Thangka, also known as
tangka, thanka or tanka, is a painting on cotton, or silk appliqué, usually
depicting a Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala of some sort. The thangka is not
a flat creation like an oil painting or acrylic painting but consists of a
picture panel which is painted or embroidered over which a textile is mounted
and then over which is laid a cover, usually silk. Generally, thangkas last a
very long time and retain much of their lustre, but because of their delicate
nature, they have to be kept in dry places where moisture won't affect the
quality of the silk. It is sometimes called a scroll-painting.
These thangka served as important teaching tools depicting the life of the
Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and bodhisattvas. One
subject is The Wheel of Life, which is a visual representation of the
Abhidharma teachings (Art of Enlightenment).
Historians note that Chinese painting had a profound influence on Tibetan
painting in general. Starting from the 14th and 15th century, Tibetan painting
had incorporated many elements from the Chinese, and during the 18th century,
Chinese painting had a deep and far-stretched impact on Tibetan visual art.
According to Giuseppe Tucci, by the time of the Qing Dynasty, "a new Tibetan
art was then developed, which in a certain sense was a provincial echo of the
Chinese 18th century's smooth ornate preciosity."
Thangkas are painted on cotton or silk. The most common is loosely woven
cotton produced in widths from 40 to 58 centimeters. While some variations do
exist, thangkas wider than 45 centimeters frequently have seams in the support.
The paint consists of pigments in a water soluble medium. Both mineral and
organic pigments are used, tempered with herb and glue solution. In Western
terminology, this is a distemper technique.
The composition of a thangka, as with the majority of Buddhist art, is
highly geometric. Arms, legs, eyes, nostrils, ears, and various ritual
implements are all laid out on a systematic grid of angles and intersecting
lines. A skilled thangka artist will generally select from a variety of
predesigned items to include in the composition, ranging from alms bowls and
animals, to the shape, size, and angle of a figure's eyes, nose, and lips. The
process seems very methodical, but often requires deep understanding of the
symbolism involved to capture the spirit of it.
Thangka often overflow with symbolism and allusion. Because the art is
explicitly religious, all symbols and allusions must be in accordance with strict
guidelines laid out in Buddhist scripture. The artist must be properly trained
and have sufficient religious understanding, knowledge, and background to
create an accurate and appropriate thangka. Lipton and Ragnubs clarify this in
Treasures of Tibetan Art:
Thangka, when created properly, perform several different functions. Images
of deities can be used as teaching tools when depicting the life (or lives) of
the Buddha, describing historical events concerning important Lamas, or
retelling myths associated with other deities. Devotional images act as the
centerpiece during a ritual or ceremony and are often used as mediums through
which one can offer prayers or make requests. Overall, and perhaps most
importantly, religious art is used as a meditation tool to help bring one
further down the path to enlightenment. The Buddhist Vajrayana practitioner
uses a thanga image of their yidam, or meditation deity, as a guide, by
visualizing “themselves as being that deity, thereby internalizing the Buddha
qualities (Lipton, Ragnubs).”
Originally,
thangka paintings became popular among traveling monks because the scroll
paintings were easily rolled and transported from monastery to monastery. They
also served as important teaching tools depicting the life of Buddha, various
influential lamas, and other deities and bodhisattvas. To Buddhists, these
Tibetan religious paintings offer a beautiful manifestation of the divine,
being both visually and mentally stimulating.
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