Process to create Thangka

Thangkas are painted on cotton or silk. The most common is a loosely woven cotton produced in widths from 40 to 58 centimeters (16 - 23 inches). While some variations do exist, thangkas wider than 45 centimeters (17 or 18 inches) frequently have seams in the support. The paint consists of pigments in a water soluble medium. Both mineral and organic pigments are used, tempered with a herb and glue solution. In Western terminology, this is adistemper technique.

The composition of a thangka, as with the majority of Buddhist art, is highly geometric. Arms, legs, eyes, nostrils, ears, and various ritual implements are all laid out on a systematic grid of angles and intersecting lines. A skilled thangka artist will generally select from a variety of predesigned items to include in the composition, ranging from alms bowls and animals, to the shape, size, and angle of a figure's eyes, nose, and lips. The process seems very methodical, but often requires deep understanding of the symbolism involved to capture the spirit of it.

Thangka often overflow with symbolism and allusion. Because the art is explicitly religious, all symbols and allusions must be in accordance with strict guidelines laid out in Buddhist scripture. The artist must be properly trained and have sufficient religious understanding, knowledge, and background to create an accurate and appropriate thangka. Lipton and Ragnubs clarify this in Treasures of Tibetan Art:

“Tibetan art exemplifies the nirmanakaya, the physical body of Buddha, and also the qualities of the Buddha, perhaps in the form of a deity. Art objects, therefore, must follow rules specified in the Buddhist scriptures regarding proportions, shape, color, stance, hand positions, and attributes in order to personify correctly the Buddha or Deities.”

Technique woodblock printing

The wood block is carefully prepared as a relief matrix, which means the areas to show 'white' are cut away with a knife, chisel, or sandpaper leaving the characters or image to show in 'black' at the original surface level. The block was cut along the grain of the wood. It is only necessary to ink the block and bring it into firm and even contact with the paper or cloth to achieve an acceptable print. The content would of course print "in reverse" or mirror-image, a further complication when text was involved. The art of carving the woodcut is technically known as xylography, though the term is rarely used in English.

For colour printing, multiple blocks are used, each for one colour, although overprinting two colours may produce further colours on the print. Multiple colours can be printed by keying the paper to a frame around the woodblocks.

There are three methods of printing to consider:

Types

Based on technique and material, thangkas can be grouped by types. Generally, they are divided into two broad categories: those that are painted (Tib.) bris-tan—and those made of silk, either by appliqué or embroidery.

Thangkas are further divided into these more specific categories:

Ø  Painted in colors (Tib.) tson-tang—the most common type

Ø  Appliqué (Tib.) go-tang

Ø  Black Background—meaning gold line on a black background (Tib.) nagtang

Ø  Blockprints—paper or cloth outlined renderings, by woodcut woodblock printing

Ø  Embroidery (Tib.) tsem-thang

Ø  Gold Background—an auspicious treatment, used judiciously for peaceful, long-life deities and fully enlightened buddhas

Ø  Red Background—literally gold line, but referring to gold line on a vermillion (Tib.) mar-tang

Whereas typical thangkas are fairly small, between about 18 and 30 inches tall or wide, there are also giant festival thangkas, usually Appliqué, and designed to be unrolled against a wall in a monastery for particular religious occasions. These are likely to be wider than they are tall, and may be sixty or more feet across and perhaps twenty or more high.

Thangka

A "Thangka," also known as "Tangka", "Thanka" or "Tanka" (Nepali pronunciation: [ˈThaŋka]; Tibetan: ཐང་ཀ་; Nepal Bhasa: Pauwa) is a Tibetan silk painting with embroidery, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala of some sort. The thankga is not a flat creation like an oil painting or acrylic painting but consists of a picture panel which is painted or embroidered over which a textile is mounted and then over which is laid a cover, usually silk. Generally, thankgas last a very long time and retain much of their lustre, but because of their delicate nature, they have to be kept in dry places where moisture won't affect the quality of the silk. It is sometimes called a scroll-painting.

