Hanging scroll, ink and color with gold highlights
The central figure in this thangka is gTsang pa rgya ras Ye shes rdo rje (1161–1211), the founder of Drukpa Kagyu, a branch of the Kagyu school in Tibetan Buddhism. At the very top is Cakrasamvara, the most venerated tantric deity of the Kagyu school. Surrounding him are earlier Kagyu school masters, including Dwags po lha rje (1079–1153), Phag mo gru pa (1110–1170), Karma pa Dus gsum mkhyen pa (1110–1193), Zhang tshal pa (1123–1194), Gling ras pa (1128–1188; gTsang pa rgya ras’ primary teacher), gTsang pa rgya ras’ principal disciples, and early leaders of Drukpa Kagyu. At the center of the lower section is Zhabs drung Ngag dbang rnam rgyal (1594–1651), a descendant of the gTsang pa rgya ras family. Following disputes over the succession of leadership, Zhabs drung Ngag dbang rnam rgyal left the gTsang pa rgya ras family for Bhutan. He later propagated the teachings of Drukpa Kagyu, unified the various Bhutanese tribes, and established an administrative center, laying the foundation for modern Bhutan.