The name “Thangka” is not directly related to the Tang Dynasty, despite sharing the same Chinese character “唐” (Táng). The meanings and origins of the two are entirely different. Below is a detailed explanation of the name “Thangka”:
1. The Relationship Between “Thangka” and the Tang Dynasty
- Meaning of “Thang” in Tibetan: In Tibetan, “Thangka” (ཐང་ཀ་, Thang-ga) consists of “Thang” (ཐང་), meaning “flat, clear, or expansive,” and “ga” (ཀ་), referring to a “scroll” or “canvas.” Thus, “Thangka” literally translates to “a flat scroll painting.”
- No Linguistic Connection to the Tang Dynasty: While the Chinese transliteration “唐卡” (Tángkǎ) uses the same “唐” as the Tang Dynasty, this is merely a phonetic coincidence. The Tibetan word “Thang” has no connection to the Tang Dynasty.
- Indirect Historical Links: Thangka art developed during the Tibetan Empire (7th–9th centuries), which coincided with the Tang Dynasty (618–907). Some influences, such as scroll-painting techniques and textile arts (e.g., silk weaving introduced by Princess Wencheng), may have indirectly shaped Thangka’s mounting style, but the name itself does not originate from the Tang Dynasty.
2. The Evolution and Origin of the Name “Thangka”
- Tibetan Etymology: The Tibetan term “Thang-ga” appears in historical texts like The Testament of Ba and The Great Tibetan-Chinese Dictionary, defined as “a religious scroll painting on cloth or silk.”
- Possible Foreign Influences: Some scholars suggest that “Thangka” may be a Tibetan adaptation of foreign artistic terms. For example:
- Chinese Loanword Theory: A few Tibetan records propose that “Thangka” might have borrowed from Chinese due to similarities in scroll formats, but this theory is not widely accepted.
- Indian or Nepalese Origins: Italian scholar Giuseppe Tucci suggested that Thangka may derive from the Indian cloth painting tradition called “Pata,” with “Thang-ga” being a Tibetan adaptation.
- Bon and Buddhist Fusion: Thangka may also have roots in Tibet’s indigenous Bon tradition of portable cloth paintings, later merging with Buddhist art to form its distinct name and style.
3. Controversies and Scholarly Views
- A Product of Cultural Exchange: Thangka art blends influences from India, Nepal, and Han Chinese painting techniques, but its name and style were ultimately shaped by Tibetan culture. For instance:
- Chinese scroll-mounting techniques may have influenced Thangka’s format, but the name remains Tibetan.
- Nepalese painting styles dominated early Thangka art, but the Tibetan name does not directly derive from Nepali.
- Legends from the Era of Songtsen Gampo: The Crystal Mirror of the Buddha by the 5th Dalai Lama recounts that Songtsen Gampo painted the goddess Palden Lhamo with his own blood, considered an early Thangka. However, this legend pertains more to artistic practice than the name’s origin.
Conclusion
The name “Thangka” is unrelated to the Tang Dynasty but rather stems from the Tibetan description of a scroll painting. Its evolution reflects the localization of Tibetan art amid multicultural influences—while the name is Tibetan, the art form absorbed elements from Han Chinese, Indian, and Nepalese traditions. Although Tang-Tibet cultural exchanges may have influenced Thangka techniques, the term “Thangka” itself exists independently of the Tang Dynasty’s historical context.
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Great read! Very insightful.