Thangka (Tibetan: ཐང་ཀ་) refers to religious scroll paintings mounted on colored silk and hung for veneration. Thangka is a unique art form in Tibetan culture, with a wide range of subjects covering Tibetan history, politics, culture, and social life. Most existing thangkas are works of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon religion.
The process of painting a thangka is complex and laborious, requiring strict adherence to scriptures and the instructions of the master. This includes the entire painting process, from the pre-painting ritual, preparing the canvas, composing and sketching, coloring and dyeing, outlining, gilding and silvering, carving the eye lines, sewing, mounting, and consecration. The production cycle for a thangka is very long, ranging from six months to ten years.
Steps in making a thangka
First, select a smooth, slightly thick white cotton fabric. The canvas should be free of oil stains and holes. The length-to-width ratio of the canvas should be appropriate. If the canvas is small, you can sew two pieces together. The seams should be flat and wrinkle-free, with no loose threads. The stitches should be even and attractive.
The second step is to color the thangka. This process is also very meticulous. Generally, the sky and earth are colored first, followed by clothing, skin, clouds, flowers, trees, water waves, pavilions, corridors, offerings, etc. When coloring, mistakes and confusion are inevitable. When coloring with colored pencils, start from left to right.
There are many details to pay attention to when painting thangkas. Many parts of the painting are very delicate, and some parts need to be drawn stroke by stroke with a very fine brush. Therefore, many thangka brushes are made of extremely fine wolf hair.
Once the draft is ready, apply the appropriate colors according to the different scenes, such as water, rocks, hills, clouds, etc. Apply only one color at a time, starting with light colors and then moving on to dark colors.
After dyeing, the final step is outlining. There are five main types of outlining: flat outline, blurred outline, clothing outline, leaf outline, and cloud outline. These techniques are unique to Tibetan painting. After dyeing, colored pens can be used for outlining. The lines should flow smoothly and naturally, not as thick as embroidery thread, yet as taut and sturdy as silver wire.
Opening the Eyes of the Thangka
This is the final step in the painting process, and opening the eyes is the crowning touch of the entire thangka. With a gentle stroke, the thangka comes to life. After completion, it is consecrated by a high-ranking lama or living Buddha. On the back of the thangka, mantras are carved with cinnabar, endowing it with the qualities of an amulet to protect those with whom it has a karmic connection, ensuring their safety and health.
Offering and Blessing
Finally, the Thangka painter brings the framed Thangka to the Rinpoche for consecration and blessing. The back is inscribed with mantras in cinnabar, and some even feature the Rinpoche’s handprint in gold or cinnabar.
Thangkas are a renowned art form in Tibetan culture, holding significant meaning in Tibetan Buddhism and representing a time-honored artistic tradition.
Appreciation of Thangka Artworks
Shakyamuni Buddha (main deity, left hand in the meditation mudra, right hand in the earth-touching mudra)
Medicine Buddha (Vaiduryaprabha Tathagata)
Eleven-faced Guanyin with a thousand hands and a thousand eyes
Four-armed Avalokiteshvara (sitting cross-legged, hands pressed together in front, left hand holding a lotus flower, right hand holding prayer beads)
Maitreya Bodhisattva (Jampa Buddha, Future Buddha, hands forming the dharma mudra)
Vajrasattva (left hand holding a vajra bell at the waist, right hand holding a vajra staff in front of the chest)
Padmasambhava (Tibetan Buddhist master, holding a goblet in his left hand, a trident in his left arm, and a vajra in his right hand)
Tsongkhapa (founder of the Gelug school, wearing a yellow hat and making the gesture of teaching with both hands)
Vajrapani Bodhisattva (blue wrathful form, holding a vajra in his right hand, together with Manjushri and Avalokiteshvara above the thangka, collectively known as the “Three Protectors”)
Mahavairocana (one of the principal deities of Esoteric Buddhism, known as Mahavairocana for his ability to subdue demons, and also as Mahadeva for his protective virtues. He is depicted as blue, with nine heads, thirty-four arms, and sixteen legs)
Four-armed Mahakala (embodying the body, speech, mind, virtues, deeds, and wisdom of all Buddhas, he is the guardian deity of practitioners of the Vajrayana path of supreme bliss. His right hand holds a sword, his left hand holds a spear, and his main arm holds a skull cup).
