[sacred craftwork, buddha jewlery, ethnic jewelry, tibetan dharma jewelry] A brief introduction to Tibetan Tangka

Tangka is a kind of scroll painting mounted on silk. It has distinctive ethnic features and a strong religious flavor. Its unique artistic style is highly prized by the Tibetan people.

Tangka first appeared in Tibet around the tenth century AD. The scroll form seems to have been borrowed from the inner land; the style of painting probably came from Nepal and Kashmir . Apprentice Tangka painters studied under experienced lamas, and their works were consecrated before they could be hung. The origin of Tangka can be traced back to the early Tubo Kingdom. During the 7th century, King Songtsan Gambo united Tibet. To strengthen political, economic and cultural exchanges with Tibet's neighbors, he married Princess Chizun of Nepal and Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty. Around this period he ordered the construction of Potala Palace and some other grand edifices. To decorate them, he drafted a large number of people to paint murals. This greatly promoted Tibet's art of painting. According to the Catalogue of Jokhang Monastery written by the Fifth Dalai Lama, "The King (Songtsan Gambo) used the blood from his nose to paint a portrait of the White Lhamo. Later, while a statue of the White Lhamo was being sculpted, the portrait was hidden in the abdomen of the statue." This is the earliest record of a Tangka painting. This Tangka has been lost, but we can conclude that Tangka was a new Tibetan art form which flourished during the reign of Songtsan Gambo.

--
Posted by Amidiu to sacred craftwork, buddha jewlery, ethnic jewelry, tibetan dharma jewelry at 10/12/2006 01:04:20 AM