Bön tradition, pigment and water-soluble binding agent on fabric, gold paint, 73.5 x 44.5 cm, torn edge, (Hr) We are grateful to Dipl. Ing. Uwe Niebuhr, BA MA for his assistance in cataloguing this work.

The present thangka depicts the wrathful tutelary god Trowo Tsochog Khagying (Tibetan khro bo gtso mchog mkha' 'gying) and his retinue. He appears at the centre of the picture embracing his red consort Khala Dugma (Tibetan mkha' la gdug mo). The “Wrathful Supreme Lord Towering in the Sky” is one of the most important meditation deities (Sanskrit yidam) in the Tantrist tradition of the Tibetan Bön religion. Trowo Tsochog Khagying is characterised by a complex retinue, which is depicted almost entirely in this thangka. The tutelary god has a dark blue body and faces of different colours: blue, white and red. His wrathful eyes protrude hypnotically from the eye sockets, his open mouths reveal their sharp fangs. Trowo Tsochog Khagying and his consort wear gold jewellery on their bodies, whilst tiaras made of skulls decorate their flowing hair. A tiger pelt is wrapped around Trowo Tsochog Khagying’s hip, and the white skin of a demon is visible on his back. A green and white stole hangs from his shoulders reaching the ground, a long garland of severed heads goes down to his knees. He brandishes the following godly attributes in his six hands: on the right, the Sword of Wisdom, an axe made of meteoric iron and the banner of victory; on the left, the magic lasso, the magic hook, bow and arrow. All six hands spread their thumbs and index fingers in the ‘gesture of banishing’. His naked red consort Khala Dugma has her left arm and right leg wrapped around Trowo Tsochog Khagying’s body, her right outstretched arm holding a five-pointed star. The couple stands in a side lunge before blazing flames, on two snake deities (Sanskrit nāga) lying motionless on a lotus. The latter rests on a red throne, carried by five animals: Garuda, an elephant, a snow lion, a horse and a dragon. Hovering among clouds at the upper edge of the picture is the blue Küntu Zangpo (Tibetan kun tu bzang po) - the highest deity, from whom all knowledge emanates. Two other important tutelary deities are depicted under Küntu Zangpo: on the left, Walse Ngampa (Tibetan dbal g.sas rngam pa), on the right, Lhagö Thöpa (Tibetan lha rgod thod pa). Three groups from Trowo Tsochog Khagying’s retinue are depicted in the upper half of the picture: "The Four Wrathful Ones Who Turn away Evil", "The Eight Emanations of the Outer Circle" and "The Four Gatekeepers". There are 16 wrathful deities in total, with their respective consorts, and they can be distinguished from each other only thanks to their attire: flowing robes, furs, feathers and animal pelts, helmets and armours. The lower section depicts the “27 Mighty Ladies”, divided into three groups of nine. One group includes the “Nine Zema” (Tibetan gze ma dgu): tall, dancing and wrapped in flames. They have human bodies with animal heads and different colours. Then the group of the “Nine Female Athletes” (Tibetan gyad mo dgu), each of them joined to the “Nine Zema” on the right hand side: also animal headed, but much smaller. The third group encompasses the “Nine Chinte” (Tibetan byin te dgu), each of whom stands on their left. Their shape is almost human - although some of them have up to nine heads. In addition, the "Ten Athletes" (Tibetan gyad bcu) are scattered throughout the thangka in its interstices. They are six demon-like figures and four animals: Tiger, Dragon, Yak and Garuda. Finally, there is also a further group, that of the "Four Outer Gatekeepers", who complete Trowo Tsochog Khagying’s retinue in this thangka. In the lower left corner, the two gate-keepers of the cardinal points North and South are depicted. The former carries the head of a pig on its own head, the latter that of a bear. In the opposite corner are the gate-keepers of the cardinal points West and East, carrying a dragon’s and a snow lion’s head, respectively.