These thangka served as important teaching tools depicting the life of the Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and bodhisattvas. One subject is The Wheel of Life, which is a visual representation of the Abhidharma teachings (Art of Enlightenment).

To Buddhists these Tibetan religious paintings offer a beautiful manifestation of the divine, being both visually and mentally stimulating.

Thangka, when created properly, perform several different functions. Images of deities can be used as teaching tools when depicting the life (or lives) of the Buddha, describing historical events concerning important Lamas, or retelling myths associated with other deities. Devotional images act as the centerpiece during a ritual or ceremony and are often used as mediums through which one can offer prayers or make requests. Overall, and perhaps most importantly, religious art is used as a meditation tool to help bring one further down the path to enlightenment. The Buddhist Vajrayana practitioner uses a thanga image of their yidam, or meditation deity, as a guide, by visualizing “themselves as being that deity, thereby internalizing the Buddha qualities (Lipton, Ragnubs).”

Historians note that Chinese painting had a profound influence on Tibetan painting in general. Starting from the 14th and 15th century, Tibetan painting had incorporated many elements from the Chinese, and during the 18th century, Chinese painting had a deep and far-stretched impact on Tibetan visual art.^[1] According to Giuseppe Tucci, by the time of the Qing Dynasty, "a new Tibetan art was then developed, which in a certain sense was a provincial echo of the Chinese 18th century's smooth ornate preciosity.

History

Thangka is a Nepalese art form exported to Tibet after Princess Brikuti of Nepal, daughter of King Lichchavi, marred Sro Tsan Gampo, the ruler of Tibet imported the images of Aryawalokirteshwar and other Nepalese deities to Tibet. History of Thangka paintings in Nepal began in 11th century A. D. when Buddhists and Hindus began to make illustration of the deities and natural scenes. Historically, Tibetan and Chinese influence in Nepalese paintings is quite evident in Paubhas (Thangkas). Paubhas are of two types, the Palas which are illustrative paintings of the deities and the Mandala, which are mystic diagrams paintings of complex test prescribed patterns of circles an square each having specific significance. It was through Nepal that Mahayana Buddhism was introduced into Tibet during reign of Angshuvarma in the seventh century A. D. There was therefore a great demand for religious icons and Buddhist manuscripts for newly built monasteries throughout Tibet. A number of Buddhist manuscripts, including Prajnaparamita, were copied in Kathmandu Valley for these monasteries. astasahas rika Prajnaparamita for example, was copied in Patan in the year 999 A. D., during the reign of Narendra Dev and Udaya Deva, for the Sa-Shakya monastery in Tibet. For the Nor monastery in Tibet, two copies were made in Nepal-one of Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita in 1069 A. D. and the other of Kavyadarsha in 1111 A. D. The influence of Nepalese art extended till Tibet and even beyond in China in regular order during the thirteenth century. Nepalese artisan were dispatched to the courts of Chinese emperors at their request to perform their workmanship and impart expert knowledge. The exemplary contribution made by  the artisans of Nepal, specially by the Nepalese innovator and architect Balbahu, known by his popular name "Arniko" bear testimony to this fact even today. After the introduction of paper, palm leaf because less popular; however, it continued to be used until the eighteenth century. Paper manuscripts imitated the oblong shape but were wider than the palm leaves.

From the fifteenth century onwards, brighter colours gradually began to appear in Nepalese.Thanka / Thangka. Because of the growing importance of the Tantric cult, various aspects of Shiva and Shakti were painted in conventional poses. Mahakala, Manjushri, Lokeshwara and other deities were equally popular and so were also frequently represented in Thanka / Thangka paintings of later dates. As Tantrism embodies the ideas of esoteric power, magic forces, and a great variety of symbols, strong emphasis is laid on the female element and sexuality in the paintings of that period.

