The Decorative Beauty of the Tibetan Dragon Buddhist Canon

Gold-Embroidered Yellow Satin Featuring Coiled Dragons with Patterns of Ruyi, Clouds, and Flowers

This 'Gold-Embroidered Yellow Satin', also known as Zhuanghua satin, was originally sewn between the 'yellow satin with flower patterns' and the 'plain yellow wrapping silk'. The Zhuanghua satin boasts a striking coiled dragon design. It has four colorful strands of beard and facial hair jutting out and its neck winds above its head, creating spaces that are teardrop shaped. Protruding white horns run down the spine, the base of which is linked to its lush eyebrows. Also, light embroidery outlines the dragon’s cheeks.

The Images and Symbols on the Protective Sutra Boards

Underneath the protective curtains on the front cover plank of each volume of the Tibetan Dragon Buddhist Canon is a black tablet on which three gold-scripted lines are written in relief. The first line is Sanskrit written in Rañjanā script, followed by a second line which transliterates the Sanskrit into Tibetan, and finally a third line in Tibetan translation. The first two lines are, “Namo Buddhāya. Namo Dharmāya. Namo Saṅghāya.” The final third line states, “Pay homage to the Three Jewels.” The whole passage expresses the idea of taking refuge to the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha. The mantra should be chanted before the sutra is read so that the mind can focus.

There are two shrine-doors on both the left and right sides of the veneration text－featuring two painted miniatures either of Buddha or of a Bodhisattva. The composition of the back cover plank is roughly similar, but with five miniatures. Therefore, one volume has seven miniatures, so the 108 volumes have a total of 756 pictorial representations. The miniatures are labeled by their names－the Manchu version of the name is written inside a red rectangular vertical box to the bottom right of the miniature, while the Tibetan name is written inside a similar box, but to the lower left of the miniature. The names are written in gold-ink and executed in standard style.

The miniatures in the Tibetan Dragon Buddhist Canon fall into the following five categories.

The miniatures belonging to higher ranks–such as Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Indian Buddhist Masters, and Śrāvakas and Arhats–are painted on the front cover planks.

The back cover planks are reserved for the lower-ranked Dharma Protectors.

On the reverse side of the inner front cover plank, there are three “Namcu Wangdan” (one with ten powers) symbols residing on the eight-pedaled lotus seats, representing the ultimate teachings of the Kalacakra practice in Tibetan Buddhism. Ten flying dragons are depicted in gold ink at the surrounding frames.

On the reverse side of the inner back cover plank, there are three sets of the crossed-vajra. The crossed-vajra is composed of four three-pronged vajra, pointing to the four directions. It represents mental absorption, which is the unmovable basis of the Mandala.

The Eight Auspicious Symbols

The Eight Auspicious Symbols that symbolize good luck and carry specific meanings in the Buddhist faith are repeatedly depicted on the manuscripts, such as the five-colored curtains and the sides of the sutra leaves.