Tibetan cosmology, 18th century artwork

Tibetan cosmology, 18th century artwork

Tibetan cosmology. 18th century artwork of a Sumeru-like Buddhist world mountain. It is centred on a mandala-like complex (circular area) with huge trees either side.

The mountain itself (shaped like an hourglass) is divided into levels (dvipas). 13 terrestrial levels rise to a peak in the clouds (centre).

These 13 levels consist of 7 alternating levels of seas and mountains (concentric squares, seen from above), and 6 heavenly levels (with Buddha-like figures) seen in profile with the Sun and Moon either side.

A further 18 levels (also in profile) ascend as an inverted mountain to a higher heaven (top). This artwork was published in 'Alphabetum Tibetanum' (1762) by the Augustine friar Antonio Georgi of Rimini (1711-1797).

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