun tu theg mchog bshes gnyen gyis //
dgyes bzhin rjes su bzung ba'i bka' drin gyis //
zab dang rgya che'i lam gyis rgyud phyug cing [chings] //
bstan dang 'gro ba'i mgon du 'gyur bar shog // mangga laµ // oµ su pra ti.sh.tha badzra ye swâ hâ //
The Skal bzang rnam rgyal who erected it may well be the one by that name who lived in the 18th century.
Huntington Archive scan no. 0002655 (on back of thangka with depiction of Arhat, in Patna Museum):
gang gi zhabs bsru'i [bkru'i] zegs ma'ang lha sogs kyi /
spyi bor mchod byed 'gro ba'i sbyin gnas che /
zhabs 'bring bka' yi bsrung mar bcas pa'i mthus /
deng 'dir dge legs rgya chen rtsal bar mdzod //
ces pa'ang 'gro 'dul rdo rjes //
Huntington Archive scan no. 0002656 (inscription on back of a thangka in Patna Museum):
'gro ba'i yon gnas bstan skyong 'phags pa'i tshogs //
bka' sdod yon sbyor pho nyar bcas rnams kyis /
bstan dang de 'dzin rgyu sbyor ltos bcas kyi /
legs tshogs yar zla'i dpal la 'gran par mdzod //
ces pa'ang kun dga' mi 'gyur rdo rjes so //
The inscription might very well be by Dre'u lhas Grub dbang Kun dga' mi 'gyur rdo rje.
Huntington scan no. 0002657 (back of thangka of Buddha Shakyamuni, located in Patna Museum):
ye shes 'od brgya'i dra ba gsal 'bar ba'i /
mtshan dpe nyin mor byed pa'i dkyil 'khor gang /
shar ba tsam na lus med sder bcas mun
mthar mdzad rgyal ba'i dbang por snying nas dad //
mgon khyod gsang gsum yon tan mes po'i gzugs /
dad gsum rin chen gzhi la 'phos pa'i mthus /
gtan bde'i ro bda' bsod nams mgron nyid du /
nges par zhugs pa'i tshul 'di ches rmad byung /
de'i phyir gzugs brnyan rten gyi rgya mtsho cher /
ye shes sems dpa'i gru char rab bsnyil te /
dbyer med dgyes 'dzum 'od kyi rlabs g.yo bas /
dngos grub nor bu'i dga' ston sbyin zhig gu /
ces pa'ang ris bral gyi grub mtha' 'dzin pa'i rgyal khams kyi dâ ri dra ngag dbang dge legs rgya mtshos sug brisu bstar ba'o //
I guess this inscription, too (like one above), could be by Dre'u lhas.
Huntington Archive scan no. 0002659 (back of thangka of Tsong kha pa):
om svâsti / phyogs bcu bde gshegs rgyal ba ma lus pa'i //
thugs rje mdzad pa gcig bsdus dus mtha'i mgon //
rtsa ba'i bla ma bskal bzang rgya mtsho'i sde //
byang chen bar du rigs kyi bdag por bzhugs //
bgrang med bskal mang brlobs chen tshogs bsags pa'i //
nus mthu dus su smin pas sangs rgyas dngos //
kun mkhyen bdun pa khyab bdag bla ma mchog //
dngos mjal rjes su bzung bas rnam kun 'tshengs //
mgon khyod mtshan tsam rna bar lhung bas kyang //
'khor ba mtha' can nyid du bgyid nges na /
mtshan dpe'i snang brnyan gsar du bskrun pa'i dge /
bsod nams phung po brjod pa'i yul las 'das //
padma ka ras lnga bdo'i mgon skyabs su //
sku tshab byin brlab 'gro ba'i mchod yul du /
btsal ba dang mtshungs bris sku dam pa 'di /
rje khyod dngos su mjal dang gnyis med sgrub /
nyin mtshan dus kun snying nas dran bzhin du /
blo gtad ling skyur brtse gcig gsol 'debs shing /
re pa gzhan du med pa'i bu rul bdag /
'bral med rjes su bzung zhig pha bla ma /
[smaller, and in handwriting, not mostly legible to me] ces pa'ang ... mtshungs med pa'i rje lung chen chos kyi rgyal po'i bka' rtsal ... ban rmongs rdzul snang mdzes rjes shar ... siddhir astu.
Huntington Archive, scan no. 0004354 (inscription on back of gilt bronze of Confession Buddha, kept in Bharat Kala Bhavan in Varanasi):
gang gi zhabs rdul me tog mandha ra //
thod du bcings nas smon lam btab pa'i mthus //
xxx bu'i sdug bsngal mtsho las sgrol ba'i gru //
mdzod cig bde gshegs mtshan legs yongs grub xxx //
g,yas dang po /
Huntington Archive scan no. 0000535 (inscription on back of Buddha, Tibet House New Delhi):
ngan song gnas kyi me 'obs gting zab par //
thugs rje'i char chen phab nas sgo gsum po //
sim pa'i tshor ba rtag tu myong ba ru //
mdzod cig bde gshegs mngon par mkhyen pa rgyal //
g.yon gsum pa /
Huntington Archive scan no. 0000532 (image in Tibet House, New Delhi' figure with topknot and spiral "conch" earrings):
rje brtsun gtsang pa he ru ka la na mo //
Huntington Archive scan no. 0000385 (Sa skya Pandi ta image, from Tibet House, N. Delhi):
s[x]r mo'[x] rtsa las khrungs // {read: sor mo'i rtsal las khrungs //}
Huntington Archive scan no. 0000583 (Virudhaka Lokapala image in bronze, Tibet House, New Delhi):
lho sgor 'phags skyes po ral gri /
Huntington Archive scan no. 0000515 (Manjushri bronze inscription, Tibet House, N. Delhi):
xxx dpal gyi mngon 'tho ba //
dpon po chos grags yab yum gnyis gyi na /
drin can pha ma'i dgongs pa rdzogs phyir bzhengs /
Huntington Archive scan no. 0000506 (Ming period Vajrapani gilt Bronze image, Tibet House, N. Delhi):
31 phyag rdor rgya nag thu.t dam ma la na mo /
31 phyag rdor rgya nag thugs dam ma la na mo /
Huntington Archive scan no. 0000602 (Tibet House, N. Delhi)
khams gsum kun gyi gtsug gi brgyan //
dus gsum dga' mdzad rgyal ba'i sras //
mtshan gyis srid gsum ...
rgyal mtshan sku yi rten //
slob bu dkon mchog dpal ldan gyis //
gsol ba 'debs pa'i rten du bzhengs //
rtag tu rjes su bzung du gsol // mangga laµ //
Huntington Archive scan no. 0000435 (bronze of Grub chen Da ma ru pa):
Part of inscription only is visible: ... du bzhengs / chos lung ba grang /
grub chen .da ma rû pa la na mo / bsod nams ldan pa bsod nams seng ge yon bdag dang re ...
Huntington Archive scan no. 0000399 (Tibet House, N. Delhi):
bla chen dgongs pa rab gsal (evidently identified by an inscription!?)
Huntington Archive scan no. 0000545 (bronze of seated lama, collection of Tibet House, New Delhi):
... rgyan padma 'di // gtsug klag khang ... spros bral bla ma mchog chos kyi sku ... karna kâ ra dza dpon chen rnam pa lnga ... [part only of this inscription is visible]
— — —
Source: Takata Tokio, A Note on the Lijiang Tibetan Inscription. Asia Major 19 nos 1-2 (2006) 161-170. A tomb inscription. This is a very rough transcription only, not an exact one. One must consult the original text. The author believes the inscription must predate 788 CE.
p. 162: mtsho rum long la dag thog ma / rgya 'bangs las rgya rje gtan gyi rjer myi rung nas // btsan po lha sras la glo ba nye ste // blon skyes bzang la / phyag 'tshal nas pho tshed zang mang ni / gser chen pho stsald // long la dag gtsang cen stsald pa las lo dgu bcu lon de gum ba'i mchad pa /
Transliterated Text
Line 1. mtsho: rum: long: la dag: thog: ma / rgya: 'bangs: las:
Line 2. rgya: rje: gtan: gyi: rjer: myi: rung: nas // btsan: po: lha: sras: la:
Line 3. glo: ba: nye ste // blon: skyes: bzang: la: / phyag: 'tshal: nas: pho: tshed zang
Line 4. mang: ni / gser: chen pho: stsald // long la: dag gtsang cen stsald pa: las lo
Line 5. dgu bcu lon de gum ba'i mchad pa
Translation
[Tombstone of] Long-la-dag of mTsho rum. The origin [of the affair is as follows]: the Chinese people no longer accepted the Chinese emperor as being qualified to be a stable ruler; therefore, [Longla-dag] made a pledge of allegiance to the Tibetan btsan-po, son of heaven, and paid reverence to the councilor sKyes-bzang [d. 757]. As a result, Pho Tshed-zang-mang was granted a great gold letter (medal) and Long-la-dag was given an official rank of gtsang-chen. Later, having attained the age of ninety, he died. [Here is] his tomb.
Source: Essen Catalog, p. 85: Tibetan carved on the back of a stone sculpture of Târâ, of Bihar workmanship: pur pa 'de sa ho'i //
()()()()()
Source: Yoshiro Imaeda, T-shaped Inscription Frames in Mogao (Dunhuang) and Yulin Caves, Report of the Japanese Association for Tibetan Studies, no. 53 (June 2007) 89-99.
p. 91: dze'u de'i cung gyis 'phags pa'i 'khor cig bgyis pa' 'di shang she'i sku yon du bsngas pa' lags so //. A photo of this inscription is found on p. 99.
p. 94, note 4: 'phrul gyi lha brtsan pho // khri gtsug lde brtsan gyi sku ring la / // sku yon sems can thams chad gyi bsam ... hong pen / sgos // gtsug lag khang 'di / chu pho byi ba'i lo'i dpyid na btsugs te // shing pho stag gi lo'i ston /... // ston sla 'bring la // sku gzugs spyan phyed te / zhal bsros so / [for a more precise transcription, see the original publication]
p. 95, note 10: byams pa sprul pa'i gtsug lag khang gi yon bdag yang beng 'cho'i rkyo (?) ...
()()()()()
Source: Andre Alexander, Temples of Lhasa, Serindia (Chicago 2005) p. 77:
73 ra mo cher mkhyen lugs pa rnams kyis 'khrungs rab so bzhi pa'i ldeb bris tshugs pa / (Painting of Jataka stories in time of Dalai Lama V.)
()()()()()
Source: woodblock print depicting the O rgyan Bsnyen sgrub lineage (one of the 8 such woodblocks depicting the Eight Chariots of Kong sprul, done at Derge, and placed on the internet).
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8
9 10
11 12
13
1. grub chen karma pakshi.
2. rgyal ba rgod tshang pa.
3. phag mo zhal gnyis ma.
4. dus 'khor ba sangs rgyas rdo rje (a teacher of O rgyan pa).
5. bo dong rin rtse (bo dong pa rin chen rtse mo, a teacher of O rgyan pa).
6. chos rje rang byung rdo rje.
7. [o rgyan pa rin chen dpal] not actually marked.
8. rtogs ldan zla ba seng ge.
9. zur phug pa rin chen dpal (teacher of 'Ba' ra ba).
10. snye mdo kun dga' don grub (teacher of Karma pa III).
11. padma nyin byed dbang po (1774‑1853?).
12. rgyal dbang theg mchog rdo rje (1797‑1867).
Source: The Derge woodblock representing the Zhi byed (and Gcod) lineages, as one of the Eight Chariots of Kong sprul (downloaded from internet).
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11
12 13
14 15
16 17
18 19 / 20
21 22 23 24
25 26 27
28 29
Top inscription: sgrub brgyud shing rta / g.yon dang po / dam pa rgya gar dang ma gcig lab sgron [illeg.]
1. 'jam dpal smra seng.
2. unmarked Buddha figure.
3. spyan ras gzigs.
4. grub chen mtsho skyes.
5. mkhas pa dge ba'i lha.
6. a Buddha (unmarked).
7. gser gling pa.
8. bram ze arya de wa.
9. kha che dznyâ na gupta.
10. PHA DAM PA (main figure, unmarked).
11. gra mngon dbang phyug 'bar (i.e., grwa pa mngon shes can).
12. skyo ston bsod nams bla ma.
13. yar klung sma ra ser po.
14. rma chos kyi shes rab.
15. so dge 'dun 'bar.
16. LHO badzra kro dha.
17. NUB phyar chung.
18. ka.m ye shes rgyal mtshan (skam ye shes rgyal mtshan)
19. BYANG dam pa kun dga'.
20. pa tshab (?).
