Peking Tengyur

Volume 28 of the Buddhist text Peking Tengyur.

• Circa 18th century.
• 307 folios.
• Text printed in red ink; text block edges printed in patterned red and green ink.
• Silk and painting to cover.

Volume 28 of the Peking Tengyur, the Tibetan commentaries on Buddhist teachings. This copy includes a painted cover page, featuring images of Buddha Shakyamuni (left) and Amitayus (right), and its edges are decorated paintings of the Eight Auspicious Symbols. It was likely printed in the 18th century (possibly as early as 1724, when the first prints of the so-called Peking Canon were made).

This single volume (number 28 of 87) comprises 307 folios (final page is labeled 307a) and contains 93 discrete works by a variety of Indian masters. The painted title page names the first work as being a Tārā sādhana (meditational text)—in Tibetan, sDrol ma’i sgrub thabs—which was composed by Nagājuna. The final work contained in this volume is another sādhana, this one dedicated to the Great Goddess (Devi Māhakālī)—in Tibetan, dPal lha mo chen mo’i sgrub thabs—which was composed by Nāropa.

John C. Huntington, a professor of art history specializing in Tibetan Buddhist art, acquired these texts as a part of his personal study collection, in addition to relying on the collection for his own research and publications.