Changkya Rolpai Dorje

firegilded bronze
China, 2nd half 18th cent.
high: 10 cm.

Portrait of Rolpai Dorje (1717-1786), the incarnate head of the Gelugpa-church in Mongolia, and one of the most important church-hierarchs in China. He was born in Urga (Mongolia) in 1717, and was recognized as the reincarnation of Ngawang Lobzang Chöden, the previous Changkya Hutuktu and spiritual advisor of the Chinese Kangxi-emperor. He lived in Beijing for most of his life and, in his turn, was the advisor of the Qianlong emperor.
He sits on a double throne cushion, has the typical ceremonial hat of the Gelugpa monks, and above his shoulders the sword and the book. These symbols originally belonged to Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa tradition, in the 15th century. In his lap the vase of Longevity (separately cast).

Not sealed.