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“The blood of human beings and horses stream together to form a lake… all around lie chains of mountains and on the peak … is situated a leather castle … with parapets of carnelian and pinnacles of skulls.”
This vividly carved panel likely served as a backdrop for a set of sculptures of the protector deity and his retinue.
Palace of the Protector Begtse
OriginMongolia
Date19th century
Dimensions20 3/4 × 30 3/4 × 1 7/8 in.
MediumWood, pigments
Classification(s)
Credit LineRubin Museum of Art
Object numberC2004.19.2
Himalayan Art Resources Number65344
Project Himalayan Arthttps://rubinmuseum.org/projecthimalayanart/essays/begtse-monumental-applique/
DescriptionThis fantastic creation carved from a single piece of wood, a common medium in Mongolian Buddhist sculpture, depicts the dwelling of the fierce protector and god of war Begtse. He is described as dwelling within a pavilion of bones surrounded by twenty-nine butcher-attendants cutting up human corpses. This example shows his palace constructed almost entirely from skeletons and body parts, with standing skeletons supporting the structure, squatting skeletons with jewels above their heads decorating the rooftops, and garlands of entrails and hearts hanging from the rafters. The frightening imagery closely follows visionary textual descriptions used for Begtse’s propitiation:“The blood of human beings and horses stream together to form a lake… all around lie chains of mountains and on the peak … is situated a leather castle … with parapets of carnelian and pinnacles of skulls.”
This vividly carved panel likely served as a backdrop for a set of sculptures of the protector deity and his retinue.
Not on view
late 18th - early 19th century
18th century
early 20th century
late 18th - early 19th century
early 19th century
15th century
18th or 19th century
19th century
mid-14th to mid-15th century
15th century
20th century
18th - early 19th century (ca 1757-1804)