21. SHAR SGO DAM PA phyar chen.
22. rgyal ba te ne (rgyal ba rten ne).
23. MA GCIG LAB SGRON.
24. rog shes rab 'od.
25. sras rgyal ba don grub [this with the following three ought to be the 'four great sons' of Ma gcig].
26. khu sgom chos seng.
27. [the inscription isn't visible, bit perhaps it is rgya nag gcer bu, since he's naked other than the Rechungpa-style hat]
28. dol ba zang thal (??)
* * *
Source: Kano Kazuo, An Inscription on the Northern Wall in rNam thar sgo gsum Chapel of South Sa skya Monastery [in Japanese]. J. of the Kôyasan Univ. 50 (Feb 2015) 43-50. PDF.
[1] oṃ svasti prajñebya /
bgrang yas bskal ba rgya mtsho'i pha rol nas // bsod nams ye [shes
chos] (...) 'bras bu [nyid] 'dir ston pa sangs rgyas mchog //
gang de slar yang (→ yangs) [2] pa'i bstan mchog //
mchog tu rgyas pa'i rgyal tshab sa skya pa //
rim byon brtse chen kun dga' snying po'i 'og (// ...)
(bsod) [nams] rtse mo dang // rgyal mtshan dpal //
'dzam gling mkhas pa'i gtsug [3] rgyan paṇḍi ta //
khams gsum chos kyi rgyal po 'phags pa'i mtshan //
zhabs zung gser gyi 'khor lo rtag tu rgyal // (...) [m]chis pa //
chos dang srid kyi [dge legs] dpal yon rnams //
spel mdzad de rje btsun gong ma rim byon [4] dang //
khyad par sngags 'chang kun dga' bkra shis rgyal //
de de'i mdzad pa spyi dang khyad pard //
spros pa'i (→pas) lha chen byang [gis] (...) drug chu mo phag gi lor //
nyams g[so] sngar 'dra legs par nus zin pa //
rnal 'byor rgyud nas gtso bor ston (→ bstan) [5] pa yi //
dkyil 'khor zhal grangs bcu phrag gsum tsam bzhugs //
sku gzugs rin chen gser dang [mtshon sna'i tshogs] //
las [kun nas] (...) [sangs] rgyas bstan dang [khyad par] sa skya pa'i //
bstan pa rin chen phyogs bcur rgyas pa dang [6]
bstan 'dzin gdung sras nor bu'i 'phreng ba ltar //
rim byon 'phrin las dbyar mtsho ltar 'phel shog // //
_/—\_/—\_/—\_
Source: Henk Blezer's paper in the Rubin Museum publication, Bon: The Magic Word.
Provisional Identification of Lineage and Deities
Lineage
Textual reference material: zhi khro dgongs pa kun 'dus thos chog rang grol chen mo'i rgyud las dbang khrid rang gsal ye shes 'od kyi 'khor lo bzhugs//
1. bon gyi sku mchog kun tu bzang po p.168.3; cf. A1
· stong rgyung mthu chen not in dbang khrid i
· yab sras kun 'dus not in dbang khrid ii
2. sprul pa'i sku mchog dran pa nam mkha' p.168.5
3. 'gro ba'i mgon po tshe dbang rig 'dzin p.168.6
· padma mthong grol Padmasambhava not in dbang khrid iii
· ye shes mtsho rgyal not in dbang khrid iv
· Mandarava not in dbang khrid v
· be ro tsa na not in dbang khrid vi
4. mi brjed gzungs thob dam pa rang grol p.169.2
5. grub thob chen po shar pa rnal 'byor p.169.3
· 'od ldan 'bar ma not in dbang khrid vii
· tshe dbang bod yul ma not in dbang khrid viii
6. 'gro mgon bla ma tog gi rgyal mtshan p.169.4
7. mnyam med 'bru ston rgyal ba g.yung drung p.169.5
8. rtogs pa rding ldan nam mkha' 'od zer p.169.6
9. rtag chad mtha' bral bsod rgyal mtshan p.170.1
10. gang gi mtshungs med bsod nams blo gros p.170.2
11. yongs la rnam rgyal ka ra mtshan can p.170.3
12. mkhas grub chen mo rin chen blo gros p.170.4
13. mnyam med chen po shes rab rgyal mtshan p.170.5
14. rang grol sher seng = gtsug gis rgyan gyur shes rab seng ge p.170.6
15. bstan pa'i srog shing nyi ma rgyal mtshan p.171.1 cf. 27
16. bstan 'gro'i dpal yon rin chen dbang ldan p.171.2
17. mu la drung mu = gnyug ma mngon rtogs nam mkha' g.yung drung p.171.3 cf. 24?
18. sems nyid rnal pheb 'od zer rgyal mtshan p.171.4
19. gong ma'i rjes 'dzin rnam rgyal grags pa p.171.5
20. skyes mchog dam pa bstan pa 'od zer p.171.6
21. stong nyid don 172 rtog lhun grub tshul khrims p.171.6-172.1
22. rang shar rin rgyal = bstan 'dzin skyes mchog rin chen rgyal mtshan p.172.1f
23. rgyal ba bsod gyung = rgyal ba'i rgyal theb bsod nams g.yung drung p.172.2f
· mkhas btsun nam mkha' lhun grub not in dbang khrid ix
24. skye med don rtogs nam mkha' g.yung drung p.172.3f cf.17 not on painting?
25. zhu za khri btsun dpal ldan bzang mo p.172.4f
26. rtogs ldan nam tshul = bskyed rdzogs mthar phyin nam mkha' tshul khrims p.172.5f
27. za ra mngon gyur 173 nyi ma rgyal mtshan pp.172.6-173.1 cf. 15
· mi shig rdo rje not in dbang khrid x
· sangs rgyas gling pa not in dgang khrid xi
28. dge bshes g.yung drung bstan 'dzin gtsug phud p.173.1f & 113, root lama kun grol
29. smon rgyal sprul sku kun grol grags pa p.173.2f = xiii or, perhaps, xvi?
30. mchog sprul dmu rgyal lhun grub rgya mtsho p.173.3f, cf. xvii not on painting?
· gsang sngags grags pa not in dbang khrid xii
· nam mkha' ye shes not in dbang khrid xiii=29?
· zla ba grags pa zla grags sprul sku, not in dbang khrid xiv
· rtsa ba'i bla ma, not in dbang khrid xv
· unidentified religious figure surrounded by monks xvi=29?
· unidentified religious figure surrounded by monks xvii=30?
Deities
Textual reference material: zhi khro dgongs pa kun 'dus thos chog rang grol chen mo'i rgyud las snyan rgyud thos grol bar do 'phrang sgrol bzhugs//
A1 bde chen 'khor lo thig le'i 'od klong na bdag med bon sku = bder gshegs rgyal ba kun tu bzang po, p.335.4f, kun tu bzang mo yum, p.338.3
a bdag gi sems nyid a'i 'phro 'du? las bdag yod gshen lha 'od dkar = bdag nyid gsal stong gshen lha 'od dkar p.317.3, but depicted is kun bzang rgyal ba 'dus pa
B1 mgrin pa longs spyod khri bzhi nam ting bder gshegs gsung gi lha yab yum p.337.1 yum: thugs rje byams ma, p.338.5
C1 tsitta gsang rtsa kun snang khyab pa bder gshegs thugs kyi lha yab yum lha p.339.2f
C2 mtsher pa'i gsang rtsa gsal ba rang 'byung bder gshegs sku yi lha yab yum p.340.2; text written in the wrong place, it ended up with H5, this deity obviously should be peaceful and not wrathful as is H5
C3 glo ba'i gsang rtsa dge lha gar phyug bder gshegs yon tan lha yab yum p.341.2
C4 mchin pa'i gsang rtsa bye brag dngos med bder gshegs gsung gi lha yab yum p.342.1
C5 mkhal pa 'i gsang rtsa dge ba don grub yab yum dga' ba don grub bder gshegs phrin las lha p.343.1
D'1 she thun rtsa sgo ye gshen sems dpa' khri bzhi nam ting yab yum p.344.5
D1 mig rtsa pur long ye gshen sems dpa' thang ma me sgron yab yum nam mkha'i sgo mig, p.345.4
D2 rna rtsa gro ga rgyal ba yab yum nam? mkha'? la? zhe sdang ye gshen sems dpa' kha ste mu ya p.346.3
D3 rna rtsa li shi ye gshen sems dpa' gtsug gshen rgyal ba yab yum p.347.1
D4 lce rtsa re shag ye gshen sems dpa' snang ba mdog can yab yum p.347.5
D5 . . . =bcud 'dus? . i . ? =tshig? rtsa la text: bcud 'dus tshig rtsa ba rab gling bzhi yab yum p.348.3?
D6 gsang rtsa ra un la ye gshen sems dpa' ba rab gling rtsol yab yum p.349.3
D7 g.yon dmar mang rum ye gshen sems dpa' khri rmang rgyal ba yab yum p.349.5
D8 g.yas dkar dangs skyed ye gshen sems dpa' lde bo gsung chen yab yum p.350.4
E1 spyi gtsug bde chen lha yi gshen rab ye gshen gtsug phud lha rnams 'dul ba'i ye gshen gtsug phud p.352.3 & p.408.4
E2 lce rtsa re shag la mgrin pa longs spyod mgur lha byang yug yab yum lha min gshen rab lce rgyal par ti p.353.2f lha men . . . & p.408.2
E3 thugs ka bon nyid mi yi gshen rab gsang ba 'dus pa pp.353.5-354.1 & p.408.1 Gra byin don spungs
E4 lte ba la lte ba'i sprul pa byang sems mnyams pa nyid? lte ba la byol song 'dul ba'i gshen rab ti sangs rmang zhi p.354.2f & p.407.4 ti sangs rang zhi
E5 gsang gnas la yi dvags 'dul ba'i gshen rab mu cho ldem drug p.355.1 & p.407.3
E6 rkang pa'i dkyil rtsa la dmyal ba'i gshen rab gsang ba ngang ring p.355.4 & p.407.1
F1 mig gi dkyil rtsa la lha mo dkar mo padma'i spyan can gyi sku p.357.2
F2 lce yi dkyil rtsa lha mo dmar mo 'bar ba'i ljags kyi can gyi sku p.357.4f; put in the wrong place due to lack of space?
F3 lag pa'i dkyil rtsa la lha mo gser gyi thor gtsug can gyi sku p.358.2
F4 rkang pa'i dkyil rtsa la lha mo sngon mo chu rkang ma . . . chu rkang can gyi sku, p.358.4
G1 lag pa'i mgul 'gul rtsa la ye gshen sems dpa' bdud rtsi rgyal ba yab yum p.359.2f
G2 long bu rtsa 'dus la ye gshen sems dpa' zhi dal kun snyom yab yum p.360.1
G3 pur long lang rtsa 'dus ye gshen sems dpa' gtsug phud rgyal ba p.360.5
G4 lte rtsa nyung zugs zug la ye gshen sems dpa' 'byams pa gdar gcod yab yum? p.361.4f; written off-centre, next to deity to the left?
