Lama's Headdress
ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-head ornaments-headdresses
Date20th Century
Made AtTibet Autonomous Region, China, Asia
MediumCotton and dye
Dimensions20 × 4 × 12 in. (50.8 × 10.2 × 30.5 cm)
Credit LineGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih
Object number2021.8.56
DescriptionThis object is a headdress commonly worn by Buddhist monks from the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The newest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Gelug is based around the teachings of its founder, a philosopher, yogi, and lama named Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419). Although not the head of the sect, Gelug is known best as the sect of the Dalai Lama.The yellow color of this hat is symbolic of a return to a pure ethical discipline amongst the muddled principles of monasteries during the time the sect, also known as New Kadam or the Yellow Hat School, was established. Though consistent in color, such headdresses vary in both style and decoration, and indicate the wearer’s affiliation and status. The inscription is the mantra of the Shakyamuni (Gautama) Buddha, and is invoked to purify negative karma and help one achieve enlightenment.
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