CHINA, CHENGDE, STYLE OF XUMIFUSHOU TEMPLE, LATE 18TH CENTURY

The present painting of Ushnishavijaya follows closely the imperial style associated with the Xumi Fushou Temple, constructed in Chengde outside Beijing in the latter half of the eighteenth century. The Xumi Fushou Temple was completed in 1780, under the orders of the Qianlong Emperor. On the occasion of his seventieth birthday, Qianlong invited Lobsang Palden Yeshe, the Sixth Panchen Lama and the second most important religious leader of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama, to visit him in Chengde outside Beijing. Like his grandfather before him, Qianlong recognized that the arrival of the revered Panchen Lama to Chengde at the behest of the emperor demonstrated enormous political and religious power in the eyes of the Mongol khans, who were all devout Tibetan Buddhists, and who would also be in attendance at his birthday proceedings. As a fantastic gesture of good will, and a display of his power, Qianlong commanded his architects and builders to replicate the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama in Tibet, in the summer retreat of Chengde. The resulting Xumi Fushou Temple was completed in time for the celebration and the visit of Lobsang Palden Yeshe, and filled with countless paintings, sculptures, and other ritual objects. Paintings from the Xumi Fushou Temple, many of which are in institutional collections, all share certain characteristics such as the verdant, Chinese-style landscape, billowing clouds in greens, blues and pinks, and figures with round, open faces and delicate features.
The goddess of victory is seated here in lalitasana, the posture of ease, on a resplendent lotus base holding various implements in her eight hands. Her four faces are backed with a green nimbus, and a vibrant pink aureole with golden rays emanates from around her body. She is surrounded by a panoply of deities, with Tsongkhapa at top center flanked by his principle students. Compare the present work to a painting of Ushnishavijaya from the Xumi Fushou Temple sold at Christie’s New York, 22 March 2023, lot 345 for $94,500.