Scenes from the Life of Sherab Gyaltsen (1436-1494, or 1465?) the Twentieth Throne Holder of the Sakya School

This portrait with narratives scenes from the life of the Twentieth Throne Holder of the Sakya, or Sakya Tridzin, is from a set depicting the Khon family history. Numerous narrative vignettes are anchored by recognizable architectural depictions in the landscape and in some cases can be identified by faded inscriptions. The main subject is shown traveling between these different places for teachings and ritual performances and dances. In front of the teacher stands a small figure of a man in Indian garb who holds a stick mounted by a parrot. One of the places identified by inscription and shown near the figure with the parrot is Samdrubtse, a fifteenth-century castle, where Sherab Gyaltsen performed a ritual to ward off negative forces. Samdrubtse is thought to be the model for Potala Palace in Lhasa.