The Allure of Thangka: A Deep Dive into its Art, Craft, and Significance

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Introduction to the World of Thangka

Thangka, a meticulously handcrafted national intangible cultural heritage, holds immense artistic and cultural value. A "Ming Yongle Imperial Embroidered Red Yamantaka Thangka" sold for a staggering HK$348 million in 2014. This sale set a world record for Chinese art at an international auction. Furthermore, the collector's value of a thangka can double annually due to its unique nature. This growth underscores its significance in art and cultural heritage.

The Intricate Process of Creating a Thangka Painting

The high value of Thangka paintings comes from its complex creation. The process is laborious and the cultural, artistic, and religious meanings are deep. Let's explore the steps involved in making these beautiful works of art.

Painting: Laying the Foundation

Creating a thangka begins with careful preparation and painting. First, the artist selects the canvas. It must be light-colored, not too thick or hard. This is because a stiff canvas can lead to paint peeling. Finely woven white poplin or cotton cloth works well. White silk without patterns is also an excellent choice. For very large Thangka paintings, several pieces of canvas are sewn. Seams should not disrupt the visual integrity. Next, the canvas is stretched tightly on a wooden frame. It is tied to a large painting stand using strong rope. This setup ensures a stable surface for the detailed work to come.

Then, a thin layer of glue is applied to the canvas and left to dry. This prevents the paint from absorbing into the fabric. This step also stops the paint from "blooming". A thin layer of lime paste is then applied and dried. After this, the canvas is rubbed with a smooth object. This makes the cloth texture disappear. Adjustments to the canvas warp and weft come next. After that, the artist draws the main lines, including borders and central lines. Finally, the artist creates a charcoal sketch of the Buddha image. This sketch is called "White Drawing". This step is followed by an ink outline, known as "Black Drawing."

The Art of Coloring and Outlining

The next phase involves the skillful application of color. Depending on the scene, the artist applies appropriate colors. This includes water, rocks, hills, and clouds. Only one color is applied at a time. Light colors come first, followed by darker ones. When painting Buddha images, the lotus seat is painted first. Then, the ornaments are colored, and finally the body. For backgrounds, light shades precede the dark tones. After this, the artist outlines the painting with gold. This is used to paint the patterns on the clothing. These patterns are called "Gold Drawing." Various colored lines are used for outlining decorations.

Opening the Face: The Final Touch

The most crucial step is "opening the face." This involves painting the eyes, lips, nostrils, and fingernails. The success of a thangka depends heavily on this step. Some artists consider this a secret technique, passed down through their lineage. The opening of the eyes is done on a lucky day. It represents the completion of the buddhist thangka. The well-painted facial features bring the painting to life.

Mounting: Framing the Sacred Art

The creation of a thangka does not end with painting; mounting follows. The mounting process is intricate and detailed. Emperor Qianlong often instructed artisans to mount the works in the Tibetan style. However, the Qing court's mounting style had slight differences. By 1760, the mounting process in the imperial court became standardized. Small borders known as "teeth," are added to the painting's four sides. These teeth are often colorful and multi-layered. Outside the teeth is a border made from brocade. At the meeting point of teeth and border, small white lines are stitched. The border includes a sky area, earth area, and side panels. The materials used, such as red and blue foreign brocade, are carefully chosen. The more important the Thangka paintings, the more precious the material.

For Thangka paintings with birthday themes, bright red cloud-dragon gold-leaf satin edges are used. These elements highlight the celebratory nature of the work. In standard Tibetan pieces, a cotton satin piece is sewn at the bottom edge called a Tang Gate. This symbolic decoration is not typically used in palace Thangka paintings. Sometimes, tribute Thangka paintings from Tibet are remounted with palace materials, replacing the rougher old mounting.

Adding the Finishing Touches: Rods and Tassels

After mounting, the scroll rod and top rod are installed. These rods are called "thang shing". The scroll rod is installed at the bottom. It is cylindrical and capped with rod heads. The top rod is installed at the top and is a wide, flat wooden piece. Palace pieces use white sandalwood, red sandalwood, and cedar for the rods. The rod heads are crafted from materials like copper, silver, and gold-plated materials. They are often decorated with engravings. A Buddha curtain, or Thangka curtain, is sewn below the top rod and is made of five-colored khata or brocade. Palace curtains are usually single-piece woven fabrics. The curtain serves as both a decoration and protection for the buddhist thangka.

Two colored ribbons, with bird-beak shaped ends, are sewn on the outside of the curtain. Two hooks with iron rings are nailed to the top rod. Gold-plated or silver-plated rings are common in the Qing palace. Each ring is tied with a colored tassel. Korean paper tags were sometimes attached. When hung, the tassels are tied together to form hanging ropes. Coarse hemp thread or red silk ribbons are common for the tassels.

Consecration: Invoking the Sacred

Thangka paintings with Buddhist themes undergo consecration to make them suitable for worship. Sanskrit syllables are written on the back of the piece. A lama chants scriptures to bless the work. Consecration texts and handprints can be found on some pieces. These acts signify the piece's sacred status. Believers think consecrated buddhist thangka images are the same as the real Buddha. Therefore, offering and practicing with them brings the Buddha's blessings.

Cultural and Historical Significance of the Thangka

Thangka paintings are known as the "Encyclopedia of Tibetan Culture." Their themes cover various aspects of Tibetan life. Religious themes include Mandala paintings, Jataka tales, and portraits of patriarchs. Non-religious themes include history, legends, and Tibetan medicine. Religious Thangka paintings often depict the main figure in the center. Then, the other figures fill the space in a clockwise direction. Each piece tells a relatively complete story.

Historical pieces depict major political events and activities. For example, there are historical themes about Songtsen Gampo. Paintings also highlight the friendship between the Tibetan and Han people. These pieces are often displayed prominently in temples. The development of this art form coincided with the introduction of Indian Buddhism into Tibet. Thangkas became essential for mobile believers. Thus, the thangka became a portable object of worship. This gave rise to the term "mobile murals."

The Function of Thangkas in Religious Life

Temples are central to Tibetan religious culture. Most Thangka paintings are found in temples. Their main function is to be hung for worship. Those kept in private hands are used to decorate scripture halls and shrines. This demonstrates how integral this art form is to religious life. The value of each thangka is tied to its production process and the deep meaning it holds.