With a history of over 1,000 years, thangkas are one of the most well-known Tibetan art forms. The influence of Nepalese art is obvious in their early development, and later the ornate style of traditional Chinese paintings became very influential. Used by traveling monks and ordinary people as a tool for communicating with the gods, it is highly admired not only for its practical function but also its unique beauty and craftsmanship. Shoppers in Beijing have a unique opportunity to check out some exquisite thangkas the amazing shops in the city. So get on board with a Beijing China tour!
Much like a scroll painting, thangkas can be easily rolled up for storage and unrolled for display. Travelers and monks like to carry a thangka when they travel to other places because it is very lightweight. Home-dwelling Tibetans also like to use thangkas in their homes because they are beautiful and can be easily be put on a wall.
Thangkas often depict prominent figures of Buddhism, like the Buddha, bodhisattvas, and other gods, but sometimes they only show items like the Buddhist Wheel of Life. In the background of most thangkas, scenes from the life of the Buddha or important historical events are shown. People who study these images can learn the teachings of Buddhism and enhance their spiritual experience.
On a thangka, no detail is too small to ignore. Everything, like the color, the clothes, and the positions or postures of the people, contains bits of information that contribute to the profound symbolism of the overall image. For a Buddhist, the teachings of Buddhism can be learned by memorizing these details and imaging the image in their minds.
One of the tasks traveling monks are assigned is teaching Buddhism to the people in the places they travel to. Even today there are monks who go from region to region and use thangkas to spread the teachings of Buddhism. Tibetans monks living in monasteries will display their thangkas to the public on important dates.
Making a thangka is an extremely difficult process. To make one thangka, a trained painter will use a variety of techniques and paints to create pictures on a cotton canvas or a piece of silk. All of the details are to be correctly painted and must conform to a set standard. The standard is very strict because even a small mistake can distort the original meaning of the message. To do this, a painter needs to have excellent painting skills and a deep understanding of both Buddhism and Tibetan culture. One of the characteristics of authentic thangkas is that they use paints made of natural minerals.
Depending on the materials used and the way it was made, thangkas can be divided into two main categories: "Bris-Tang" and "Go-Tang."
"Bris-Tang": "Bris-Tang" refers to thangkas that are painted. There are five specific types in this category: Multi-Colored, Gold Background, Vermilion Background, Black Background, and Block Printing "Bris-Tang."
"Go-Tang": Thangkas that are made of silk or decorated with embroidery are called "Go-Tang." This category includes: Embroidery, Applique, Glued Applique, Hand-Woven, and Block Printing "Go-Tang."
Colors on thangkas are not randomly used. Different colors represent different themes or different characters. Red is used for life stories of the Buddha. Black is the theme color for depicting gods whose main duty is subjugating evils. Blue is used to convey a sense of joy. Green is used to show activity. And white represents calm and compassion.
There are many fantastic local shops in Beijing that offer genuine thangkas painted by master artists from Tibet. Visit these shops when you are in Beijing, and you won't forget the experience. It's best to get a Beijing tour guide to help you find these places.
Much like a scroll painting, thangkas can be easily rolled up for storage and unrolled for display. Travelers and monks like to carry a thangka when they travel to other places because it is very lightweight. Home-dwelling Tibetans also like to use thangkas in their homes because they are beautiful and can be easily be put on a wall.
Thangkas often depict prominent figures of Buddhism, like the Buddha, bodhisattvas, and other gods, but sometimes they only show items like the Buddhist Wheel of Life. In the background of most thangkas, scenes from the life of the Buddha or important historical events are shown. People who study these images can learn the teachings of Buddhism and enhance their spiritual experience.
On a thangka, no detail is too small to ignore. Everything, like the color, the clothes, and the positions or postures of the people, contains bits of information that contribute to the profound symbolism of the overall image. For a Buddhist, the teachings of Buddhism can be learned by memorizing these details and imaging the image in their minds.
One of the tasks traveling monks are assigned is teaching Buddhism to the people in the places they travel to. Even today there are monks who go from region to region and use thangkas to spread the teachings of Buddhism. Tibetans monks living in monasteries will display their thangkas to the public on important dates.
Making a thangka is an extremely difficult process. To make one thangka, a trained painter will use a variety of techniques and paints to create pictures on a cotton canvas or a piece of silk. All of the details are to be correctly painted and must conform to a set standard. The standard is very strict because even a small mistake can distort the original meaning of the message. To do this, a painter needs to have excellent painting skills and a deep understanding of both Buddhism and Tibetan culture. One of the characteristics of authentic thangkas is that they use paints made of natural minerals.
Depending on the materials used and the way it was made, thangkas can be divided into two main categories: "Bris-Tang" and "Go-Tang."
"Bris-Tang": "Bris-Tang" refers to thangkas that are painted. There are five specific types in this category: Multi-Colored, Gold Background, Vermilion Background, Black Background, and Block Printing "Bris-Tang."
"Go-Tang": Thangkas that are made of silk or decorated with embroidery are called "Go-Tang." This category includes: Embroidery, Applique, Glued Applique, Hand-Woven, and Block Printing "Go-Tang."
Colors on thangkas are not randomly used. Different colors represent different themes or different characters. Red is used for life stories of the Buddha. Black is the theme color for depicting gods whose main duty is subjugating evils. Blue is used to convey a sense of joy. Green is used to show activity. And white represents calm and compassion.
There are many fantastic local shops in Beijing that offer genuine thangkas painted by master artists from Tibet. Visit these shops when you are in Beijing, and you won't forget the experience. It's best to get a Beijing tour guide to help you find these places.
About the Author:
A. Lao writes about Chinese culture and history. He assists a Beijing tour guide who helps tourists find unique Chinese items. Sometimes he personally tailors Beijing China tours.
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