Thangka is a unique painting art form in Tibetan culture. It has distinctive national characteristics, rich religious color and unique artistic style, and depicts the sacred world of Buddha with bright color. What is the value of Thangka? What is the economic value of Thangka?
Traditionally, the pigments are all precious mineral gems such as gold, silver, pearl, agate, coral, turquoise, malachite and cinnabar, and plants such as saffron, rhubarb and indigo to show their sanctity. These natural raw materials ensure the bright color and dazzling of the Thangka.
Although it has been hundreds of years, it is still bright and colorful. Therefore, it is known as the treasure of Chinese national painting art and Tibetan encyclopedia. It is also a precious intangible cultural heritage in Chinese folk art.
Some thangkas, based on historical facts, focus on major political events and activities in history. For example, the historical theme of Songzan Ganbu's life and achievements.
1、 What is the value of Thangka
Among them, the works of eulogizing the friendship between the Tibetan and Han nationalities, such as the story of Princess Wencheng's going to Tibet, will be painted in the eye-catching position of the temple. The picture depicts the historical events of the marriage between Tang and Tibet in the 15th year of Zhenguan by making Tang propose, making the five difficult marriage envoys and the princess go to Tibet.
The celebrations in the Jokhang Temple and the Potala Palace show the welcoming scenes of the Tibetan people in festive costumes, singing and dancing when Princess Wencheng arrived at luosa.
In the West pingcuo Hall of Hongsi in Potala Palace, a picture of the fifth Dynasty's pilgrimage to Shunzhi describes the activities and grand welcome of the fifth Dynasty to Beijing in 1652.
2、 Religious value
The origin and development of thangka is closely related to Tibetan Buddhism. The rise and development of this painting art coincided with the introduction of Indian Buddhism into Tibet. At that time, nomadic life was still the main mode of production in many areas of Tibet, and only relying on fixed temples could not meet the religious needs of many migrating believers.
As a result, Thangka, which is mainly in the form of scroll painting, meets the religious needs of believers and becomes an object of worship that they can carry with them.
The drawing of thangka is demanding and complicated. It must be carried out according to the rituals in the Scriptures and the requirements of the guru, including a complete set of technical procedures, such as pre drawing ceremony, making canvas, composition and drafting, coloring and dyeing, line drawing and shaping, spreading gold and silver, eye opening, sewing, mounting and polishing.
It takes a long time to make a Thangka. It takes half a year to make a Thangka. It takes more than ten years to make a Thangka. Thangka, as a painting art, came into being and flourished.
Some people call Thangka a "flowing mural" for its portability. Finally, the situation of "Tibetan temples are temples of Buddhist painting art" was formed. The prosperity of Thangka depends on the prosperity of Tibetan Buddhism.
As far as the function of thangka is concerned, this kind of art form mainly serves religious life. Monasteries are the center of Tibetan religious culture. Most thangkas, especially some famous works, mainly accumulate in monasteries.
Its main function is to hang it for worshippers to worship and meet their religious needs. The Thangka preserved by the people is also mainly used by Buddhists to decorate their own Sutra halls and niches.
3、 Economic value
Although Thangka has a long history, it has not been long since Thangka really entered the collection market. In the early 1980s, when the Chinese art collection market was just rising, the price of Thangka was generally two or three hundred yuan.
However, since the 1990s, when Tibetan Buddhist art entered the collection market, the Thangka collection market began to heat up, and the price of many thangkas exceeded 1000 yuan.
Since 2006, because Thangka has been listed in the national intangible cultural heritage list, its collection has shown a very obvious warming trend, basically doubling the price every year. Although the price of thangka is getting higher and higher in China, compared with foreign countries, the price is not only lower as a whole, but also belongs to minority collection.