Religious paintings worshipped as icons are known as Paubha in Newari and Thanka / Thangka in Tibetan. The origin of Paubha or Thanka / Thangka paintings may be attributed to the Nepalese artists responsible for creating a number of special metal works and wall- paintings as well as illuminated manuscripts in Tibet. Realizing the great demand for religious icons in Tibet, these artists, along with monks and traders, took with them from Nepal not only metal sculptures but also a number of Buddhist manuscripts. To better fulfil the ever - increasing demand Nepalese artists initiated a new type of religious painting on cloth that could be easily rolled up and carried along with them. This type of painting became very popular both in Nepal and Tibet and so a new school of Thanka / Thangka painting evolved as early as the ninth or tenth century and has remained popular to this day. One of the earliest specimens of Nepalese Thanka / Thangka painting dates from the thirteenth /fourteenth century and shows Amitabha surrounded by Bodhisattva. Another Nepalese Thanka / Thangka with three dates in the inscription (the last one corresponding to 1369 A.D.), is one of the earliest known Thanka / Thangka with inscriptions. The "Mandalaof Vishnu " dated 1420 A.D., is another fine example of the painting of this period. Early Nepalese Thangkas are simple in design and composition. The main deity, a large figure, occupies the central position while surrounded by smaller figures of lesser divinities.

Thanka / Thangka painting is one of the major science out the five major and five minor fields of knowledge. Its origin can be traced all the way back to the time of Lord Buddha. The main themes of Thanka / Thangka paintings are religious. During the reign of Dharma King Trisong, Duetsen the Tibetan masters refined there already well developed arts through research and studies of different country's tradition. Thanka painting's lining and measurement, costumes, implementations and ornaments are all based on Indian style. The drawing of figures are based on Nepalese style and the background sceneries are based on Chinese style. Thus, the Thanka / Thangka paintings became a unique and distinctive art.

Thanka / Thangka have developed in the northern Himalayan regions among the Lamas. Besides Lamas, Gurung and Tamang communities are also producing Tankas, which provide substantial employment opportunities for many people in the hills. Newari Thankas (Also known as Paubha) has been the hidden art work in Kathmandu valley from 13th century. We have preserved this art and are exclusively creating this with some particular painter family who have inherited their art from their forefathers.Some of the artistic religious and historical paintings are also done by the Newars of Kathmandu Valley.

Manjushree Thangka

Munjushree is the embodiment of the characteristics of enlightened Mind. Manjushree has the ability to see the nature of reality as it is. He is seen holding the flaming sword wisdom with his right hand and a book called Prainaparmita with this left hand. He has many name such as Manjuvajra, Manjughosa, Vagishvara, Arpacana etc. In Mahayana Buddhist tradition he is regarded as having supreme wisdom among Boddhisattvas. He is also called prince of the Dharma because of this eloquent wisdom.

Manjushree or Thngka will bring wisdom and enlightened your mind.

Green Tara or Thangka

Green Tara appears as young beautiful maiden. Green Tara body is in green color. Green Tara has one face and two arms. She wears a crown bedecked with five Buddha images. Green Tara wears all kinds of bodhisattva ornaments studded with jewels and celestial garments of various color. Green Tara seats on a lotus throne in Lalita attitude in half lotus posture. Green Tara left hand shows the gesture of refuge vows and right hand the varada mudra because she is quick to answer the petitions of those who seek her aid.

Green Tara or Thangka will help you to eliminate all demoniac and karmic obstacles, eradicates disaster and lengthen your life span.

White Tara and Thangka

The White Tara or Thngka help to prolong life as well as for healing purpose.

The White Tara was born from a tear of the Bodhisattava of compassion. White Tara holds a very prominent position in Tibet and Nepal. White Tara is sometimes called the Mother of all Buddhas. White Tara is portrayed usually seated, dressed and crowned like a Bodhisattava. And sometime she is regarded as Saptalochana or seven eyes Tara... Extra eyes on here forehead. Palm and lotus flower at one or both of her shoulder. White Tara is seated in full vajra posture. She wears the Bodhisattva ornaments.

