In a thangka painting, not only the main character, but also every single detail is drawn vividly. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

In order to standardize the market of Tibetan thangka, the first Local Standard for Traditional Tibetan Thangka Painting has been formulated recently, learned from the sixth Tibetan Thangka Art Fair. Xinhua reported. 

The Local Standard for Traditional Tibetan Thangka Painting will set strict standards focusing on material of canvas, pigment composition, painting skill, creation form and so on, which promotes standardization as well as professionalization of the traditional Tibetan art culture, according to Wangchen, director of Standardization Institute of Tibet Autonomous Regional Bureau of Quality Supervision. 

"As Tibetan thangka market is flourishing, setting a thangka standard is good for its development and protection. The standard will officially issue and implement this year." Wangchen said.

Thangka, a kind of scroll painting, has been in vogue in Tibet for centuries. It has a history of more than 1,300 years and usually depicts religious theme. Apart from the unique hand-painted thangka, which is drew by mineral pigment, embroidered thangka, made with silk threads of various colors, is also popular in Tibet with its extraordinary characteristic.

With high artistic value and unique painting style, thangka artwork is the epitome of traditional Tibetan folk culture. People can better understand Tibetan history and culture by viewing and enjoying thangka. So far, Tibetan thangka has different schools of paintings such as Manthang School, Karma Gardri School, Chintse School, Regong School and so on.

In a Thangka painting, not only the main character, but also every single detail is drawn vividly. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

With its superb artistic technique, rich national culture connotation as well as its unique cultural and artistic value, Tibetan thangka is taken as the most orthodox painting and the encyclopedia of Tibetan culture. The art was included in National Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists in June of 2006.

In recent years, with the thangka market heating up, the scale of thangka painting industry continues to expand. By the end of 2016, the number of thangka painter in Tibet has already surpassed 3 thousand, and annual sales of thangka exceeded 100 million yuan for the first time.

"Thangka art is becoming more and more popular at home and abroad. Establishing normative standard for traditional Tibetan thangka painting will help to inherit and develop this outstanding culture," said Nyima Tsering, the head of industrial development office of Tibet Cultural Department.