Regong Art from Qinghai province unfolds a colorful world with
hundreds of Thangka paintings, murals, embroidery works and
sculptures at the World Art Museum until February 13. On display
are not only the precious collections contributed by the local
temples which were handed down from the Ming and Qing dynasties,
but also the works by contemporary Thangka artists.
Rolls of Thangka paintings are hung on the exhibition boards, with
the largest measuring 4m and the small ones 0.5m. The images of
Buddhist, Bodhisattva, Arhat form the focus of the paintings.
As an influential school of Tibetan Buddhist culture, Regong Art
originated in the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1206-1368). It has been
distinguished among its genre for its balanced combination of
Tibetan religion, folk aesthetics and architectural art.
Regong Thangka painting enjoys National Intangible Cultural
Heritage status. Executed on silk scrolls with natural mineral
pigments, its themes include Buddhist sutras, Jataka stories,
historical events, legends and mythology, as well as Tibetan
tradition and culture.
The flamboyant color scheme, orderly arranged figures and
refined craftsmanship have made the Regong Thangka paintings
popular in China and Asian Buddhist countries.
Regong means golden valley in local language. Lying in the
southeast of Qinghai, Regong county was a place for nomadic ethnic
minorities through history.
Sponsored by the Exchange Center of China Soong Ching Ling
Foundation and two other institutions, the exhibition is for
charity and poverty relief work and listed in the 2008 Happy Mother
Project of the foundation.
Story by Wu Liping, photo by Jiang Dong
9am-5pm, until Feb 13. Beijing World Art Museum, China
Millennium Monument, A9 Fuxinglu, Haidian District. 6851-3322.
中華世紀壇世界藝術館, 海淀區復興路甲9號
(China Daily February 2, 2008)
