BHUTAN or INDIA, Arunachal Pradesh - Lot 177

BHUTAN or INDIA, Arunachal Pradesh A Monpa wooden mask with a dark, lustrous patina depicting the old monk Heshang, wrinkled, with crinkled, drooping eyes and a mouth carved open in a toothless smile. (Restoration to the jaw) H. 24 cm. Base. Moheyan (Heshang Moheyan) was an 8th-century Chinese Buddhist monk associated with Chan Buddhism who traveled to Tibet at the request of King Trisong Detsen. There he taught a path based on “sudden enlightenment,” according to which advanced practitioners can directly access the nature of the mind by ceasing to cling to thoughts and concepts. His teachings met with some success but were challenged by representatives of Indian Buddhism, notably the master Kamalashila. The famous debate at Samye, traditionally dated to 792–794, thus pitted the Chinese and Indian conceptions of enlightenment against one another. Tibetan sources claim that Kamalashila prevailed and that Moheyan was forced to leave Tibet, while some Chinese sources offer a different account. The monk is depicted here in a lighthearted and humorous manner.

Estimate:$2,240.92

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