Thang-ga’s Painting Techniques and Their Spiritual Significance

Abstract

The primary way of passing down Thang-ga is to carry forward the painting techniques. This paper explores the spiritual significance of Thang-ga’s painting techniques based on the aesthetic culture and philosophical ideas that underlie the techniques: as the spiritual significance of Thang-ga determines the procedures of Thang-ga making, each painting step and brushstroke represents the philosophical ideas and the spirit of Tibetan Buddhism. But if techniques are unduly emphasized and Thang-ga’s spiritual significance is neglected, Thang-ga will become mere forms deprived of artistic values.