7th–8th century CE, Tibet
traditional crafts
National Heritage
Southwest China
active
Thangka is a Tibetan Buddhist painting on cotton or silk, depicting deities, mandalas, and the Wheel of Life. Created with meticulous iconographic precision, each thangka follows strict proportions and symbolic color schemes established in Buddhist scripture. Paints are made from ground minerals (lapis lazuli, malachite, cinnabar) and 24k gold. A master thangka painter may spend months or years on a single piece, following purification rituals before beginning.
Skills & Techniques
Thangka Painting expand_more
The sacred Tibetan Buddhist art of painting deities and mandalas on cotton or silk using mineral pigments and following strict iconographic proportions.
Steps
- Prepare the canvas by stretching cotton fabric on a frame
- Apply a gesso of animal glue and chalk, then polish smooth
- Draw the iconographic grid following precise scriptural proportions
- Paint the background with ground mineral pigments mixed with glue
- Apply gold and silver details for highlights
- Outline figures and features with fine brush strokes
- Mount the finished thangka on silk brocade
Tools
stretching frame, fine brushes (various sizes), palette, gold stylus, measuring cords
Materials
cotton fabric, silk brocade, mineral pigments (lapis lazuli, malachite, cinnabar), 24k gold, animal glue
Relationship Constellation
This heritage item connects to 7 entities across the atlas — masters, places, festivals, and stories.
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