Medicine Buddha or Thangka

The Medicine Buddha's Thangka all beautifully painted with care and attention by the master artisan. Medicine Buddha's Thangka are said that to dispense spiritual medicine when properly worshiped. The Medicine Buddha Thangka convey powerful presence and reflect the ancient healing tradition.

This magnificent Medicine Buddha Thangka will bring peace and good health at your home.

Medicine Buddha is the King of Healing. Bahaisajyaguru is known as Medicine Buddha. The Medicine Buddha empowerment to the most powerful blessing for healing, dispelling sickness and for awakening the innate healing wisdom that lies within every individual. Medicine Buddha wears a monastic robe, is seated with the legs crossed. His left hand lying in his lap in meditation mudra, usually holds the medicine bowl, while the right hand in charity mudra holds either a branch with fruit.

Shakyamuni Buddha or Thanka

Shakyamuni Buddha's Thanka are beautifully painted on canvas and feature best details and high quality. Believe the quality of Shakyamuni Buddha's Thanka will appeal to those interested in Buddhism and meditation. The Buddhism believes that Shakyamuni Buddha's Thanka will make a peaceful environment in your home and office.

This Shakyamuni Buddha's Thanka convey musch of the warmth and character of Siddhartha Gautama. Shakyamuni Buddha is believed to have had 550 incarnation. Shakyamuni Buddha was born on 563 B. C. at Lumbini, western part of Nepal, son of king Suddhodana and queen Mayadevi. he had attained "Boddhi" or knowledge after 6 years in fasting and meditation and then he was called "Budhha" as he was "the enlightened one". He died at the age of 80 at Kusinagara.

Thanka Painting

Thangka Art Center produces a large

variety of thangkas form small one to large one. We also take special request form our clients. Our master artist can make any kinds of thangkas. We are art experts; however we have a real interest in it and are learning more every day. We describe the thangka painting as best we can. In all cases we give you as much information about a scroll as we have. We show close-ups of every thangka painting so you can see the high quality of our thangka paintings. You can feel our thanka / thanka when you see it. We accept custom orders for any image for which you can provide a description or photograph.

Thangka Art Center has a factory located in Bhaktapur, Bauddha, Swombu and Thamel where each and every one of its thangkas are specially sketched, painted and designed. The making of a single thangka might takes one weeks to more than a year and some time even more. Considering the amount of time and effort invested in the making of each thangka , the price of the thangka are surprisingly reasonable ranging from US$ 20 onwards.They are therefore absolute bargains! We also make customize design and size of all types of Thangka .Our Thangkas are painted by master artists in the factory according to exact traditional specification and framed with the finest silk brocade on client request only.

STORY OF THANKAS

In Buddhist practice the art of painting is regarded s one of the important constituents of the five great subjects of learning. According to Acharya Asanga, every practitioners of the Bodhisattva path should learn five subjects: Philosophy, Art, Grammar, Logic and Medicine. Furthermore, the discipline of Art has many branches, namely painting, sculpture, carving, engraving and so forth. Painting is said by Nagnajit to be the best of these arts. Buddhist painting may have begun in the lifetime of the historical Buddha. While some scholars maintain the view that it took shape a couple of centuries later, there are some textual materials, which suggest that, the painting of Buddhist themes began during the Buddha's lifetime. But according to some other scholars, after a couple of centuries later of Buddha's death, when people have started to go to pilgrimage, they need to carry a statue along with them for Puja which was very uncomfortable because of it's weight. So they have started to paint Buddha and other deities figure on cotton canvas, which became more convenient for them in comparing to carry one metal statue. These days Thanka paintings are very essential for every Buddhist family as well to every practitioners of Buddhism. Every Buddhist family keeps one painting of Buddha or other deity at home and prays on it. Monks use it for their practice and also for meditation. There are also many Thanka paintings hanged on the walls of every monastery.

