Couching Gold Embroidery: Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche)
盘金绣·莲花生大师
Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche—the “Lotus-Born”—was a renowned Buddhist master from the ancient kingdom of Uddiyana in 8th-century India. Celebrated as one of the greatest tantric adepts in Buddhist history, he is venerated as the founding patriarch of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. The composition features Padmasambhava in full ritual attire, seated upon a lotus throne and adorned with an iconic five-petaled crown, elaborate jewelry, and ritual implements. This embroidered thangka was created by Master Yang Huazhen using the traditional Jiarong Tibetan Panjin embroidery technique—a form of gold couching embroidery unique to the region. “Panjin” refers to the meticulous couching of gold threads to outline intricate designs. In this work, color is further enhanced with thangka pigments, seamlessly blending embroidery and painting.