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Thangka paintings were created in those regions where Tibetan Buddhism was practiced including Mongolia, Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Himalayan India.

A thangka, variously spelt as thangka, tangka, thanka, or tanka (Nepali pronunciation: [ˈt̪ʰaŋka]; Tibetan: ཐང་ཀ་; Nepal Bhasa: पौभा), is a Tibetan Buddhist painting on cotton, silk appliqué, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala.

Types of Thangka

There are four main kinds of thangka are: 1) embroidered tangka; 2) lacquered tangka; 3) applique tangka; and 4) precious bead tangka.

Thangkas are painted on canvas. The canvas is strung on a bamboo frame, which is then stretched onto a frame made of wood. ... The preparation of the canvas is an elaborate process: it is washed and scrubbed multiple times. Traditionally, the surface was then coated with chalk, gesso (animal glue), and base pigment.

Thangka Painting of Sikkim: Religious Art, Early 20th century, From the collection of: Dastkari Haat Samiti. The culmination of Tibetan Buddhist art, thangkas are pictorial religious scrolls. Most often hand painted with mineral colours and gold dust, traditional thangkas were also embroidered or appliqued.

Thangka paintings involve more than artistic skills. To be able to sketch Tibetan Buddhist deities that form theme of most of the Thangkas, artist must have expert-level knowledge of measurements and proportions of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and other deities as outlined in Buddhist iconography.

Origin and purpose of Thanka

The word "Thanka" is believed to have come from the Tibetan word "thang yig" meaning a written record. Originally, thanka paintings became popular among travelers and monks as a teaching tool to illustrate life history of Gautam Buddha, lamas, other god / goddess and bodhisattvas.

Some art objects can be touched, owned, held and moved. Others are used to meditate on. These incorporate a “Circle of Bliss,” a sharing of power between the observer and the work of art. -Tibetan art is expected to be a tool for enlightenment rather an expression of the self.

According to previous scientific investigations, emerald green, Scheele green and orpiment were listed as typical pigments used for Tibetan Thangka paintings (15th-19th century) [4].Sep 17, 2014