Nepalese/Tibetan Thanka Art

Thangka Paintings are getting its popularity because of buddha teachings as well Tibetan & Nepalese devotion for arts itself. Thangka is an art of the Buddhist monk other else nothing but, the Buddhist scholar of higher intellectuality revere it with entire homage considering mystic power of lamaistic deities, in accordance with the religious culture, the thangka to be kept at the worship room sanctifies with holy water muttering mantras. To enliven thangkas mist ice power and putskhada,(a two feet long silk cloth) on it. Thangkas as on object of decoration in a sense but is spritual importance is more. By worship of tara (dolma) goddess results lucrative for the business and as well as the (wrathful ditty) dharmapala protect from the hazardous, calamity, subduing enemies. Averting accident and fulfilling ones desire in believed with empty heart, In conclusion ,the 14 th dalai lama has been preaching about kalachakra over the world for decade and the importance, significance and the utility. Ever since the Buddhism rooted in Tibet, The tradition of depicting thangkas might have been prevalent around in the area where Buddhism spread. Buddhist scholar of higher intellectuality revere it with entire homage considering mystic power of lamaistic deities, in accordance with the religious culture, the thangka to be kept at the worship room sanctifies with holy water muttering mantras.

About Thanka Art

Thangka Painting is a traditional art that evolved between the 7th and 12th centuries in Nepal and Tibet. Painted on canvas and mounted in silk brocade, a thangka is more than just a work of art. It is an object of devotion, an aid to spiritual practice, and a source of blessings. Thangka painting is strictly governed by iconographic rules. From the canvas preparation and drawing of the subject, through to mixing and applying colors, decorating with gold, and mounting the finished work in brocade, the creation of a thangka painting involves skill and care at each stage and illustrates particular details.

Thangkas are believed to create positive influences in their surroundings. Its brilliant colors and forms awaken the mind and energize consciousness; its images stimulate capacities for visualization and nourish the heart. It is said that just the act of looking at a thangka is in itself a good deed. By meditating on such objects, one can train and gain an understanding of certain types of awareness that the specific image portrays. Another reason for commissioning a thangka painting may be to bring about good health, prosperity or long life.

Thanka Art/ Paubha

Thanka are religious paintings that used to be worshiped as icons in Nepalese and Tibetan culture. It is believed that Thanka painting has been started in 11th century A.D.

Thanka Painting also known as Paubha are of various types.

First is illustrative paintings of god and goddesses like Tara (white, red, green, blue or yellow), Mahakala, Bajrayogini, Lord Buddha, Tsongkhapa, Milarepa, Karmapa, Padmasambhava, Manjushri and many more.

Second is Wheel of life that detailed representation of basic Buddhist belif i.e. the transmigratory exsistance, it explains in a most lucid manner the theory of rebirth. The wheel is held in the embrace of Shenje (ruler of the Dead) showing that all beings must eventually meet Death. The wheel is divided into axle, spokes and rim.

Third is Mandala (Literally mean a Circle) is a Tantric meditations device. It is a visual aid for concentration and introversive meditation leading to the attainment of insight and to activation of forces culminating in "Siddi" supernatural forces. The Mandala is the graphic representation of this process.

All these Thankas are painted on silk or cotton fabrics using brilliant colors of many hues. Thankas have developed in the northern Himalayan region among Lamas. Besides Lamas, Gurung and Tamang communities are also painting Thankas. But these days other communities also started Thanka Painting.

Importance of Thanka

Most of the Thanka viewer simply think that Thanka is an art of Buddhist monk other else nothing. But, the Buddhist scholar of higher intellectuality revere it with entire homage considering mystic power of Lamaistic deities. In accordance with the religious culture, the Thanka to be kept at the worship room sanctifies with holy water muttering mantras to enliven Thankas mystics power and puts khada (a two feet long cloth) on it. Since then the devotee use to bow his/her head before it at the time of worship specially in the morning time.

Almost people never consider the Thanka as an object of decoration. By worship of Tara (Dolma) goddess results lucrative for the business and as well as the (wrathful deity) Dharmapala protect from the hazardous, calamity, subduing enemies, averting accident and fulfilling ones desire in believed with empty heart.

