Faculty of Design

Illustration

Yudi Cao

Once Upon a Time in Tibet

This is a story about the love between Tsangyang Gyatso, the Sixth Dalai Lama, and Maji Ami, a profound and tragic legend widely recounted among the Tibetan people. During my travels in Tibet, the echoes of this story inspired my creativity as they whispered through the ancient streets of Lhasa.Tsangyang Gyatso, a Buddhist leader known for his poetry and unconventional lifestyle, and the beautiful Maji Ami, exemplified a love story that highlighted the conflict between personal emotions and societal and religious duties. Their relationship, doomed by the heavy burdens of identity and duty, tragically ended with Tsangyang Gyatso's death on his way to Beijing, rumored to be closely linked to the conflict between his emotional and official responsibilities.My art series "Once Upon a Time in Tibet" portrays their love through a series of illustrations, each capturing moments of joy and the shadows cast by societal constraints, reflecting their deep emotional bond and fateful tragedy. These illustrations not only depict their legendary story but also express the profound struggle against fate and duty, aiming to convey the emotional depth of this historically unrecorded but popularly recounted love story.Join me through these illustrations in revisiting an eternal tale of love and loss, painted in colors of reverence and rebellion, as we explore the complex relationships between personal emotions, societal duties, resistance, and destiny.

“"Once Upon a Time in Tibet" is a heartfelt journey through the love story of Tsangyang Gyatso, the Sixth Dalai Lama, and Maji Ami that I imagined during my travels in Tibet. Their story is filled with passion and tragedy, unfolding in each piece of artwork, capturing their moments of joy and the shadows cast by societal constraints. As I wandered the ancient streets of Lhasa, the echoes of their forbidden love whispered to me, inspiring a series of works that reflect the tension between their deep connection and the strict duties imposed by Tsangyang Gyatso's destiny. This series depicts their legendary tale—not only as historical figures but as lovers entwined by fate yet torn apart by duty. Each illustration aims to bring viewers closer to the romantic depth of their emotions, set against the stunning backdrop of Tibetan culture and landscapes. Join me in revisiting an eternal story of love and loss, portrayed in colors of reverence and rebellion.The story of Maji Ami and Tsangyang Gyatso is a profound and tragic love tale passed down among the Tibetan people. Tsangyang Gyatso, renowned for his poetic talent and unconventional lifestyle, was born in 1683. Identified early as the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, he was sent to Lhasa for religious education, yet he often displayed resistance to the traditional religious life. In his poetry, Tsangyang Gyatso expressed his yearning for romantic freedom and personal emotional fulfillment. Against this backdrop, Maji Ami emerged as a beautiful woman with whom he formed a deep emotional bond. However, due to Tsangyang Gyatso's status as the Dalai Lama, their relationship faced immense societal and religious pressures.Their relationship, never accepted by society, and Tsangyang Gyatso's conflicted attitudes toward his political and religious duties filled his life with tragedy. He died in 1706 while en route to Beijing, and it is rumored that his death was linked to the conflicts between his emotional life and religious role.This story, widely circulated in Tibetan society, is seen as a symbol of resistance against traditional constraints and a sincere pursuit of personal emotions. The love story of Tsangyang Gyatso and Maji Ami is not just a legend about love but also reflects the complex interplay between personal emotions, societal duties, resistance, and fate.”