Holy Grounds: Landscapes in Tibetan thangka paintings

Authors

• Pekka Lehtisalo

Abstract

Tibetan sacred art is based on the Indian tradition of depicting buddhas, bodhisattvas,
gurus, meditation deities and other figures abundant in tantric Buddhism.
Having taken some influence from Chinese landscape painting, Tibetan artists
started to fill the background of the picture with elements of landscape and developed
a unique Tibetan style.
The landscape backgrounds of thangka paintings generally represent
Himālayan scenes in their fresh and luxuriant aspect with snowy mountains,
green meadows, streams and cascades. If there are any buildings, they mostly
have an appearance reminiscent of Tibetan architecture. The treatment of the
subject is highly idealized and stylized. Although there are not strict iconographic
rules in depicting the background as there are in respect to the holy figures themselves,
the landscape is usually painted very formally. Mountains, water, clouds,
etc. tend to repeat few basic patterns. This formality and conservatism is based
on the purpose of sacred Tibetan art. It is not a medium of individual artistic
expression but a way to transmit the visionary experiences of spiritual masters.
The thangka backgrounds are made to match the firm, vibrant and crystal clear
nature of their visualizations of the embodiments of enlightenment.