Deity: Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara (四臂观音) – The Embodiment of Great Compassion; protects the family, pacifies the mind, removes suffering, promotes health (守护家庭,平和心境,可消除病苦,提升身体能量,有益健康,使家庭和睦幸福安康). Sacred Patron (Ben Ming Fo) for the Year of the Rat.
Art School: Nepal Black Gold Style (尼泊尔黑金系列) – A Nepali Thangka tradition with black-gold palette and refined deity iconography.
Origin: Nepal (Authentic lineage transmission).
Dimensions: Painting Core 3.5 x 4.5 cm.
Pigments: 100% Authentic Natural Mineral Pigments (Color stability for 100+ years).
Casing: Copper Case (铜壳). Rope/beads not included.
Zodiac Connection: Sacred Patron (Ben Ming Fo) for the Year of the Rat.
I. Cultural Context: Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara (四臂观音) is revered as the Embodiment of Great Compassion in Tibetan and Nepali Buddhism. Practitioners invoke him for "family protection and peace" (守护家庭、平和心境)—guarding the household and pacifying the mind—and for "removal of illness" (消除病苦、提升身体能量、有益健康), supporting health and vitality. He is also invoked for "family harmony and well-being" (使家庭和睦幸福安康). As the Sacred Patron (Ben Ming Fo) for the Year of the Rat, he is honoured by those born under that zodiac. This Nepal Black Gold (尼泊尔黑金系列) Thangka pendant serves as a portable shrine, allowing the wearer to carry the Embodiment of Great Compassion's blessings close to the body in daily life.
II. Visual Analysis: The Richness of Nepal Black Gold Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara. This Nepal Black Gold masterpiece showcases the school's distinctive aesthetic: a black-gold palette applied with clarity and depth, and Bodhisattva iconography rendered with refined detail. Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara is typically depicted with four arms (lotus, mala, etc.) and serene posture, conveying his role as the embodiment of compassion and mercy. The use of natural mineral pigments ensures that the intensity of colour and the legibility of each symbolic detail remain stable over time. Traditional Nepali craftsmanship follows lineage conventions, making the piece both an object of devotion and a collectible work of Tibetan Buddhist art.
III. Artistic Alchemy: The Eternal Glow of Minerals. Painted by lineage-trained artists in Nepal, this Thangka is executed entirely with Natural Mineral Pigments—crushed malachite, azurite, cinnabar, and pure gold—bound with traditional mediums. These materials are resistant to oxidation and UV light, offering colour stability for well over a hundred years when cared for properly. The layering and shading techniques characteristic of Nepal Black Gold Thangka painting give the deity form dimensionality and presence. Mounted in a copper case (铜壳), the painting is protected from moisture and impact. The result is a piece that is both "collectible and inheritable" (可传承, 可收藏)—suitable for personal practice, gifting, or long-term preservation as sacred art.
IV. Spiritual Merit & Modern Efficacy: Compassion and Peace. Wearing or keeping a Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara Nepal Black Gold Thangka pendant is understood to support family protection, peace of mind, removal of illness, and health. Practitioners turn to him for family harmony and well-being. As the guardian of the Rat, the pendant is especially meaningful for those born in that year. As a portable sacred image, the pendant allows one to align with the Embodiment of Great Compassion's energy throughout the day—fostering a continuous connection to compassion and peace.
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