This thangka depicts Je Rinpoche (Je Tsongkhapa), the great Tibetan master and founder of the Gelug tradition, shown as an embodiment of wisdom, discipline, and the complete Buddhist path. He is seated in a composed meditative posture upon a lotus and throne, radiating calm clarity and spiritual authority.

Je Rinpoche is portrayed wearing the monastic robes of a fully ordained monk, symbolizing ethical discipline (śīla) as the foundation of realization. His hands are held in a teaching and contemplative gesture, expressing the union of study, reflection, and meditation. The luminous halo surrounding his form signifies awakened insight and the purity of his realization.

On either side of Je Rinpoche appear lotus stems bearing a sword and a scripture, the traditional attributes associated with him. The sword represents penetrating wisdom that cuts through ignorance, while the book signifies profound understanding of the Buddha’s teachings, especially the graded path and the view of emptiness. Together, they express the harmony of wisdom and method.

The throne, richly ornamented and supported by auspicious motifs, symbolizes the stability of the Dharma and the firm establishment of correct view and conduct. The surrounding landscape, clouds, and offering elements create a pure and harmonious environment, reflecting the ideal conditions for practice and realization.

This thangka serves as a support for devotion, contemplation, and study, inspiring practitioners to cultivate disciplined conduct, clear understanding, and deep insight. It visually expresses the Gelug emphasis on ethical foundation, analytical wisdom, and meditative realization, unified within a single enlightened form.