Monday, 23. April 2007
Sacred Visions: Astrological Charts

Astrological Chart
(Tibetan: sid pa ho)

As both an instructional tool and auspicious talisman the stylized astrological chart brings good fortune to all those who see, display or possess it. The painting is a congregation of astrological, calendar and primary element symbols. The central image is of a yellow tortoise - emanation of the bodhisattva Manjushri, lying on the back with the head to the top and the four limbs extended holding green squares in the claws. In the center of the round flat belly is a circle of nine variously coloured squares containing the 9 magic numbers (Tib.: me wa gu). Surrounding, on a black wheel against an orange background are the 8 trigrams (Tib.: par kha ge) of Chinese origin. The outer circle contains the 12 animal figures of the 60 Year Cycle; surrounded by the outer edge of tortoise shell. At both sides the symbols of the planets are used to represent the days of the week; sun, moon, eye, hand, arrow, kila, sheaf and the head of a bird representing Rahu (eclipse). The five elements of earth, fire, water, iron and wood are represented by the green squares in the claws, the surrounding fire, blue pond of water below, vajra sceptre above the pond and the green leafed sprig from a tree at the left side.

Painting Type: Charts, General | Astrological | Protective Talisman | Yantra Diagram

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Much more beautiful paintings at Sacred Visions: Early Paintings from Central Tibet by Steven M. Kossak and Jane Casey Singer.
Early Paintings from Central Tibet is the catalogue of a landmark exhibition (1998-99) of more than sixty of the finest extant Tibetan works from museums and private collections around the world. Closed to the West until the early twentieth century, Tibet was abruptly closed again in the 1950s by the Chinese. In spite of the loss of much of the staggering wealth of Tibetan monasteries and other monuments since that time, a number of masterpieces have survived in Western collections.
Category: Art & Visions | Astrology & Astronomy | Religion & Early Cultures |


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