H'1 dbus mthing dung khang la dbal gsas rngam pa khro rgyal mkha' 'gying kha p.365.4
H'2 mgrin pa ag sho ngag la mi bzad gnam gyi lha rgod thog pa rje yab yum? p.366.5
H1 tsi ta snying rtsa Thugs rje gtso mchog khro rgyal mkha' 'gying kha yab yum p.369.5
H2 mtsher rtsa byin lag la mtsher pa'i rtsa 'gyur med g.yung drung khro gsas mkha' 'gying kha yab yum pp.370.5-371.1
H3 glo ba'i rtsa gar chen sod de rngam gsas mkha' 'gying kha yab yum p.372.1f
H4 mchin rtsa mi dvangs? la mchin pa'i rtsa nam mkha' mthong khyab dbal gsas mkha' 'gying kha yab yum p.373.2
H5 mkhal rtsa brag spar la mkhal ma'i rtsa kham kham tshig tshig gtum gsas mkha' 'gying kha yab yum p.374.3; description in the wrong place it appears at J4, the description featured at H5 pertains in fact to the peaceful deity C2, the picture according to the description in the dbang khrid pertains to a three-headed and six-armed wrathful deity as is seen at H5
I1 mig rtsa pur long mthong thang sras sgron ma yab yum p.377.2 I1' =gsal byed ha la gcod pa khra slag can p.376.4 I1
I2 rna rtsa gro ga snyan lha ho sangs yab yum p.378.1 I2' =kun grags ha la sgra rgyal 'brug slag can p.377.3 I2
I3 sna rtsa lig shi shangs lha rum po yab yum rig pa rang dbang stobs su gyur pa dbang p.378.5 I3' =dri tshor ha la bya rgyal khyung slag can p.378.2 I3
I4 lce rtsa re shag la 'gyur mgur? lha byang yug yab yum p.479.3 I4' =kun grol ha la bdud rtsi char slag can p.379.1 I4
I5 bcud 'dus tshig rtsa tshig lha gur bu yab yum 380.3 I5' =mngon sprul ha la g.yung drung tshe slag can p.379.5 I5
I6 mgrin pa'i rtsa gnam grags ngar chen yab yum p.381.2 I6' =sgra 'gyur ha la 'phrul gyi yig slag can p.380.4 I6
I7 g.yon dmar rtsa ma pang lha chen yab yum p.382.1 I7' =rdzu 'phrul ha la g.yo ba rlung slag can p.381.3 I7
I8 g.yas dkar rtsa dkar po gnas 'dzin yab yum p.382.5 I8' ='gyur med ha la gsal ba 'od slag can yab yum p.382.2 I8
J1 brgyud? byed lag pa'i phar rtsa la dbal gyi rgyal po mi bzad me la rgyungs yab yum p.384.2
J2 long bu rtsa 'dus la stobs chen mi bzad stag 'gros rgyal po p.385.1
J3 pur long rtsa 'dus stobs chen skyi 'dang mi phud rgyal po p.385.5
J4 lte rtsa nyung zugs khro rngam ha la stobs kyi rgyal po p.386.4; the name on the painting obviously pertains to another deity, H5, the dbang khrid description that goes with the name describes a three-headed and six-armed wrathful deity; this one has only one head and two arms; it probably is khro rngam ha la stobs kyi rgyal po
K1 she thun rtsa sgo la mi bzad gnam gyi lha rgod thog pa rje yab yum? p.388.3, NB 2nd reference
L1-3 skad kyi gdangs gdong la dbal mo? rje blon 'bang gsum gsang rtsa la gnas p.389
L4-6 ljags kyi ngar la rje gsum gnyis pa pp.389f.
L7-9 stag pa'i bdud sgo la dbal mo gsum pa p.390
L10-2 sku stod gdeng tshigs dbal mo bzhi pa p.391
L13-5 thugs kyi dkyil rtsa la dbal mo lnga pa snying sul dbu dmar gnas p.392
L16-8 sgal tshigs gzhung rtsa la dbal mo drug bcud 'dus gnas pp.392f.
L19-21 drod kyi mtha'i rtsa la dbal mo bdun pa p.393
L22-4 snyan du mchog la snyan gyi mchog rtsa dbal mo brgyad pa p.394
L25-7 rtsa yi sbub rtsa la dbal mo sde gsum dgu pa p.395
M1 ltag tshig las mkhan dbal gyi mi phos bsvo cha ha sgra sgrogs mthing sngon ltag tshig gnas p.397.2
M2 dpung tshigs g.yas las mkhan dung gi mi chung dang po thams cad sems su shes par rgyan/rgyas pa p.397.3
M3 dpyid tshigs g.yas pa las mkhan g.yu'i mi chung p.397.3f
M4 dpyid tshigs g.yon las mkhan zangs kyi mi chung p.397.4
M5 dpung tshig g.yon las mkhan lcags kyi mi chung p.397.5
M6 gru mo g.yas las mkhan dbal stag khra bo pp.397.5
M7 pus mo g.yas la% las mkhan dbal 'brug sngon po p.398.1
M8 pus mo g.yon pa las mkhan dbal g.yag dkar po p.398.2
M9 gru mo g.yon las mkhan dbal khyung sngon mo p.398.2
M10 myug mjug rus las mkhan khro chu'i mi chung p.398.3
N1 tshig chen bcu las mkhan ser mo glang mgo p.399.1
N2 ditto 02? las mkhan mthing nag dom mgo p.399.1
N3 ditto 03? dpyid g.yas la las mkhan sngon ljang chu srin add: mgo p.399.1
N4 ditto 04? dpyid tshig g.yon la las mkhan dmar mo'i spyang mgo p.399.2
N5 ditto 05? las mkhan skya bkra gsa' mgo p.399.2
N6 ditto 06? las mkhan ser ljang khyung mgo bo p.399.2
N7 ditto 07? las mkhan smug nag rnga mngo / mgo mthing nag p.399.3
N8 ditto 08? las mkhan dmar nag phag 'go read: mgo p.399.3
N9 ditto 09? las mkhan dmar mo dred mgo p.399.3
N10 ditto 10? las mkhan bkra gsal stag mgo p.399.4
O1 phyag g.yas mthil rtsa la las mkhan mi dkar seng mgo p.401.2
O2 zhabs g.yas mthil rtsa la las mkhan mi dmar phag mgo p.401.2
O3 zhabs g.yon pa'i mthil rtsa la las mkhan mi sngon 'brug mgo p.401.3
O4 phyag g.yon mthil rtsa la las mkhan mi nag dom mgo p.401.3
* * *
Source: The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, Tibet: Treasures from the Roof of the World (Santa Ana 2003). The authors are Patricia Berger, Robert W. Clark, and Terese Tse Bartholomew.
p. 45 (a tapestry of Shâkya ye shes): Ngag dbang chos kyi rgyal po / kun mkhyen rdzogs pa'i sangs rgyas. Note also the next painting with a longer inscription.
p. 51: Chos kyi rong (??).
p. 66: rten mchog bya rung kha shor snang brnyan 'di //
p. 67 (inscription on the same model chorten):
bstan 'gro'i 'og [?] bskal brgyar 7zhabs brtan slad //
(these are two of the 4 inscriptions on 4 sides of this representation of the Bodhanath stupa, the other two not being visible here) {{Now the complete inscription has been transcribed in footnote no. 31 on p. 595 of Tibet. Klöster öffnen ihre Schatzkammern, Kulturstiftung Ruhr Essen (Villa Hügel 2006):
rten mchog bya rung kha shor snang brgyan 'di //
bstan 'gro'i don du bskal brgyar zhabs brtan slad //
bstan 'dzin 7rgyal ba rgya mtsho'i bla ma ni //
lha tshong rin chen thub bstan khyim spyis phul //
Note that there are other art inscriptions here with the same name Rin chen thub bstan, otherwise not yet identified. There is a very modern "Rinchen Thubten" who has published a few books in Italian.}
p. 71: only partially legible (in the photo) inscription on base of a representation of the 'khor lo rin po che: gang zhig khyed gi byin rlabs... Evidently this quite long inscription spirals entirely around the circular base.
105 (gold butter lamp with very long inscription encircling the base, not much readable here): ces pa 'di ni rigs kun khyab bdag 7rje btsun bla ma mchog gi sku gdung rin po che... smon tshig tu de mo ho min han ngag dbang 'jam dpal bde legs rgya mtshos sbyar ba'o. Since the inscription was composed by the Sixth De mo Rin po che (d. 1777), I feel sure that the "early 20th century" date given here is mistaken. Surely the butterlamp was made to burn in front of the memorial chorten for the 7th Dalai Lama, who died in 1757.
pp. 230-231: The following is inscribed in cursive letters inside what is described as a pen case made of wood (it looks more like a message board, the bsam bkra described on pp. 232-3):
las kyis bsdus pa'i pha yul nye du kun //
bzhag ste rgyang ring yul du song na yang //
rgyus med yul nas don med mdza' bshes sogs //
bsdus te rnam g.yeng byed po smyon pa yin //
'on don thos bsam las la sgrims shig ang //
p. 237: The syllable "dar" is inscribed on some surgical implements, suggesting that the set might have belonged to Byang ngos Dar rgyas, the Fifth Dalai Lama's court physician.
p. 529. inscription inside the lid of a box holding a double-headed skull drum:
gnam skyong lo nga dgu pa'i zla ba brgyad gsar bzhengs sngon gi yang .ti ka pâ la'i .ta ma ru byin can gcig /
p. 533. inscription on the 'sleeve' of a rare right-turning (clockwise spiraling outward) conch shell trumpet. Transcribed in note 54 on p. 617:
rnam par rgyal ba'i phan bde legs bshad gling pa'i chos dung phun tshogs g.yas 'khyil 'di'i gshog pa gsar bzo'i rgyu rgyal dbang mchog gi sku gzhogs nas phra'i g.yu sbyang gnyis / de las chung chung tsam gnyis / de 'og che chung 'dres ma bco brgyad / chung ba lnga brgya dang dgu bcu thams cad rnams bka' drin bskyangs / mchod dpon blo bzang mthu stobs dang dbu mdzad blo bzang yon tan gnyis kyis gser zho lnga brgya thams pa / grwa tshang spyi so nas dngul srang nyi shu phyed rtsa drug bton pa'i / do dam gnyer pa dge bshes blo bzang sbyin pa dang dge bshes ngag dbang 'phrin las / bzo bo bal po brdung pa dha lam / bkra shis mgon po / 'phul pa shi nyi / dza shing / .da ki .ta / phra pa la na mu ne rnams kyis bgyis te / phur bu zhes pa sa pho spre'u'i lo hor zla bcu gcig pa'i tshes dge bar legs par grub pa sarba mangga lam //.
* * *
Source: Giuseppe Tucci, "Tibetan Painted Scrolls."
On pp. 677, 763, is an inscription, quite a difficult one (as anyway inscriptions tend to be), on a conchshell which begins: un hing 'dza leng. These are quite apparently ZZ words, including the ZZ word for 'conch,' which is UN. This conch shell was kept at Spos-khang, although it doesn't look like Tucci makes it explicit that this is the same Spos-khang silver conch casing he illustrates in his fig. 82 (see ibid., pp. 202-3). It's really a magnificent work of metal casting, with dragon, horse, lion & deities included, although I don't see a place for an inscription (perhaps on the back of the sleeve, or 'inside' where the conch itself ought to be).
Here's a Romanization of the Tibetan (the script is not ZZ) script inscription as given by Tucci:
un hing 'dza leng rin chen kun krag 'di chu' cin kyi thog la pun mo tsha lha 'gar rgyal mtshan 'i lag rjes na bkris.
No wonder Tucci couldn't make much of what it says, although in his footnote he at least rightly identifies the lha-'gar as an alternative spelling for lha-mgar, 'divine smith.' Of course Gyaltsen (Rgyal-mtshan) is the name of this 'divine smith,' who is further described as a nephew (or grandson) of some "pun-mo," whatever that means (Tucci wants to correct pun mo tsha to read dpon-mo-che, 'great chieftainess').
The first four syllables are most definitely Zhangzhung. I'm also sure of one thing, that the syllable UN means 'conch' (not that it's all that simple, since it may also mean 'dragon' or the dragon's sound, which is 'thunder'... just see Haarh's dictionary). There are plenty of examples of this.
It's possible that un hing would be the same as un ting (graphic similarity especially in cursive script). Hummel (on what basis I don't know) has defined ZZ un ting as equivalent to Tibetan sgra-dbyangs, 'melody.' However, analyzing the two syllables it's likely to mean 'conch' and 'water,' which could mean 'water-conch' I suppose. "Water-dragon" wouldn't be impossible, I also wonder...
The syllable leng does exist in ZZ, corresponding to Tib. gling, 'island,' so perhaps the 'dza is after all just a ZZ-like form for Tib. 'dzam, and the two syllables together mean Jambu Island? That means the whole world, or at least the Indian subcontinent. That's my best guess at the moment.
I'm also thinking that the first four syllables are in Zhangzhung simply because this is the 'personal' name of the conch itself. Particularly remarkable implements like this one have often gotten 'personal' names. This conch already had a name before the artist inscribed it on this conch cover (or conch holder/handle as you prefer). And that name is a Zhangzhung name.
The next four letters just mean 'with all kinds of variegated jewels' (you can see the settings for precious stones in the photograph)...
(Nov 13, 2009 communcation with Zhangzhung Studies Forum.)
