A 19th century Tibetan or Bhutanese papier mache fabric and paint mask of Guru Dorje Drolo with fangs, three eyes, and a headdress of skulls! This mask of Guru Dorje Drolo is one of the most important manifestations of the legendary master Padmasambhava. It belongs to a set of seven other manifestations who are represented during the dance of the Eight Manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Tsengye). Ritual dances, called cham, are an essential component of Himalayan Buddhism. They are performed during festivals, in a courtyard or indoors. Danced by monks or laymen, they can involve the wearing of masks. Their choreography and names vary according to the Buddhist sects and the regions, but their aims are broadly the same: celebration of Buddhism or a great saint, subjugation of evil spirits, teaching of Buddhist principles, liberating the faithful from their negative karma, and blessings. Dancers follow a strict practice under a dance master, who has a dance guide with steps and musical notations. The dancers must become the deities they represent. The spectacular dance costumes, made of colorful heavy brocades, are kept during the year with the masks in a specific room of the monastery. The dances form a very important part of the socioreligious binding of a community. At the time of the year when they are performed, the community comes together for religious purposes, but also for social interaction and enjoyment. From Mongolia to Ladakh, Tibet, Bhutan, and all the other Buddhist parts of the Himalayas, ritual dances constitute the apex of the year.

Ritual Dance Mask of Guru Dorje Drolo
papier-mâché, polychrome, fabric
Himalayan Buddhism
19th century
Bhutan or southern Tibet

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