Tibetan Tangkas dazzle Beijing

BEIJING, Feb.11 -- Tangka, or Tibetan Buddhist

story painting, is a fascinating element of Tibet autonomous region's culture.

At an ongoing exhibition of national heritage items at the Beijing Agricultural

Exhibition Hall, visitors can see how Tibetan artisans paint Tangka, and take a

closer look at how the exquisite art is made.

Tangka dazzles viewers with its bright colors and exquisite delineation. Folk artist Xi Hedao is drawing gold lines, a demanding skill in Tangka painting. The gold lines can bestow the figure with a glamorous glow.

An ethnic Tibetan monk walks in front of a giant "thangka", a sacred painting on cloth, to be displayed on a hill outside a monastery in Tongren, northwest China's Qinghai province Monday, Feb. 2, 2009. (Photo: China Daily)
Photo Gallery

Tangka features strict composition and elaborate

depiction. Some pieces are colored while others are painted with black lines.

Another artist Niang Ben is displaying this skill.

The artists are demonstrating how to paint a Tangka

at the national heritage exhibition. Viewers can learn about the pigments,

skills, and themes of the paintings. The ingredients and proportion of the

pigments are secret, and the uniquely created pigment guarantees Tangka retains

its bright colors, even after a thousand years.

Besides Buddhist themes, Tangka paintings also

feature history, customs and legendary figures of Tibet.

Xi Hedao, an inheritor of Tangka painting said, "This

is a Buddhisattava with four arms. It is auspicious and brings peace."

Xi Hedao has taken in thirty apprentices including

his son. Tangka art is slowly drawing attention across the world, and increasing

orders from across the globe have attracted more young people to develop their

skills.

(Source: CCTV.com)