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
Source: Tibet. Klöster öffnen ihre Schatzkammern, Kulturstiftung Ruhr Essen (Villa Hügel 2006).
p. 596, note 82 (inscription on a very large manuscript of the Prajñâpâramitâ) The Donor Mgo[n] ne is probably the royal descendent by that name... and since he is mentioned in Lde'u history, this ms. would be much older than the 2nd half of 14th century:
kye yon bdag mgo ne'i thugs dam glegs bam chen po 'di // // [~mgon ne'i]
dbus gtsang gnyis na mkhas pa 'bum skyabs sgang gis bris // //
chen po mkhas btsun gong ma rnams kyis gzigs par 'os // //
kye glegs bam chen po bkra shis 'od 'bar 'dzam gling brgyan du grags // //
kye kho bo sgang la 'od gzer [~'od zer] 'di 'dra yod // //
kye kho bo sgang gi 'bum skyabs la // //
yon tan [g]san zhing yon tan shes //
In a volume of the Kangyur made at Sakya in 1725 (note 92 on p. 597):
'khon gyi rigs 'khrungs dpal ldan sa skya pa //
ngag dbang kun dga' bsod nams rin chen gyi //
yum mchog bstan 'dzin bsod nams bzang mo yis //
thugs dam bka' 'gyur bstan 'gro'i dpal mgon zhes //
gsung rab glegs ban rin chen 'gyur ro 'tshal 'di bzhengs //
A 14th-century Kâlacakra tantra golden manuscript:
kha che'i paˆ∂i ta so ma nâ tha dang bod kyi lo tsa ba 'bro dge slong shes rab grags kyis bsgyur cing zhus te gtan la phab pa las // dus phyis yon tan phul du byung ba dpag tu med pas spras pa'i bla ma dam pa chos kyi rgyal po'i bka' lung dang / dpon chen shâkya bzang po'i gsung bzhin du / mkhas pa chen po zhang ston mdo sde dpal dang / dus kyi 'khor lo'i tshul khong du chud pa'i dge slong tshul khrims dar gyis don gyi cha la legs par dpyad cing bskul te / legs par sbyar ba'i skad kyis brda sprod pa'i bstan bcos rig pa'i dge slong shong ston gyis / dpal sa skya'i gtsug lag khang chen por yul dubs kyi rgya dpe gnyis la gtugs shing legs par bcos te gtan la phab pa'o //
gang gi thugs dgongs rnam par dag pa yis /
'di la bskul zhing mthun rkyen bsgrubs pa dang /
bdag gis 'bad las bsod nams gang thob des /
kun gyis 'di rtogs sangs rgyas sar gnas shog /
slar yang dpal ldan bla ma dam pa chos kyi rje thams cad mkhyen pa dang / dpal dus kyi 'khor lo chen po dharma kîrti shrî bha dras / 'di'i don rnams legs par dgongs shing bka' yis bskul nas de dag gi gsung bzhin du / paˆ∂i ta chen po sthi ra ma ti'i bka' drin las / legs par sbyar ba'i tshul rig pa lo tsa ba shâkya'i dge slong blo gros rgyal mtshan dang / blo gros dpal bzang pos / rgyud dang 'grel pa'i rgya dpe amng po la gtugs nas dag pa rnams dang mthun par bsgyur cing zhus te gtan la phab pa'o /
de ltar gsung rab rgya mtsho'i nges don stong nyid snying po ni /
rnam kun mchog ldan stong pa nyid dang 'gyur med mchog gi bde chen du /
legs ston dus kyi 'hor lor 'bad pa'i dge ba gang des 'gro ba kun /
gzhung 'di rtogs shing lam der zhugs nas 'bras bu de nyid myur thob shog /
On back of a Târâ thangka (p. 600, note 158):
skal ldan 'gro la 'chi med tshe'i /
dngos grub rtsol mdzad tâ re mas /
deng 'dir sgrub bya'i tshe bsod dang /
dpal 'byor mnga' thang rgyas mdzod cig /
On back of base of Avadhûtipa image (visible on p. 284, with German translation on p. 285; transcription on p. 601, note 19):
zab mo'i lam la rab brtson pas /
dngos grub brnyes nas byis pa yi /
tshul gyi gnyis med sbyor ba mdzad /
a ba dhu ti la phyag 'tshal /
bde gshegs dgongs pa rdzogs don du /
sku 'di bkra shis sgang pas bzhengs /
rig byed mkhas pa 'brong rtse ba /
lhas gyin [~lhas byin?] zhes pas bsgrubs pa dge.
A biographical thangka of 'Phags pa, pp. 196-199 has these inscriptions (found in notes 60-64 on p. 602:
gong ma rgya gar phyogs dmigs mdzad sangs rgyas kyi ring srel len tshul /
g.yag lar ? bsnyen rdzogs med pa'i ? khams pa chos ? skyong nas 'phags pa gshegs tshul gsan pas slar phyir phebs kyi chod rnga rgyas thag rgya sog mtshams kyi li thang sa rdzogs nas sde dger phebs pa /
sa skya pa bsod nams rgyal mtshan las so thar mdo sogs gsan tshul /
ser lang pa byang chub tshad ma sde bdun gsan tshul /
Acala thangka dated to end of 13th or beginning of 14th century on p. 309 (a footnote says that Per Sørensen in an unpublished work has identified Cang ston Brtson 'grus grags as one of the main disciples of Grags pa rgyal mtshan):
yongs kyi dge ba'i bshes gnyen chen po / rje btsun mkhon grags pa rgyal mtshan la khams pa slob ma cang brtson 'grus grags kyis phul ba lags.
[Compare Henss, Monuments of Central Tibet, p. 292.]
Hevajra in silk tapestry done in Yongle period (1403-1424). p. 315.
Heruka said to be from Bihar of 12th century. p. 319.
Hayagrîva. Tibet, 12-13th centuries. p. 320.
Cakrasamvara. Yongle Period (1403-1424), according to the Chinese inscription. p. 324. A huge silk tapestry, nearly 3 meters high kept in Yarlung Museum, Tsetang.
Kâlacakra. Copper image, 1300-1350. p. 329.
Guhyasamâja-Aksobhyavajra tapestry, Yongle (1403-1424). p. 333.
Vajravârâhî thangka. 2nd half 13th century. p. 349.
Vajravârâhî image in copper. 15th century. p. 355.
Nâ ro mkha' spyod ma. 17th-18th cent. p. 357.
Mârîcî. Yongle period (1403-1424). p. 360. Riding a single pig.
Sitâtapatrâ. 18th cent. p. 364.
Vasudhârâ, six-armed. 10th-11th cent. p. 366.
Mahâkala, four-armed. 13th cent, Newar work. p. 369.
Srîdevî (Dpal ldan Lha mo). Yongle (1403-1424). p. 373.
Yama (Gshin rje). 16th cent. p. 376.
Beg tse. 17th-18th cent. p. 379.
Sarvavid Vairocana Mandala. p. 384 (also 397).
Zhi khro dkyil 'khor. p. 387.
Kîlas. pp. 389-390.
Sras mchog phur pa. p. 393.
Stitched silk Sarvavid Vairocana mandala. p. 400. The inscription as transcribed on p. 608, note 24:
mnyam nyid chos kun khyab pa'i ye shes klong //
rab 'byams rten dang brten par mngon bzhengs pa'i //
rnam par snang mdza ngan song ma lus rgyud //
sbyong ba'i dkyil 'khor gzugs brnyan lta bu yi //
ras bris ches dkar bsam pa'i cho 'phrul las //
bskrun pa'i legs byas mthu des rgyu sbyor ba //
dge slong skal bzang smon lam ltos bcas kyi //
sngon bsags sdig ltung ma lus byang bar shog //
tshe rabs kun tu ngan song mi khom pa'i //
gnas la skye ba'i mtshams sbyor rgyun chad cing //
dal 'byor rten bzang brgyud nas mi ring bar //
rgyal ba snang mdzad go 'phang thob gyur cig //
An opening lotus mandala statue of Cakrasamvara. Made in India in 12th century. p. 403.
Another of Vajrabhairava mandala made in Yongle Era (1403-1424). p. 405.
Kâlacakra Mandala, 18th cent. p. 409.
p. 519: A khatvanga with a 'phags pa inscription. In the catalog itself, they read it as ma pham tshe rtang, and comment that it is unintelligible. However, Andrew West tells me that it says ma pham tshe ring.
Date (calendar) deities of Kâlacakra, each inscribed, frin Zha lu, dated mid-16th cent. There is a long 2-line inscription in the bottom margin. There is still another dbu-med inscription on the backing, which says it is: rdo rje 'chang sgo rum pa'i thugs dam. The cataloger mistakenly forces Sgo rum pa to transform into Go rams pa. p. 413.
p. 609, note 63:
shrî kâlacakra devabhya namo nama.h /
bdag gi mar gyur ba'i sems can thams cad dang /
nu bo grags pa rgyal mtshan dang /
ga ga na dhâ tvi [~dha rî?] shrî bha drai sdig sgrib bag chags dang bcas pa thams cad byang zhing dag pa dang // tshogs gnyis yongs su rdzogs nas dpal dus kyi 'khor lo'i go 'phangs nyur du thob par byin gyis brlab tu gsol /// [[Skt. mantra]] /// mangga lam //
tshul 'di'i dge ba 'od stong 'bar ba yis //
lung rtogs bstan pa'i pad tshal rgyas pa dang //
phan bde'i sbrang rtsis 'gro kun dga' 'gyur gyur /
don gnyis lhun gyis grub pa'i bkra shis shog // //
khyad par nges don lung rtogs nor bu'i tshogs //
skal bzang gdul bya'i re ba kun bskong zhing //
phyogs ris dmag rum rtsad nas bsal ba dang //
yang dag don gyi 'byor pas phyug par shog // //
'dis 'gro ba dpag tu med pa la phan par gyur cig //
p. 609, note 65:
rdo rje 'chang sgo rum pa'i thugs dam //
rje btsun rdo rje 'chang sgo rums pa kun dga' legs pa dang //
'jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse'i dbang [phyug] yab sras kyi thugs dam thang ka byin rlabs can // dpal zhwa lu ri phug gi gtsug lag khang du 'a zhwa'i btsun pa mgon po bsod nams kyis phul //
The offering was made of this (already existing) thangka to Zha lu Ri phug by the following person: MGON PO BSOD NAMS MCHOG LDAN Included among teachers of Gsang bdag 'Phrin las lhun grub (1611‑1662). BD of T&TB III 806. 'Gro ba'i Mgon po Bsod nams mchog ldan pictured in 128 446, 548. Bio. by Dalai Lama V listed in BLP nos. 0085, 0469, 1240, 1861. Called Bka' 'gyur ba Mgon po bsod nams mchog ldan. He was son of 'A zha Nam mkha' mgon po (younger brother of Rdo rje 'chang Dbang phyug rab brtan). Bio. in Dung dkar 156.
The Mkhyen brtse'i dbang phyug mentioned here is a disciple of Sgo rum pa. His dates were 1524-1568 (same dates given in note 67 on p. 609), and the contents of his collected works are listed by Mkhan po A pad.
The following is excerpted from an email letter to somebody:
I've been enjoying reading your review yesterday and today, while making constant reference to the Essen catalog, of course.
The Kalacakra calender deities struck me as particularly 'different' and interesting, so I looked into it a little bit.
Verhufen makes a mistake in imagining that the Sgo-rum-pa of the back-side inscription is some kind of Khampa dialect version of Go-rams-pa.
Go-rams-pa Bsod-nams-seng-ge (1429‑1489).
Sgo-rum-pa Kun-dga'-legs-pa['i-blo-gros] was teacher of 'Jam-dbyangs-mkhyen-brtse'i-dbang-phyug (whose dates are indeed 1524-1568).
I have some reference to Sgo-rum-pa's dates being 1502‑1566/7.
I guess you can see the impossibility of identifying Go-rams-pa with Sgo-rum-pa, but anyway, the biography of Sgo-rum-pa by his disciple Mkhyen-brtse'i-dbang-phyug has survived and could be studied to find out his dates no doubt. Mkhyen-brtse'i-dbang-phyug is generally regarded as the founder of the Mkhyen-brtse school of art.
Anyway, this hangka was the thugs-dam of both Sgo-rum-pa and his disciple Mkhyen-brtse-dbang-phyug, and therefore has to be older than 1568. And it was only later on donated (phul, 'offered') to Zha-lu by 'A-zha Mgon-po-bsod-nams[-mchog-ldan-bstan-pa'i-rgyal-mtshan] a known person whose dates could be found with a little research. He had a disciple named Gsang-bdag 'Phrin-las-lhun-grub whose dates were 1611‑1662.
The Fifth Dalai Lama wrote a one-hundred-page biography of 'A-zha Mgon-po-bsod-nams, and this is available in His (DL V's) collected works (vol. NYA).
I think looking into these sources ought to be a precondition to figuring out who the 'younger brother' Grags-pa-rgyal-mtshan was, and interpreting the Tibeto-Sanskrit "Ga ga na dhâ tvi [~dha rî?] shrî bha drai" (the Ga-ga-na is Skt. Gagana is Tib. Nam-mkha', Eng. 'sky'... The dhâ tvi causes trouble...).
