Teacher (Lama)

Often misunderstood as referring to any Tibetan Buddhist monk, the term lama means “teacher,” and was traditionally reserved for high-ranking masters or leaders of monasteries. The lama's distinctive hat identifies him as a member of the Gelug (dge lugs) order, one of the four main branches of Tibetan Buddhism. The popular name for this group, the Yellow-hat school, refers to the hat seen here, a yellow, pointed hats Gelug lamas wear in certain ritual contexts. This monastic order was the dominant religious and political power in Tibet from the 16th to the 20th centuries. The long life vase that he holds may indicate that the sculpture is a portrait of the Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617–1682).