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Shakyamuni Thangka

September 15th, 2008

Angie

Shakyamuni Thangka

Shakyamuni Thangka

Origin of Tibetan Thangka painting

Thangka painting is an ancient form of Tibetan Buddhist art, which has been practiced in Tibet for more thousand years. Thangka is simply the Tibetan word for painting. In the tables of this Tibetan Buddhist art form to many different deities and teachers Shakyamuni Buddha as the venerable history are presented. These images inspire with their beauty, but also painted a deity is a visual medium for people practicing meditation.

The origins of painting Thangka Buddha Shakyamuni and return to go even further beyond in the past. Buddha lived about 2600 years in India, where he taught the holy law to a wide audience and also educated and inspired many artists. The shape of the Buddha is usually represented through paintings and sculptures, and we focus on the canvas.

The painted image had its origin in the country of Magadha, which in modern times Bihar is known as Central India. The king of Magadha commissioned an artist to paint a portrait of Buddha. But the artist was so overwhelmed by the magnificence and splendor of the Buddha that he was not able to pull out and looking directly. The Buddha came to support the artist and said, "Let together on the bank of a pool clear and calm. "It Buddha himself sitting beside the pool, while the sketch artist's drawing based on the reflection on the surface of the water.

That the teachings of Buddha in India has flourished beyond his life, his teachings spread to neighboring countries Tibet, too. To establish Buddhism in Tibet, the Tibetan king innovative Songsten Gampo married a Chinese princess Kongjo early seventh century. She brought teachings of scriptures of Buddha, Buddhist sculptures and paintings, and has also introduced a Chinese style of painting with the artists, who came with it China. The princess, who was highly respected, is was the first to introduce Buddhist artistic traditions of Tibet. She encouraged the spread of the tradition of painting and sculpture widely throughout central and eastern Tibet. This early stage of Tibetan Thangka painting has been called the old style Gadri, Original graphic arts in Tibet.

Another style Tibetan thangka painting, Menri, was introduced in Tibet in Nepal in the 9th century. This school has undergone a change of style, pigments and texture in the 17th century and was first known as Mensar or new Menri. And these are the two main traditions of their different schools in Tibetan Thangka painting found. Gadri was established in the eastern part of Tibet, while Menri is in the center and western part of the country.

In 1500, the style Gadri undergone a renaissance thanks to the influence of the artist NAMK Tashi, who was related to the Great St. Mikyo Dorje Karmapa 8. Other significant contributions through the artists from Cho Tashi and Karma Tashi Kasho. These three artists established what has been called the style of Tibetan Thangka painting Gadri Karma, which is still true today.