My main point is just that the inscriptions haven't been studied successfully. So it is not a good idea to make very many conclusions on their basis yet.
Nîlâmbaradhara Vajrapâni Mandala. Thangka of mid-14th cent. P. 417. There are mantras inscribed on the back.
Thangka of Shambhala, 19th century. p.421.
Copper image of Tibetan Dharmarâja. 11th-12th cent. p. 428.
Srong btsan sgam po. p. 431.
Brag Srin mo rgan skyal, painted in ca. 1940. p. 435.
Dalai Lama I Dge 'dun grub. p. 437.
chos kun thams cad mkhyen pa dge 'dun grub la na mo // [The dge 'dun syllables are abbreviated to dge[-'d]un.]
On p. 486 is illus. an inscription on base of a Wheel of Dharma that forms the finial for a mandal set. It is transcribed in note 40 on p. 614:
swasti / rgyal kun snying rje'i rang zhal srid gsum dbang bsgyur mtshungs pa med sde'i zhal snga nas / gang la gang 'dul theg gsum chos 'khor bskor bar bskul zhing gsol ba 'debs pa'i phyir // phun tshogs rdul mang las grub dge legs rtsibs stong 'bar ba'i rin chen 'khor lo 'di // lha tshong rin chen thub bstan khyim spyis rab rgyas shing rta gnam lor phyag bcas phul //
{{Note comparable inscription on another art object, which meantions the same Rin chen thub bstan.}}
Gold offering lamp at Tomb of 7th Dalai Lama in Potala. p. 491. The inscription on base as copied in note no. 72 on p. 614:
blo gros chu 'dzin stug por 'khrigs pa las //
zab rgyas don bzang dam chos bdud rtsi'i char //
bskal bzang gdul bya'i rgya mtshor 'bebs mkhas mchog //
kun mkhyen phyag na padma'i spyan lam du //
lhag bsam rab dkar legs byas gcig bsdus pa'i //
bkod legs rin chen 'od 'bar snang gsal snod //
phul ba'i dge 'dis ma gyur 'gro ba kun //
ting 'dzin shes rab snang ba rgyas par shog //
mtha' dbus snod bcud 'jig rten khams rnams su //
sna tshogs mi dge'i 'bras bu sdug bsngal gyi //
mtshan mo'i mtha' zad bde skyid skya rengs 'od //
shar ba'i don gnyis lhun grub dpal thob shog //
ces a 'di ni rigs kun khyab bdag rje btsun bla ma mchog gi gdung rin po che bzhugs pa'i mchod sdong chen po'i sku gdung du gzhung nas rin po che dang po btso ma thur srang brgya dang bcu gcig zho brgyad skar lnga las grub pa'i mar me'i kong bur gru g.yu rgya sran tsam bzhi'i phra ldan / stegs la dngul dkar srang dgu bcu go bzhi zho bzhi skar phyed brgyad / me tog rkang ljon tsha gser mar zangs 'degs khal lnga dang nyag bco lnga / gser btso ma thur srang bzhi dang zho lnga / dngul chu thur srang nyi shu rtsa bdun bcas las bzo bkod phun sum tshogs pa gsar bskrun gyis phul ba'i smon tshig du de mo no ming han / ngag dbang 'jam dpal dge legs rgya mtshos sbyar ba'o //
Inscription on base of a silver butterlamp for 13th Dalai Lama. p. 493. Transcribed on p. 614, note 74.
srid gsum mun sel snang gsal snod mchog 'di //
srid zhi'i rnam 'dren chen por phul ba'i dges //
srid par 'khyams pa'i nyam thag 'gro ba kun //
srid bral ye shes snang ba mchog thob shog //
ces rin gnyis las grub pa'i mar me skong bu 'di bzhin rtse drug las tshan thub bstan nor bu nas me bya lor phul //
* * *
Source: Amy Heller, Homage by an Emperor: A Yung-lo Embroidery Thangka, Apollo (November 2008), pp. 62-68. The lineage inscribed on the back of this thangka of Hevajra and Nairatmyå is a purely Sa skya lineage.
p. 68 (only part of the inscription is supplied, lines 16-18): om a mtshungs med chos kyi rje bsod nams zhabs la na mo / om a dpal ldan bla ma dam pa la na mo / om a a mo gha shri bha ra la na mo / om a shakya rgyal tshab 'gro ba'i skyabs cig po la na mo / om a ye shes lnga ldan sku bzhi lhun grub / om a byams chen mkhyen brtse'i mnga' bdag rin chen po che la na mo / om a chos kyi rgyal po zhal snga na la na mo / om a bdag bsod rgyal gnang la na mo / [followed by mantra verses on lines 18-23].
* * *
Source: Michael Henss, Monuments of Central Tibet, p. 204, note 470 (inscription on a thangka of the winds according to Kâlacakra, dated 1684):
'dir nyi zla la sogs pa gza' rnams rags pa bkod pa bco lngar nyin mtshan mnyam pa dpyid du 'byung na mnyam yang dus 'dir nye bar ma 'byung bas rab byunt bcu gcig pa'i shing byi lo hor zla brgyad pa'i tshes kyi dus sbyor.
- - -
Source: Roger Goepper, The Great Stûpa at Alchi, Artibus Asiae, vol. 53, nos. 1-2 (1993), pp. 111-143, at pp. 142-143. I have 'regularized' the transcription system into ordinary Wylie.
om bkra shis par gyur cig //
chos sku skye myed namkha' las //
longs sku 'gag myed sprin ltar snang //
'phrin las sprul sku'i char rgyun 'byung //
dus gsum bde(r) gshegs rnams la bstod //
gsung rab yan lag bcu gnyis dang //
sde snod gsum dang rgyud sde bzhi //
byang chub phyogs la sogs pa yi //
dam pa'i chos ......... mdzad pa'i //
dge 'dun rnams la phyag 'tshal lo //
.......... sras mchog bla ma rin po che //
'phrin las lhun grub rdzogs mdzad pa'i //
..... gsung ba la phyag 'tshal bstod //
sangs rgyas chos dang dge' 'dun dang //
bla ma rnams la phyag 'tshal nas //
bsod nams bag tsam bsags pa yi //
kar chags dum bu 'bri bar bya //
byang chub ...... la brten pa'i //
ri rab dang ni ri bdun dang //
gling bzhi dang ni gling phran brgyad //
de'i nang na mchog gyur pa'i //
..................................
gnas mchog gangs can 'di'i rgyud na //
sa'i phyogs gcig mnga' ris bstod //
mchog tu bton pa'i la dwags smad //
..... al lci 'dir //
dngos rang 'bro ban tshul khrims 'od //
snga ma'i smon lam ma dag pas //
ngan gsum tshogs pa'i dus 'dir skyes //
myi lus rin chen thob nas ni //
chung ngu'i dus su rab byung nas //
bla ma mkhan po'i shabs btud nas //
sems kyi spros pa cung shig bshad .... //
snga ma'i bsags pa phra mo dang //
................................
rgyu nor longs spyod bsags nas kyang //
tha ma ...... yin snyam nas //
bla ma dkon mchog phyogs su btang //
bsod nams tshogs cig bsag snyam nas //
'dus byas kyi dge ba'i rtsa ba la //
sku gsung thugs kyi rten rnams bzhengs //
sku yi rten du bzhengs pa ni //
lha .... rin cen brtsegs pa bzhengs //
drin la lan gyis blan pa'i phyir //
rin po che la rdung khang bzhengs //
pha ma gnyis kyi don du ni //
rang gi bsod nams bsags pa'i phyir //
lha khang che chung bcu tsam bzhengs //
..................................... bde bar gshegs pa'i //
sku yi bkod pa stong lhag bzhengs //
bcom ldan bder gshegs myi 'khrugs pa'i //
sku'i bkod pa khri tsho bzhengs //
bcom ldan 'od dpag myed pa yi //
sku'i bkod pa gnyis stong bzhengs //
'jam pa'i dbyangs kyi sku gzugs kyang //
bkod pa stong tso gnyis tsam bzhengs //
bskal pa gcig la 'tshang rgya ba'i //
bskal pa stong gi sangs rgyas bzhengs //
rigs gsum mgon po'i sku 'khor bzhengs //
lha dang mchod rten thams cad dang //
sems dpa' stong ......................
sgrol ma la sogs lha mo'i sku //
blo la ci tsam byung tshad bzhengs //
'dus byas dge ba'i rtsa ba la //
sku yi rten du de tsam cig //
gsung gi rten cig bzhengs snyam nas //
shin tu dkon pa'i bu shog la //
gong dang rin la ma ltas par //
rgyas pa bcu bzhi'i gdum bu (?) bzhengs //
rab ma dum bu drug pa bzhengs //
bsdus pa dum bu gcig pa bzhengs //
gser gyi 'jam sdud bzang gsum bzhengs //
byin gyis rlabs pa'i bka' las ni //
gser gyi shes rab snying po bzhengs //
nga yi bu cig rin cen gyis (?) //
rnyed par dka' ba'i thengs ... //
ngo mtshar can gyi gsung dpar bzhengs //
gsung gi rten de tsam cig bzhengs //
thugs kyi rten du bzhengs pa ni //
rgya gar dbus na bzhugs pa yi //
rang 'byung dpal ldan 'bras phung gi // ['bras spungs]
de'i dpe' la byas nas ni //
mchod rten dpal ldan 'bras phungs bzhengs //
sprul sku bla ma rin po ches //
bkra shis sgo mangs bzhengs pa yin //
de yi dpe' la byas nas ni //
'bum (m)thong kra shis sgo mangs bzhengs // [bkra shis sgo mang]
....... bar du bzhugs nas ni //
zas nor tshegs la ma bsam par //
sku tshad che bas .........
....... thugs kyi rten du bgyis // //
ye shes kyi tshogs bsag snyam nas //
'dus ma byas gyi tshogs sog la //
bla ma ...... cen gyis bzhugs mdzad nas //
nu bo rin cen bzhugs kyi bar //
bla ma mkhan po slob dpon la //
sems bskyed dbang bskur rim par zhus //
bskyed rdzogs gnyis kyi gdams ngag gnang //
gdams ngag zab mo thugs la mngags //
phyag rgya chen po'i ngo sprod mdzad //
zhabs tog ...............................
* * *
Source: Amy Heller & Shawo Khacham, Tibetan Inscriptions at Alchi, Part I.
