LOT 1051  Two Tibetan Painted Tsakalis Initiation Cards  

十五世紀 西藏佛像雜卡利一組兩張 15th century. Tibetan. Consisting of two leaves depicting two bodhisattva in red an...

十五世紀 西藏佛像雜卡利一組兩張 15th century. Tibetan. Consisting of two leaves depicting two bodhisattva in red and blue color seated on lotus stand, each with Tibetan inscription on reverse identifying the central deity. Height: 5 7/8 in (14.9 cm) Width: 3 3/4 in (9.5 cm) Provenance: From a Tibetan-American family collection, San Diego, California. Tsakali are small ritual cards used in Vajrayana Buddhist ceremonies within Tibetan Buddhism. When arranged in a mandala, they establish a sacred space, functioning as a temporary temple. These finely crafted cards depict celestial Buddhas, bodhisattvas, protective deities, and the six realms of rebirth. Monastic teachers employ them to initiate disciples into alignment with specific deities. Before undertaking visualization practices, disciples must receive the deity’s permission, either through dreams or under the supervision of a teacher, and then meditate upon the deity’s form as described in accompanying mantras and imagery. Created by Nepali or Tibetan artisans, these cards are painted with mineral pigments and decorated with gold leaf, adhering to precise religious iconographic conventions. This particular 15th-century Tsakali pair remains remarkably well-preserved, showcasing vibrant colors and intricate details. 雜卡利（Tsakali）是藏傳佛教密宗儀式中使用的小型法卡，當排列成曼荼羅時，可創造神聖空間，如同臨時寺廟。這些卡片描繪天界的佛陀、菩薩、護法及六道輪迴，出家師父用以幫助弟子與特定本尊對齊（灌頂）。弟子需獲得本尊許可（透過夢境或導師指導），並依咒語與圖像進行觀想，以深化修行。這些卡片由尼泊爾或藏族工匠製作，運用傳統礦物顏料與金箔，遵循嚴格宗教規範。此兩件十五世紀雜卡保存良好，色彩鮮明，細節清晰，展現藝術與信仰的融合，極具收藏與研究價值。