An ancient king of Tibet

The ancient Tibetan kings of the Yalung dynasty ruled the land from the 600s to the mid-800s. Images of them are characterized by their tall turbans.

This unidentified king is seated in the posture of ease on a cushion. As with images of Buddhist deities, whose hand gestures have specific meanings, this king's right hand is raised in the gesture of dispelling fear and his lowered left hand holds the wish-granting jewel. The king has a serene yet majestic face, and he sports a mustache and a small pointed beard. Two locks of his hair flow down his shoulders; the rest is bound up inside his turban. He wears two large lotus-like earrings.

This image was a bequest from Donald M. Allen, who taught in China prior to the World War II. A poetry editor, Allen published the well-known anthology The New American Poetry.