(2) rgyal ...sku xxxxxxxxxx..rigs...ye shes lnga ldan pa.xxxxxxxxx..skye par shog // phyogs (bcu’i) sangs rgyas thams cad dang // byang chub sems pa’i sku bzhengs pas // phyogs bcu’i sangs rgyas thams cad kyi// mkhor gyi dang por skye par shog // bcom ldan bder gshegs myi ’khrugs pa’I // sku’i bkod pa bzhengs pa yis // shar phyogs mngon dga’i zhing khams su//myi ’khrugs zhabs dang skyes par shog / /bcom ldan ’od dpag myed ba’i // sku’i bkod pa bzhengs pa yis //
(3) Bde’ (ba can gyi zhings khams su) xxxxxxxxxxx skye bar shog // bskal ba stong gi sangs rgyas dang// rigs gsum mgon po'i sku bzhengs pas // 'jam dbyang byams pa la stogs kyi // nye ba’i ’khor du skye bar shog // bder gshegs sku gzugs thams cad dang// sgrol ma xxxxxxxxxx. yum sku // bzhengs bas rje btsun la sogs kyis // mkha’ spyod gnas su khrid par shog // skyed rdzogs zung ’jug bsgoms pa yis // thabs dang shes rab gnyis myed pa’i // bde’ ba chen po’i ngang las ni // mchog mthun gyi dngos
(4) sgrub thob par shog // xxxxxxxxxx gtum po gsum rtsegs bsgoms pa yis // phyi nang bar chod (>bar cad) zhi bar shog / ting nge ’dzind gyi dbang bskur dang // ku su lu’i tshogs sog (>gsog) gis // nyams chag thams cad skongs pa (> skung pa) dang // las ngan sgrub pa dag par shog/ nya shi dus drug thams cad du // mkha’ ’gro chos skyong thams cad la // tshogs dang gtor mas mchod pa yis // grub rtags dngos su ’byung bar shog // skyabs gnas dkon mchog gsum po dang // bla ma yi dam lha tshogs la // skyabs ’gro rgyund tu byas pa yis // byin rlabs
(5) rgyun chad myed par shog // bla ma mkhan po slob dpon gyis // ci gsung bka’ la mnyan pa dang // pha ma'i ngag ’di ma bcag pas // sgra sgegs (>dgra bgegs) rnaüs kyis byaüs par shog / ’gro drug sems can thams cad la / byams sems brten cu btang pa dang // rtseg gdung rdung (>gdung) sems xxxxxxx yis // xxxxxxxxx dang byams par shog // lha dang mchod rten thams cad kyi // mched du myi phyugs thams cad kyis // sdug bsngal dka’ ba spyad pa yis // las ngan sgrib pa dag par shog // ngan song sdug bsngal las thar nas // mtho ris thard pa thob par
(6) shog // myi lha’i go phang thob nas ni // dam ba’i chos dang ’phrad par shog // bdag ni mchi ba’i dus kyi tshe / phyi nang dbugs ni chad ka ru // mdund kyi bar snang nam mkha’ la / myi khrugs pa ni dngos su gshegs par shog // bder gshegs dngos su gshegs nas kyang // bdag la thugs......sa ’dzind par shog // gshegs // xxx shog / bar mdo’i (>bar do’i)snang ba ma nyod ’di // bcom ldan myi khrugs zhabs drung du // skad cig tsam la skye par shog // bcom ldan zhabs drung skyes nas kyang // dam pa’i chos dang prad par shog // dam ba’i chos dang prad nas kyang //
(7) skye ba myed ba’i don rtogs shog // bdag gi dge ba’i rtsa ba dang // tshogs gnyis ji ltar bsags pa yis// smon lam ji ltar btab pa bzhin // de bzhin nyid du grub par shog // sku yi rten dang gsung gi rten // thugs kyi brten (>rten) rnams bzhengs pa dang // bsod nams xxxx bsags pa’i // kar xxx dam pa bris pa ’di // rang gis xxxlags te // smon lam rten du bris pas lags // tshig sbyor ngag sdes ’khrul ’gyur // mkhas pa rnams (kyis) bzod
(8) par gsol // tshig sbyor mu tig gi ’phreng ba zhes bya pa / rdzogs s.ho //
* * *
Source: Luczanits in Jackson, Mirror of the Buddha, note 441 on p. 214 (this is an inscription accompanying the lineage painting in the upper storey of the Alchi Sumtsek temple):
bdag dge slong tshul khrims 'od ces bgya ba // xdus gsum gi sangs rgyas thams cad kyi sku gsum thugs kyi bdag ny# ... ... la phyag 'tshal zhing skyabsu 'chi'o.
OR: bdag dge slong tshul khrims 'od ces bya ba // dus gsum sangs rgyas thams cad kyi sku gsung thugs kyi bdag nyid... ... la phyag 'tshal zhing skyabs su mchi'o.
Tsuguhito Takeuchi, Old Tibetan Rock Inscriptions near Alchi. Journal of the Research Institute of Foreign Studies [Kobe City University of Foreign Studies] 49 (2012) 29-70. PDF.
p. 31
1-a stagi lo la dge sum brtsan briso.
1-b stag lo la 'bro btsan khrom gyi bzhengs su gsol lo.
2-a stag lo la 'bro btsan khrom gyis bris.
2-b sbrul gyi lo sag mar la bris.
3 lug gi lo rwang kling 'dus legs bris.
4-a kar tang sle lebs.
4-b bya gag lo la mnen dge legs kyis bris.
5-a bya gag lo la blon stong rtsan gyis bris.
5-b smer 'dron la brtsan gyis bris.
5-c rta'i lo la smer [rtso?] 'phan slebs.
5-d mnen la tung.
5-e smer.
6-a sbrul gyi lo la rwang kling la 'i tses bris.
6-b brug phag.
7 sbrul gyi lo la smer sta -- bris
8-a rta'i lo la smer stag myis bris.
8-b 'brug gi lo la rwang kling legs tru mang. [33]
8-c rlang gi lo la lcel la.
8-d 'dod da.
9-a stag gi lo la smer rin cen skyab kyi bris pa. [Smer Rin chen skyabs].
10 stag gi lo la smer blon arya dpal gyis bris pa.
11 khyi'i lo la stong pon rgyal ba ye shes.
12-a lug gi lo la rga (?).
12-b brag 'od las bris.
12-3 spre'u lo la smer.
[34]
(this continues for several pages, and there are illustrations of the rock carvings in the back. Many of these inscriptions seem to be artist's signatures for the rock carvings)
* * *
Source: John Vincent Bellezza, Zhang zhung: Foundations of Civilization in Tibet, a Historical and Ethnoarchaeological Study of the Monuments, Rock Art, Texts, and Oral Tradition of the Ancient Tibetan Upland, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, (Vienna 2008), p. 187, footnote 193 (various early western Tibetan rock inscriptions):
At Sgrol ma Phug, at Bkra shis Do chung, next to Gnam mtsho:
skyo rten po do phug du gtad do / do phug gi lha 'dre rnams kyis gtad {tshig} 'dis dam nyams/so [=d sgrol].
This clearly recommends liberation through death to vow breakers (or tantric commitment breakers). Bellezza thinks Skyo Rten po is a personal name, and it seems it may well be one.
At the same site:
spyi ti sde myang rmang la snang gis bris khyng po {tha] chun (~chung) po.
I could try to make out different readings form the photograph. Where it appears to read rmang la snang, it may be rmangl or rmjal (intending mjal), so that it reads mjal snang, a possible personal name, I suppose, but also meaning 'visionary contact.'
At Sngo sog:
khyung pho li la brtsan.
At Brag gyam:
co gru zhang btsun thar byang gis bzhengs.
Same vicinity, accompanied by a small rock-art chorten:
snang za mo bsod namsu zhengs [~bsod nams su bzhengs].
Same vicinity:
gshen rgyal bkris.
Bellezza thinks bkris is abbreviation for bkra shis, and a proper name. I think it may be a misspelling for bris, 'written, drawn.' I think the gshen rgyal is interesting (Try searching for it in prop names).
p. 188: Very strange letters, but still I imagine I can read something like rgyal po nyid kyis 'bul. Offered by the king himself. Of course this is half my imagination and half based on the evidence that is there to see. rgyal po could just as well be rgyal bu or something else. There is in fact no 'a prefixed to the syllable 'bul (it reads simply bul).
* * *
Source: John Mock, Darkot Revisited: New Information on a Tibetan Inscription and Mchod-rten. RET 27 (oct 2013) 11-19. PDF.
"rme 'or wir ni dor kyi yon" appears to be the right reading.
The Rme-'or appears to be a clan name, and appears on another rock carving with a Mchod-rten: "rme 'or btsan la gzigs gyi [yon?]."
* * *
Source: INTERNET ARCHIVE.
Fieldiana, Anthropology, new series, no.3 (PDF version available for checking the readings made from scans that are provided here, and somewhat corrected)
50. [Inc.:] mNgon par mkhyen pa la phyag 'tshal lo
(Prayer for ritual of the confession of sins [ltungs-bshags] performed in
prostration in front of the Tathagatas. Nine lines.) Tibetan.
Szechwan?
26x41. 233580. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from West China Union
Univ. Mus.
51. Om mani padme hum hi
(One-line mantra.) Tibetan. Szechwan.
14x47. 233577. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from West China Union
Univ. Mus.
52. Om matri mu ye sal le 'du
(Thrice repeated mantra in four lines.) Tibetan. Szechwan.
13x17. 233581. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from West China Union
Univ. Mus.
10 FIELDIANA: ANTHROPOLOGY
53. (Incomplete mantra of three lines: (1) Om vajrasattva hum om
vajra, (2) Sattva hum; (3) Om mani padme [hum].) Tibetan.
Szechwan.
33 X 38. 233582. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from West China Union
Univ. Mus.
54. (Portrait of the Tibetan goddess LHA-MO [SRIDEVî].)
Szechwan. Obverse of 55.
33 X 24. 233570 a. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from West China Union
Univ. Mus. Illus.
55. Om a hum (Mantra.) Tibetan in Lantsa script. Szechwan.
Reverse of 54.
33 X 24. 233570 b. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from West China Union
Univ. Mus.
56. (Picture and inscription of a magic yf\\ee\—'khor-lo (Tibetan),
cakra (Sanskrit). ''Kva'" appears on the hub; "a ka sa ma ra naiad ra
sa ma ra ya phat on the spokes). Tibetan. Szechwan,
22 X 20. 233568. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from West China Union
Univ. Mus.
57. (Omani's and other auspicious sayings from Wu-t'a Temple.)
Stone walls. Tibetan and Sanskrit in Lantsa script. Peking, Wu-t'a
szu. Flower and animal design.
58 sheets: 22 x 121, 58x 57. 244036-244091.
Identified by Thupten Norbu, Univ. of Indiana.
58. (Prayer formulas in three lines: (1) Mantra of Kalacakra:
''Harn ksamalavaraya" in Lantsa script; (2) Same mantra in
Tibetan; (3) Hum vajra phat.) Szechwan.
40 X 24. 233573. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from West China Union
Univ. Mus.
59. (Three lines of mantras: (1) Om vagisvari mu; (2) Om mani
padme hum hrih; (3) Om vajrapani hum.) Tibetan. Szechwan.
33 X 23. 233576. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from West China Union
Univ. Mus.
TCHEN ET AL.: CHINESE RUBBINGS 11
60. Om mani padme hum hrih (One-line mantra.) Tibetan.
Szechwan.
17 X 34. 233575. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from West China Union
Univ. Mus.
61. Om mani padme hum (One line mantra.) Tibetan. Szechwan.
19 X 36. 233579. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from West China Union
Univ. Mus.
62. Om mani padme hum (One line mantra.) Tibetan. Szechwan.
18 X 30. 233578. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from West China Union
Univ. Mus.
63. (Incomplete mantra of six lines: (1) Om a hum; (2-6) Con-
tinuous repetition of the mantra Om mani padme hum.) Tibetan.
Szechwan.
33x 17. 233574. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from West China Union
Univ. Mus.
64. [Inc.:] mDo sde 'di la (Canonical text. 22 lines.) Tibetan.
Szechwan.
40 X 37 (A), 40 X 37 (B). 233571A-B. D. C. GRAHAM, coll., from
West China Union Univ. Mus.
65. [Inc.:] rDo rje'i (Probably canonical text. 15 lines.) Tibetan.
Szechwan.
30 X 39. 233572 a-b. D.C. GRAHAM, coll., from west China Union
Univ. Mus.
946. [Inc.:] Om bde legs su gyur cig
(Report re: construction of a stupa for the remains of CHOS DPAL BKRA SHIS DPAL BZANG PO, a son of TA'I GO 'I SRI DPAL LDAN BKRA SHIS DPAL BZANG PO, and disciple of TSONG KHA PA. Short hagiography of the deceased.) Tibetan. Peking, Wu-t 'a szu. Ca. 1465-1488.
113x55. 244092. Transcription by B. LAUFER marked 2321 of
lines 1-23 accompanies the file card.
1612. {Yii-chih P'u-ning szu pei-wen]
rGyal pos bris pa'i kun tu bde ba'i gling gi 'od ldan rdo rings kyi yi ge.
(Imperial inscription at P'u-ning Temple.) Emperor CH'IEN-
LUNG. Tibetan. Jehol, P'u-ning szu. 1755. See 1615 for Chinese ver-
sion.
300 X 119. 244519.
Franke (2), 53. Franke (3). Franke/Laufer (1), Tafel 43. Kao-tsung (1),
ch. 5, p. 41-42.
1618. Gyon ru bde 'jags su bkod pa'i tshul I li'i sa char kha
byang du sbyar ba 'i 'od ldan rdo rings kyi yi ge.
(Pacification of the Dzungars at Hi.) Emperor CH'IEN-LUNG.
Tibetan. Jehol, P'u-ning szu. 1755. See 1616 for Chinese version.
20 X 18 (head), 222 x 64 (text). 244528a-b.
Franke/Laufer (1), Tafel 46. Haenisch (2), (t.r).
632. Jun gar bde 'jags su bkod nas rjes sor Yi li'i sa cha kha byang du mdzad pa'i 'od ldan rdo rings gi yi ge
(Memorial re: surrender of the Dzungars and conquest of I-li.)
Emperor CH'IEN-LUNG. Tibetan. Jehol, P'u-ning szu. 1758. See
1630 for Chinese version.
225x637.244523.
Franke/Laufer (1), Tafel 50. Haenisch (2), (t,r).
1641. [Meng-tsang-wen Hung-jen szu ching-tsan chan-t'an
hsiang]
Thugs rje spel ba'i lha khang gsar gsos byas te gus pas rtsams pa'i
tsandan jo bo'i sku brnyan ngo mtshar can gyi kha byang.
