6$p
d&e ee&k
trE
RfA-r#+
*tu
fth
uo
3+f lqiäÄ.fir 19F
üfh
three postcards and a sheet of picture Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House
t*E /.. Ä :li ffi ü ,i r]
"Thangka", also known as "Tangka", "Thanka" or "Tanka", is
a
word in the Tibetan language meaning "A scroltr of Buddha painting". It is a
popular art form widely seen in the Tibetan area of China. As its subject contents
mostly involve religion, Thangka is also recognized as a prirnaritry
religious painting.
mxntenefs
Chinese FolkArt
Thangka
.......... ll
ReligiousThangka Thangka of Other
Themes
Artistic Value of Thangka
.
7
..
15
Ă&#x;
hincse
,;: ...,.it'
ol rt
ang
a
't11tatrtka", alsO known aS "Tangka", "Thanka" or "Tanka", is a wOrd in the Tibetan language meaning "a scroll of Buddha painting".
It is
a popular art form widely
seen in the Tibetan area of China. As its subject contents mostly involve religion, Thangka is also recognized as a primarily religious painting.
The origin of Thangka was related to the nomads' way of
life. Historically
Tibetan
people lived on vast plains searching for water and food resources, never settled down in one location. To satisfy the need of family altars, frescos, and monastefies, Thangka emerged as times required. Because
it could be rolled easily or hung
as
a scroll, was not restricted to occasions, and provided the convenience of religious practice, Thangka was beneficial to the spreading ofBuddhist doctrines. Thus it fast became an emblem of sarana (conversion to Buddhism) and an object to pay homage
to, as well as the medium to convey Buddhist teaching. Goddess of Mercy with four arms Drawing
i'.rr::,r
exlg e ef
t er
xre
irlr'r,r lnallgKa lrr
es
history, geography, architecture, astronomy, herbal __...,,'-t'ro-. themes in Thangka reflect Tibetan others denote the Tibetan peoples' daily medicine, literature, drama, and various crafts; while
ofTibet Therefore Thangka shows lives and customs, or describe the origin and folk legends a diverse range
ofTibet and is praised
as a visual encyclopedia'
on major political events and Historical Thangka is based on historical facts, emphasizing images to address history and activities of Tibet, the distinguishing feature of which is using turning into a human, implying to unfold stories, such as the well-known story of a monkey heroic King Gesaer and the life the origin of the Tibetan ethnic group or the epic about achievements
Deutsen, of other important figures like Tubo King Songtsen Gampo, Thrisong
Jincheng' Nepal princess Chizun' Chire Bajin, Tang dynasty princesses Wencheng and depicting Jataka Tales, and Lama and panchan Erdeni. Thangkas also have pictures
Dalai
The more renowned ones include other stories of eminent founders of Buddhist schools. padmasambhva, venerable Atisha, sagya King Phagspa, Milarepa, Tsong-kha-pa, and Fifth
of Sagya King Daiai Lama, etc. Among them is a series of large scale Thangka-Legends Phagspa,usingmorethanahundredimagestodisplaythewholelifespanofhisreligiousand conventions along the political activities, including his two visits to Berjing, the scenery and space, freed journey. The key tone ofthe pictures is consistent, ignoring the definite time and
enfolds, splendidly from the limitation of perspectives, but evolving as the story
vivid'
This
typeofThangkausuallydenotescompletereligiousstories,oftenusingmultipleperspectives
olaSetofpictures,eachpagecaptionedwithshortphrases,andhighlyaccla.imedforits arlistic and historical value.
Asking for advice from the great master Lotus Born One at the banquet in the kingdom of Ling .
Thangka Exhibition in the Art Gallery of Cultural Palace o{ Nationalities in Beijing
A fierce attack and reinforcements on return journey
:
'1