Terris Nguyen Temple
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Terris Nguyen Temple | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 5, 1944 Bakersfield, California, U.S. |
| Died | July 8, 2024 (aged 80) |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Movement | Tibetan Buddhism |
Terris Nguyen Temple (May 5, 1944 – July 8, 2024) was an American artist and Tibetan Buddhist.[1] Temple studied the art of Tibetan thangka painting in Nepal during the years 1966 to 1975. In the twenty-first century, Nguyen Temple and his wife were the official artists to Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, and the Tsurphu Monastery.
Terris' first teacher was the State Artist of Tibet, the late Master Jampa Tsedan, the Dalai Lama's artist. Later Terris studied with the late Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche - Simla, India; the late Sherpa artist Pargyaltsen (Kapa Ngawong Damcho) - Nepal; the late Dolpo artist Pema Wangyal, and the late Newar artist Siddhimuni Shakya - Kathmandu. In 1969 Terris became one Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa's original Western disciples. In 1974 at the invitation of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Terris taught thangka painting at the then Naropa Institute in Boulder Colorado, now Naropa University. This was the opening year of the Institute.
Tsurphu Appliques
1992–1997 Terris and fellow artist Leslie Nguyen created two giant silk appliques for Tsurphu Monastery in Tibet.[2]
Tsurphu Monastery is the Karmapa's main seat in Tibet and was established in 1187 by the 1st Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa. The Karma Gadri Applique (gos-sku chen-mo, 108 ft x 76 ft, 35m x 23m). The Mahakala Goku (applique, gos-sku chen-mo, 30 ft x 30 ft, 10m x 10 m).
The originals had been destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in the mid 1960s, and no photographic records existed. The Abbot of Tsurphu, Drupon Dechen Rinpoche gave the artists oral instructions.
Two ceremonial banners, as companion pieces for the two giant appliques were requested by Tsurphu in 1997. These works are shown annually during major cultural festivals at Tsurphu, attended by devotees from all over Tibet, a tradition that began at the monastery in 1590. During Saga Dawa, the festival honoring the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and Parnirvana, the Karma Gadri Goku is shown. It takes a minimum of sixty strong people to carry the Karma Gadri thangka out of the Temple for display on the Mountain.
The Tsechur Drabje (40m x 2m, 120 ft x 7 ft) which is the ceremonial companion piece, is being made now in India by the 17th Karmapa. Upon completion the two artists will take it to Tsurphu. The Mahakala Goku (completed in 1997), and its companion the Gutor (Norbu) Drabje appliqué (completed in 2007). They are both 120 ft × 8 ft (37 m × 2.4 m) and are used during the Gutor Festival to purify the Tibetan Lunar New Year. The Tsechur Drobje drawings were presented in 2016 to the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje.[3] The sewing work is expected to be completed in 2019 and will also be given to Tsurphu Monastery.