(Poetic praise to the Sandalwood Buddha of Hung-jen Temple.)
Emperor CH'IEN-LUNG. MongoHan, Tibetan. Peking, Hung-jen
szu. 1760. For Chinese version see 1640.
694. [T'u-erh-hu-t'e ch'iian-pu kuei-shun chi]
Thor god kyi sde pa rnams 'dod mos kyis rjes su 'brang ba'i brjed
byang.
(Submission and return of the Torguts to the Chinese empire.)
Emperor CH'IEN-LUNG. Tibetan. Cheng. Jehol, P'u-t'o-la szu.
1771. See 1691 for Chinese version.
TCHEN ET AL.: CHINESE RUBBINGS 387
272x85.244550.
Franke/Laufer (1), Tafel 66.
Source: See Indian & Southeast Asian Art (Auction catalog for Sotheby's, New York, September 22, 2000).
no. 52 on p. 44: bsod nams rtse mo la na mo.
Source: Indian and Southeast Asian Art, Sotheby's auction catalog (NY Sept. 16, 1999).
no. 46 on p. 40 (White Târâ): yum chen lha can ma'i nang sten yin / [Perhaps lha rtsan ma? yum chen lha rtsan ma'i nang rten yin.
no. 44 on p. 37: What is said to be a Stag lung style portrait, looks to me like it could be 'Jig rten mgon po.
no. 42 on p. 36: Virûpa.
Source: TROPPER, KURT - A Thousand Manis in Immutable Stone: A Donor Inscription at Nako Village (Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh). IN: J. Bray & E. de Rossi Filibeck, eds., Mountains, Monasteries and Mosques (Pisa 2009) 87-96. What follows is a 'cleaned' or 'regularized' (but therefore less correct) version of the inscription as it appears on pp. 93-94, also with line numbers removed, spellings tacitly corrected to suit myself. This is a very interesting (and unique as far as I know) study of an inscription for the erecting of a Mani Wall.
he / om swa ti siddham / sku gsum mngon du gyur ba'i ston pa sangs rgyas dang sde snod gsum gyi phyug pa'i dam chos dang / bslab pa gsum gyi mdzes pa'i dge 'dun te // skyabs gnas dkon mchog gsum la phyag 'tshal /
e ma ho /
yul dge bcu 'dzo [- ~rdzogs?] pa'i na go rgyal sa 'dir / rigs rus khungs btsun rus chen bhe wan dpon gyi rgyud / grub pa'i dbang po phun tshogs dbang po yis / dpal ldan bla ma'i thugs dgongs rdzogs phyir dang / khyad par gnam ru dpon bcas sbyin bdag 'brel yod rnams dang [~khyad par rnams ru dpon...?] / pha ma gtsos byas mkha' mnyam sems can byang chub thob phyir du mi 'gyur rdo la ma ni stong ra can* bzhengs / yon mchod gtsos byas sems can thams cad ri po ta lar 'jal bar shog / bkra shis /
gzhan yang sbyin bdag yul mi nye ring rnams kyi dkor ru dge rtsa mang rab byung ngo mtshar che / 'di la 'grul mi rnams kyi ma ni brgya rtsa re re snang ba zhu zhu / bkra shis //
*Note that stong ra can appears in the dictionaries as an expression for an amount totalling 1,000.
- - -
Source: A paper by Henk Blezer. On the back of a sketch of Ber nag can (Nag po chen po):
sPrul sku rNam grol skye ba 'di nas sangs rgyas ma thob bar kyi bar chad thams cad dpal ma hâ ka las sol[?] 1 [cig]
sPrul sku rNam grol [gyi] skye ba 'di nas sangs rgyas ma thob bar kyi [gyi] bar chad thams cad dpal ma hâ ka [kâ] las sol[?] 1 [cig]
and in a line of gold ink:
@/ rJe Karma pa Mi skyod rdo rje'i phyag nas / phyag rjes phyag (... bras) ma lags pa bsod nams can 'tha' dag gi dpal du gyur cig kra shis//
@/ rJe Karma pa Mi bskyod rdo rje'i phyag nas / phyag rjes phyag (... bris) ma lags pas / bsod nams can mtha' dag gi dpal du gyur cig bkra shis//
* * *
Source: Preliminary Remarks on the Donor Inscriptions and Iconography of an 11th-century Mchod rten at Tholing. TS7. PDF.
p. 70:
Appendix
The donor names of the north western mchod rten at Tholing
First tier between Śākyamuni and Vajrapāṇi
1. Rugs wer phyag chang lha dog
2. Mang wer za 'eng ba rgyal
3. Rugs wer stag shor
4. Rugs wer dpon srid legs dpal
5. Rugs wer dmag pon lha gnyan skyabs
6. Hrugs wer dges gnyen dge gnyan
7. Hrugs wer rdo rje bzang
8. Rugs wer yang zang
9. Rugs wer brgya stong skyabs
10. Rugs wer kon cog skyabs
11. Rugs wer g.yung drung skyabs
12. blank
13. blank
Second tier
1. Rugs wer dmag pon lha blon
2. Rugs wer stong chung dpal 'brug
3. Rugs wer stag yang 'brug
4. Rugs wer thugs dpal khri sum legs
5. Rugs wer chos skyabs
6. Rugs wer yang sum sgra
7. Rugs wer nam phyed ba rigs sum mgon
8. Rugs wer rgyu gsum sgra
9. Rugs wer skyid 'ar ma
10. Rugs wer khri dog rje
11. Rugs wer srid gsum mkhar
12. Rugs wer tsel
13. Rugs wer gnyan gsum mgon
Source: Gongkatsang, Inscriptions — Tsering Gongkatsang & Michael Willis, & Michael Willis, Tibetan, Biurmese and Chinese Inscriptions from Bodhgayâ in the British Museum, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, series no. 3 (2013), pp. 1-11. I tried to give my own rough reading from the photograph, but probably their readings are better (see the article itself).
1st inscription at Bodhagaya:
nyes pa'i skyon bral yon tan mtha' dag rdzogs //
bde legs bsyen (ji snyed?) thams cad bsdus pa'i gnas //
mchod gnas dman pa dkon mchog gsum po yi /
sgo gsum dad pas rtag tu sgrubs su mchi' //
ban de hal skyid kyis //
tshe rabs thams cad kyi dge ba'i bshes gnyen dang chos grogs po rnams kyi don ched du bzhengs so //
The 2nd inscription at Bodhgaya:
skrag dge bsnyen dug bos bsam pa rnam par dag pas bzhengs su gsol ba.
Perhaps read as: skrag dge bsnyen drug pos [~sdug pos?] bsam pa rnam par dag pas bzhengs su gsol ba.
Willis thinks skrag is a constellation, but I think more likely it is the place or clan name of the [six?] layperson[s]. Perhaps Sgrags Valley was their place of origin. In that case I would translate, "Six laymen of Drak with pure mind request to have erected [some holy object]." Or perhaps reading sdug-po, "bad layman of Drak." dug-po can be the correct reading in which case it means 'tattered clothing.' Shabby layman of Drak. ???
- - -
Source: Andrew Quintman, Life Writing as Literary Relic: Image, Inscription, and Consecration in Tibetan Biography, Material Religion 9 no 4 (2013) 468-504,
p. 500, note 8 (end of a long inscription on the back of a Milarepa painting):
brtul shugs spyod pa mthar phyin cing //
ye shes mkha' 'gros byin gyis brlabs //
dpe bral nam mkha'i rnal 'byor pa //
rje btsun mi la'i bkra shis shog //
\∞/*\∞/*\∞/*\∞/*\∞/
Source: Amy Heller's contribution to the Anthony Aris volume. The Sman bla Medicine Buddha thangka itself may also be seen in Orientations 45 no 5 (June 2014).
Text 1
bcom ldan 'das … rgyal po la stod
pa'o / nyi ma lta' bur ma rig mun pa sel la stod/
zla ba lta' bur nyon mongs mun pa sel la stod//
de ltar bsdus pas dug gsum nad/ x (bcom ldan) smand gyi
bla/ pe dur rgya'i 'o la phyag 'tshal lo// chos
dbings myi 'gyur thugs su chud pa la/ khyed
nyid chos kyi dbings kyi ngo por 'gyur/ .. myi
'gyur chos nyid sku mdog . (thing) be dur rgya'i 'od la
phyag 'tshal lo / 'gro kun tshe bdag ...
pa la / ma rig nad kyis rab tu gdung pa rnams / nyi (ma ltar)
p. 8
bdud rtsi gang pa'i lhung mdzad g.yon su snams/ 'dus pa'i
nad la sman pa'i phyag g.yas a ru ra/ pe dur rgya'i 'od
la phyag 'tshal lo/
Text 2
rgyu sbyor ba'i yon gyi bdag po dge' bsnyen khyung grags
gza' smad kyis bcom ldan 'das smand kyi bla 'khor byang chub
sems dpa' nyi ma ltar snang byed dang / zla ba ltar rnam par snang
byed gzhal yas khang dang bcas pa bzhengs pa'i dge' ba'i rtsa ba
dis tshe 'di la sangs rgyas mchod pa dang/ dam pa'i chos nyand
pa dang/ dge 'dun la bkur sti byed pa dang myi bral bar gyurd cig
di nas shi 'phos nas bcom ldan 'das smand gyi bla'i zhing
khams su padma las rdzus te skyes nas bcom ldan sman bla'i
zhal mthong nas byang chub tu lung bstand pard gyurd cig / de ma
thob kyi bar du gar skyes kyang mo lus dang bran lus ×s te dge
p. 9
ba'i bshes gnyen dam pa dang phrad nas theg pa chen po'i dam pa'i
chos spyod par gyur cig// mdor na bdag gi dge pa 'dis
khams gsum 'gro ba ma lus kun/ dug gsum nad dang bral
gyur × dpal × cho × thob (par shog)//
— — —
Source: Rob Linrothe in David Jackson, The Place of Provenance, p. 195:
xxx xxx xx rje'i dbang phyug nyar (nyid? nyer?) la yang / 'di nas byang chub snying po'i bar / rjes 'dzin byin gyis rlob pa dang / don gnyis 'grub par mdzad du gsol / ces pa'ang karma ka yâ na pa ra ma badzra syas so // {note the Sanskrit genitive ending gets an added Tibetan instrumental!}
The artist is given as the Karma pa XIV Theg mchog rdo rje.
p. 222, note 486:
'phags ma sgrol ma'i byin rlabs kyis /
tshe grangs chos dang nor gy phyug /
rnams kun bkra shis bde legs kyi /
dpal yon chen pos khyab gyur cig /
ces 'phags ma sgrol dkar gyi bris sku nying thang [nyin thang] du karma pa theg mchog gi rdo rje lag brks su ltar ba la dwags ru shod dpon tshe ring bkra shis kyi dad rten du sbyin pa dge legs 'phel.
'phags ma sgrol ma'i byin rlabs kyis /
yon gyi bdag po tshe ring zhing /
phyi nang bar chad thams cad zhi /
bsod nams dpal 'byor rgyas gyur nas /
mthar thug rdzogs sangs rgyas 'grub shog /
ces la dwags ru shod dpon tshe ring bkra shis kyi dad rten du karma pa theg mchog rdo rjes bsgyin pa rnam kun dge bar gyur cig /
- - -
John Mock, Darkot Revisited: New Information on a Tibetan Inscription and Mchod-rten. RET 27 (Oct 2013) 11-19. PDF.
"rme 'or wir ni dor kyi yon" appears to be the right reading. The Rme-'or appears to be a clan name, and appears inscribed in another rock carving that includes a Mchod-rten: "rme 'or btsan la gzigs gyi [yon?]."
John Mock, Tibetans in Wakhan: New Information on Inscriptions & Rock Art. RET 36 (Oct 2016) 121-141.
Inscription reading 'jang lha & 'phan gyi yon ('gift of 'phan'?). Another: spre'u'i lo'i ston nam bshud rtsa rtse sa bris (Nam bshud rtsa tse inscribed this in the autumn of the Monkey year). Another reads: bru gi lo'i ston sla bring po tshes nyi shu la zhengs / khyung po rgyal tsug gi yon (on the 20th day of the middle autumn month it was erected, gift of Khyung po Rgyal gtsug), noting that the finial on the chorten drawn next to it has a very clear "bird horn" finial. Another reads Rme 'or btsan la gzigs gyi xx ('[gift?] of Rme 'or Btsan la gzigs'). PDF.
