| Thangka painting is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist art | | | | countries like Tibet, too. To establish Buddhism in Tibet, |
| form, which has been practised in Tibet for much more | | | | the innovative Tibetan king Songsten Gampo married |
| than one thousand years. Thangka simply is the | | | | the Chinese princess Kongjo in early seventh century. |
| Tibetan word for painting. In the paintings of this | | | | She brought scriptures of Lord Buddha's Teachings, |
| Tibetan Buddhist art form the many and various deities | | | | Buddhist sculptures and paintings, and also introduced a |
| and venerable teachers such as the historical Lord | | | | Chinese style of painting with the artists, who came |
| Buddha Shakyamuni are shown. These images inspire | | | | with her from China. The princess, who was highly |
| through their beauty, but also, a painted deity is a visual | | | | respected, herself was the one initially to introduce |
| support for those practising meditation. | | | | Buddhist artistic traditions in Tibet. She encouraged |
| The origins of Thangka painting go back to Lord | | | | spreading the traditions of painting and sculpture widely |
| Buddha Shakyamuni and stretch even further beyond | | | | throughout central and eastern Tibet. This early stage |
| into the past. Lord Buddha lived about 2600 years ago | | | | of Tibetan Thangka painting has been referred to as |
| in India, where He taught the Holy Dharma to a large | | | | the old Gadri style, the origin of the graphic arts in |
| following and also instructed and inspired many artists. | | | | Tibet. |
| The form of the Buddha is generally represented | | | | Another style of Tibetan Thangka painting, Menri, was |
| through paintings and sculptures, and we are focussed | | | | introduced in Tibet from Nepal in the 9th century. This |
| on paintings here. | | | | school experienced a change in style, pigment and |
| The painted image had its origin in the country of | | | | texture in the 17th century and first became known as |
| Magadha, which in modern times is called Bihar of | | | | Mensar or the new Menri. And these are the two main |
| central India. The king of Magadha commissioned an | | | | traditions with their varying schools, found in Tibetan |
| artist to paint a portrait of Lord Buddha. But the artist | | | | Thangka painting. Gadri has been established in the |
| was so overwhelmed by the magnificence and | | | | Eastern part of Tibet, whereas Menri is in Central and |
| splendour of the Buddha that he was not able to draw | | | | Western part of the country. |
| when looking at Him directly. The Buddha came to the | | | | In the year 1500, the Gadri style experienced a |
| support of the artist and said "Let us go together to | | | | renaissance due to the influence of the artist Namka |
| the bank of a clear and calm pool". There Lord Buddha | | | | Tashi, who was linked to the Great Saint Mikyo Dorje, |
| sat Himself at the bank of the pool, while the artist | | | | the 8th Karmapa. Further significant contributions came |
| sketched His drawing based upon the reflection on the | | | | through the artists Cho Tashi and then Kasho Karma |
| water's surface. | | | | Tashi. These three artists established what has been |
| As Lord Buddha's Teachings flourished in India beyond | | | | known as the Karma Gadri style of Tibetan Thangka |
| His lifetime, His Teachings spread to neighbouring | | | | painting, which is still true today. |