Thangka Painting: Livelihood to Enlightenment

Thangka is an integral part of Buddhist’s way of living. It symbolizes the connection to Buddhism and Buddha’s philosophy. Thangka serves as an important teaching tool depicting the life of the Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and bodhisattvas. Buddhists use thangka art for mediation, understanding life and enlightenment. History suggests thangka painting started in 5th century AD in Nepal and later brought to Tibet and different parts of China in 13th century even though the earliest surviving thangka paintings from Nepal date to about the 14th century AD. There are many artists devoted to Thangka painting in Nepal and we can see some of them working with pencils, brushes and canvas around peripheries of Boudhanath Stupa and Durbar (Palace) Squares of Bhaktapur, Kathmandu and Lalitpur. Indigenous tribes of Nepal, specially Newars and Tamangs have continued the Thangka art work for generations and are sustaining their livelihood by preserving and promoting this form of art. However the new generation are abandoning this true meaningful art with the increasing modernization and access to other lucrative opportunities. That is why only few communities are left who are persistently struggling to save true form of Thangka art from disappearing. Thangka painting has been one of ideal souvenirs for most of the foreigners to take their home country. Eventually it has become one of appealing arts to learn in Nepal and many international tourists (whom Nepalese call foreigners) can be seen learning thangka painting at different schools situated in the streets of Boudhanath Stupa and Durbar Squares of Bhaktapur, Kathmandu and Lalitpur. Most thangkas were intended for personal meditation or instruction of monastic students. Today poster size of painted thangkas are commonly used for devotional as well as decorative purposes. Overall, and perhaps most importantly, this religious art, thangka painting is used as a meditation tool to help bring one further down the path to enlightenment

THANGKA PAINTING