* * *
Source: 1838 issue of JASB, p. 39: "Tibetan Inscription from Iskardo." A facs. of the inscription was made by G. Vigne, that was then put in modern Tibetan characters and literally translated by M. Csoma (as you see here below):
sku yon brgyad cu . . . . . . . .
yang // yun ring por / . . . . . . .
po mchod pa mdor bgyis legs pas // kun kyis kyang // mos pa brgyad dang smon lam rgya cher gdab pa dang // slad rjes tshun chad kyang // dad pa can rnams kyis // dus dus su / tshon gsal bar bya (or bgyi) mchod gnas kyis tshul ma nyams par bgyi'o //
"-----the eighty excellencies of the body (visible in the image representing Buddha) also (too or again), for a long time (for long continuance sake)— with collected clean offerings, by every one of the eighty-fold prostration (i.e., touching the ground with his two feet, two knees, two hands, the breast and the forehead) and prayer at large must be performed. And then afterwards, also by the faithful ones, at certain times, the paint (or color) must be cleansed, and the Sacristan (he that has charge of the image) must inviolably observe the established rule."
* * *
LAURENT, YANNICK
In the Bosom of Khotan? A Dialogue between Image & Text. RET 36 (Oct 2016) 93-119, at p. 93, an image of Vajradhvaja:
14 nub li'i byang chub seMd' rdo rgyal mtshan.
[nub li'i byang chub sems dpa' rdo rje rgyal mtshan]
x x x x x
SOURCE: The Interpretation of the Inscription on the Murals in Cave K1 of the Pargarbu (Barkhor)
Caves in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet and Related Issues
Zhang Changhong
The Pargarbu (Barkhor) Caves is one of the important sites of the Second Propagation of Buddhism in Tibet in the Sutlej River basin of the western Tibet. It has significant value for the studies of the history of the development of Buddhism and art history in Tibet. This article re-transcribes, re-collates and re-interprets the inscription on the murals in Cave K1 at this site, and shows how they reveal the close ties between the western Tibet and the Western Xia Kingdom, as well as the Mongols of the Yuan regime. On this basis, the author finds that this cave reflects how these religious beliefs were all derived from the western Tibet, and were closely related to the royal family of Tibet. The emergence of some new motifs reflects the complexity of the situation in the spread of religious sects in the western Tibet during the 13th to 14th centuries. In addition, it also indicates that this cave should be dated to around the first half of the 13th century.
Note: The one labelled "S3" is actually a representation of Padampa, although the verse in his praise goes with the label S2 for some reason.
sku'i mdzad pa phyogs bcur sna tshogs bston [ston] //
gsung gi mdzad pa ma tshogs dbang du 'dud //
thugs kyi mdzad pas 'gro ba'i re 'dod skongs //
pad ma'i rgyal po khyed la phyag 'tshal bstod //
sku gsung dbyer med lhun kyis grub //
thugs dam mthar phyin 'gro don mdzad //
rgyu ma nor [sgyu ma'i nor] gyis 'gro ba'i re 'dod skongs //
bla ma gsal ba 'od zer gyi sku la phyag 'tshal bstod //
rtag tu ri khrod mgon [dgon] pa 'grim //
thugs dam chos nyid ngang la bzhugs //
'phrin las rnam bzhi'i dngos grub brnyes //
drin can rtsa ba'i bla ma'i sku la phyag 'tshal bstod //
glang po rin po che、'khor lo rin po che、 dmag mi rin po che、 blon po rin po che、 btsun mo rin po che、 nor bu rin po che、 rta mchog rin po che
de bzhin g(she)gs pa bdun la phyag 'tshal lo //
mtshan gyis [gyi] me tog rgyas pas dag pa la //
dpe byad bzang pos 'bru chags mdzes pa'i sku //
gang gis mthong thos dran na dpal gyur pa'i //
mtshan gyi rgyal po de la phyag 'tshal bstod //
rin cen za [rin chen zla] dang pad mas rab brgyan cing //
shes bya kun la mkhas pas mkhyen pas 'phags //
rgya mtsho lta bur zab pa'i sku mnga' ba //
sgra dbyangs rgyal po de la phyag 'tshal bstod //
'dzam bu'i ['dzam bu chu bo'i] gser ltar lham me pa //
nyi ma stong bas lhag pa'i 'od mnga' ba //
dri med gser gyi mchod sdong lta bu'i sku //
gser bzangs dri med snang la phyag 'tshal bsto [bstod] //
mya ngan 'das zhi bde ba'i mchog brnyes nas //
'gro ba'i bsdug [sdug] bsngal gdung ba sel mdzad pa //
'gro drug 'gon [mgon] dang dpal du gyur pa po //
mya ngan me [med] mchog dpal la phyag 'tshal bstod //
smra bsams brjod med shes rab pha rold phyind //
ma skyes mi 'gag nam kha'i [mkha'i] ngo bo nyid //
bcom ldan so so rang rig ye shes spyod yul ba'i //
dus gsum rgyal ba'i yum la phyag 'tshal bstod //
chos sgra chen pos pha rol rgol ba 'joms //
rgya mtsho lta bur zab pa'i sku mnga' zhing //
'gro ba'i dug gsum ma lus sel mdzad pa'i //
chos grags rgya mtsho 'i dbyangs la phyag 'tshal bstod //
chos kyi blo gros gting pag [dpag] dka' ba'i tshul //
rnam dag chos kyi dbyings la rol mdzad cing //
shes bya ma lus mngon gsum gzigs pa po //
mkhyen pa'i rgyal po de la phyag 'tshal bstod //
'gro ba 'i (nad) gso mdzad pa 'i sman pa 'i mchog //
be tu rya [bai d ūr ya] ltar dang ba 'i sku mnga 'zhing //
sku'i [sku yi] 'od kyis 'gro ba sgrol mdzad pa //
sman pa'i rgyal po de la phyag 'tshal bstod //
nyi ma'i mnyen [gnyen] gyur bde gshegs 'gro ba'i mgon //
srid pa gsum gyi mchog 'gyur [gyur] lha'i lha //
shag [shā] kya'i rgyal po bcom ldan mi'i mgon //
thub pa rab mdzes khyed la phyag 'tshal bstod //
'phags pa spyan ras gzigs dbang phyug 'jig rten gsum gyi mgon //
gzhan la phan phyir brtson pa'i go cha rnams [bsnams] //
thugs rje'i rang bzhin dri med dkyil 'khor zhal //
'gro ba'i bsdug [sdug] bsngal sel la phyag 'tshal bstod //
lha dang lha min cod pan gyis //
zhabs gnyis pad ma la btud de //
'phongs po kun las sgrol mdzad pa'i //
sgrol ma yum la phyag 'tshal lo //
shes rab ral gri mda' gzhu' thogs //
nyon mongs mi shes g.yul ngo sel //
dpa' bo bdud sgra [dgra] bdud 'dul ba //
bdud bzhi'i 'jigs pa sel par byed //
ye shes dpa' che la phyag 'tshal bstod //
nag po chen po gzi mdangs can //
smra ba'i seng ge grags pa che //
'dzam bu gling gi rgyan cig po //
mi pham mgon po khyed la phyag 'tshal bstod //
stobs po che la drag shul che //
rigs sngags rgyal po dge ba po //
'dul dka' mtha' dag 'dul mdzad pa'i //
rdo rje snams la phyag 'tshal bstod //
hūm bder gshegs thugs rjes spruld pa'i //
sems can rnams la 'gon [ mgon ] skyabs mdzad //
'og min gnas na bzhugs pa la //
rab tu btud de phyag 'tshal bstod[11] //
……[rdo rje] zhon [gzhon] nu'i sku la phyag 'tshal bstod
……klu gya……dbang che……brdzod[?] pa'i //
khro da .……'grin[?] khyed la phyag 'tshal bstod //
* * *
Source: The Richard R. & Magdalena Ernst Collection of Himalayan Art, Sotheby's Auction catalogue (March 22, 2018), p. 166 (based on the Tibetan-script copy, not the original, which may also be seen at HAR no. 18364. The catalog identifies the Dpal ldan chos skyong as the Ngor abbot by that name who lived 1702-1760:
[mantra] gtum chen khros pa'i thugs rje'i zlos gar las //
'jigs rung dpa' bo zhal bzhi phyag bzhi pa //
zhabs gnyis brkyang bskum dam nyams ro steng 'gying //
mthing nag sku lus dpa' bo'i chas kyi brgyan //
ral gri thod pa mdung thung mgo phreng dang //
gri khug bum pa mtshon chad du ma 'dzin //
re 'ga' dkar ser dmar ljang sna tshogs zhal //
las bzhi'i sprul pa thub bstan skyong khyod nyid //
yum chen bzhi dang dregs pa sde brgyad //
rol shan nyer gcig mon pa pho mo'i tshogs //
srog bdag yab yum skye 'gro'i dbugs len sogs //
dam can rgya mtshos yongs su bskor la 'dud //
byin gyis rlabs pa'i pa'i (?) dang // rin chen dar zab spyan gzigs tshogs // rno ngar ldan pa'i ral gri 'di // dge slong dpal ldan chos skyong gis / sngar zhus legs pa'i btang rag yin // xxs legs pa'i brda ru 'bul / bsam don chos bhizn 'grub par mdzad // sarba mangga lam /
* * *
Source: Eleanor Olson, Tantric Buddhist Art, China Institute in America (NY 1974)
p. 51: "A Saskya Lama," a crude inscription on its front base seems to say Kun mkhyen Go bo //. This definitely means Go rams pa Bsod nams seng ge (1429‑1489).
p. 25, on the back of the base of a metal image of the Fifth Dalai Lama:
blo gsal skal bzang dpal grub ming can gyis //
ngag gi dbang phyug blo bzang rgya mtsho'i sku //
rin chen las grub bkod legs bzhengs 'bras kyis //
'khor mtsho las sgrol rnam mkhyen myur thob shog //
ces pa'ang blo bzang dpal grub kyi ngor blo bzang rin chen tshangs dbyangs rgya mtshos bris //
On the back of the cushion-base of an image of the Fifth Dalai Lama, studied by Amy Heller (in Gyatso Festschrift, forthcoming):
rgyal dbang thams cad mkhyen pa chen po ngag dbang blo [b]zang rgya mtsho’i sku snyan [~brnyan] ’di lha sa byang gling pa bsaṃ ’grub rgyal pos brten [~rten] du gzhengs pa ’di’i nang gzhusg [~gzhugs] su / de bzhin gshegs pa’i ’phel gdung / rgya bod mkhas grub rnams kyi byin rlabs brten [~rten] / brgyud [~rgyud] sde bzhi’i bzungs sngsaga [~gzungs sngags] sogs bzungs ’bul ba [~gzungs 'bul ba] dang rab gnas kyang rgyal ba nyid rang gi gnang ba’i byin blabs can / sarba rdza yantu //
Here is another inscription on yet another Fifth Dalai Lama image in the same article by Amy Heller:
bsod nams nyer bsags grangs mang skye ba’i mtshor// mgon khyod thugs rje’i zla gzugs rtag shar te/ byang chub bar du 'bral med rjes ’dzin par// smon pa’i re ba ji bzhin ’grub gyur cig/ ces pa ’di yang gsol dpon ge re ba blo bzang ma byan brtses rang gi ’dra ’bag bzhengs pa’i kha byang skye bar rjes ’dzin gyi smon lam rab gnas brgya rtsa dang bcas dgos tshul byung ba ltar za hor gyi bandhes bris///
* * *
Source:
"A Western Tibetan Inscribed Gilt Bronze Figure of a Kagyu Lama."
dri med thugs sras lha tsun la na mo / dge'o bkra shis /
(dri med thugs sras lha btsun la na mo)
The inscription is almost possible to make out here:
https://himalayanbuddhistart.wordpress.com/2020/06/19/tibet-lamas-with-hat/
* * *
Source:
https://himalayanbuddhistart.wordpress.com/2020/06/19/tibet-lamas-with-hat/
jab tang klog gros dbang po la //
x x x x bdag gsol pa //
dpal xug ga des phyag 'tshal zhing //
kyabs su chi'o [skyabs su mchi'o] //
mam gha lam //
\∞/*\∞/*\∞/*\∞/*\∞/
*\∞/*\∞/*\∞/*\∞/*\∞/*\∞/*\∞/*\∞/*\
∞/ *\∞/*\∞/*\∞/*\∞/\∞/*\∞/*\∞/*\∞
[1] Echoes words of ITJ 0751: gnam gyi lha las myi'i rjer gshegs pa... Other OT documents echoe the "rjer gshegs" and "mi'i rjer gshegs."