What is the THANKA?

The THANKA or 'scroll-painting' is perhaps the most typical religious and artistic utterance of the Tibetan Buddhism.
The THANKA is to the Lamaism; an artistic utterance of a deep religious experience, submitted to strict iconographical conditions concerning depiction, color, dimensions, proportions.

PROCESS

How THANGKA are made ?
Thankas are painted on coarse cotton or on canvas, stretch on wooden frame and treated with mixture of lime plaster,
flour and glue them when dry, rubbed with a object e.g. "conch" to make the surface smooth. When the cloth is ready,
the outline is drawn with soot from oil lamps or charcoal, and later traced in ink.
The outline would always begin with the CENTRAL FIGURE around which the secondary scenes would then be drawn.
And the colors, mixed with thin glue were filled in.

THANKA ART

Thangkas are painted on cotton  or silk. The most common is a loosely woven cotton produced in widths from 40 to 58 centimeters (16 - 23 inches). While some variations do exist,
thangkas wider than 45 centimeters (17 or 18 inches) frequently have seams in the support. The paint consists of pigments  in a water soluble medium. Both mineral and organic pigments are used,
tempered with a herb and glue solution. In Western terminology, this is a distemper technique.
[5]

The composition of a thangka, as with the majority of Buddhist art, is highly geometric. Arms, legs, eyes, nostrils, ears, and various ritual implements are all laid out on a systematic grid of angles and intersecting lines.
A skilled thangka artist will generally select from a variety of predesigned items to include in the composition, ranging from alms bowls and animals, to the shape, size, and angle of a figure's eyes, nose, and lips. The process seems very methodical,
but often requires deep understanding of the symbolism involved to capture the spirit of it.

Thangka often overflow with symbolism and allusion. Because the art is explicitly religious, all symbols and allusions must be in accordance with strict guidelines laid out in buddhist scripture.
The artist must be properly trained and have sufficient religious understanding, knowledge, and background to create an accurate and appropriate thangka. Lipton and Ragnubs clarify this in Treasures of Tibetan Art:

“Tibetan art exemplifies the nirmanakaya, the physical body of Buddha, and also the qualities of the Buddha, perhaps in the form of a deity.
Art objects, therefore, must follow rules specified in the Buddhist scriptures regarding proportions, shape, color, stance, hand positions, and attributes in order to personify correctly the Buddha or Deities.”

THANKA Meaning

THANKA painting with embroidery, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, famous scene, or mandala of some sort.
The thankga is not a flat creation like an oil painting or acrylic painting.
Rather, it consists of a picture panel which is painted or embroidered, over which a textile is mounted, and then over which is laid a cover, usually silk.
Generally, thankas last a very long time and retain much of their lustre, but because of their delicate nature,
they have to be kept in dry places where moisture won't affect the quality of the silk. It is sometimes called a scroll-painting.
Originally, thangka painting became popular among traveling monks because the scroll paintings were easily rolled and transported from monastery to monastery.
These thangka served as important teaching tools depicting the life of the Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and bodhisattvas.
One popular subject is The Wheel of Life, which is a visual representation of the Abhidharma teachings (Art of Enlightenment).

To Buddhists these Tibetan religious paintings offer a beautiful manifestation of the divine, being both visually and mentally stimulating.

Thangka, when created properly, perform several different functions. Images of deities can be used as teaching tools when depicting the life (or lives) of the Buddha,
describing historical events concerning important Lamas, or retelling myths associated with other deities.
Devotional images act as the centerpiece during a ritual or ceremony and are often used as mediums through which one can offer prayers or make requests.
Overall, and perhaps most importantly, religious art is used as a meditation tool to help bring one further down the path to enlightenment.
The Buddhist Vajrayana practitioner uses a thanga image of their yidam, or meditation deity, as a guide, by visualizing “themselves as being that deity, thereby internalizing the Buddha qualities.