Himalayan Buddhist Art 101: King Gesar of Ling

TRICYCLE
By Alex Caring-Lobel & Jeff Wyatt

Buddhist practice and Buddhist art have been inseparable in the Himalayas ever since Buddhism arrived to the region in the eighth century. But for the casual observer it can be difficult to make sense of the complex iconography. Not to worry—Himalayan art scholar Jeff Watt is here to help. In this "Himalayan Buddhist Art 101" series, Jeff is making sense of this rich artistic tradition by presenting weekly images from the Himalayan Art Resources archives and explaining their roles in the Buddhist tradition. This week Jeff takes a look at artistic renderings of King Gesar of Ling, folk hero in Tibetan epic literature. [link]