![]() The five-colored threads glued at the flight-end of the shaft represent the binding of the five Buddha wisdoms, the five perfections of method (generosity, discipline, patience, effort and concentration), with the bow representing the six perfection (wisdom). The thread represents the binding of the tantric commitments. The sharp vajra-point of the arrowhead symbolizes the concentration of wisdom as penetrating awareness or single-pointedness of mind. The four sections of the bamboo shaft symbolize the four concentrations, mindfulness, immeasurable states, the karmas, four joys, four moments and the four levels of tantra. Here the arrow-shaft represents the central channel the smoothness of the bamboo joints symbolizes the untying of the psychic knots that constrict the flow of wind into the central channel. Saraha is usually depicted as sighting along an arrow’s shaft. The symbolism of the arrow is revealed in legends of the Mahasiddha Saraha and his dakini consort, who was a master. For those who can read Chinese characters, all of her posts include both languages. She is ethnically Chinese and not a native English speaker, so sometimes her English is a tad broken, but it is well worth the effort to read her illuminating explanations. The following is her most recent post, with some slight editing to clarify the English. Here's a sample of what you can come to expect from Kim-la. Weapons of the Peaceful & Wrathful deities Thus far she has covered many subjects, including but not limited to:įlora (lotus, utpala, wish-fulfilling trees) She is a devoted student of several Karma Kagyu lamas, including Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, and specializes in the Karma Gadri style, but is non-sectarian in her wish to help spread the Dharma. The school's founder and main instructor, Kim Chong, posts teachings about the various elements of iconography pretty regularly in an effort to educate the masses on the deeper meaning of thangkas. Other than the Handbook of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs by Robert Beer which has already been mentioned, the best resource I've found online by far is the Facebook page for the Munsel Thangka School of Art. Vasana wrote:If anyone has any good online resources that deal with thangka iconography and explain in depth each element and being let us know. The school I visited has a website as well: So if you like to buy a thangka contact the school directly so you know the artists will be paid fairly. Sadly people buys mandala and thangka paintings from dealers instead that from schools like the one I visited. I found a good resource of information regarding this topic on this website: I really felt in love with thangka paintings and when I went back home I decided to dig about this amazing art. The school owner and the students were very interested on the teaching of the guru as I was. He told me about the meaning of the different colors as well and if I remember correctly he told me that dark colors as black or dark blue symbolizes anger or mystical knowledge. We went to visit a thanka painting school and I start asking the guru, that was working on a big mandala, many question because I was very fascinated by the scene. I was in Nepal and I went with a friend to visit a beautiful village in the Kathmandu valley. Regarding the meaning of the black color in thangka iconography. What is the significance, if any, of black thangkas? Merely a stylistic approach or do the black thangkas have some greater meaning to them? This may not be strictly in thangkas, but images of Buddhas have a piece of skin protruding from his topknot and the Buddha is holding some sphere or bowl-what are these and what do they symbolize?ĥ. What are the colored orbs or balls that are often at the bottom of a thangka, often with top center-most one in flames?Ĥ. Related to the above question, imagery of wrathful deities tearing out the entrails of the figure lying prostrate or in the case of Vajrakalikya, piercing the chest or back of a figure lying prostrate-what does this symbolize?ģ. The common imagery in thangkas of a deity standing on top of some figure, be it a human or some other deity-what does this symbolize?Ģ. Whether or not the answer to these questions are secret or require initiation in order to know is unknown to me, but I will ask anyway:ġ. Hello, I had some questions regarding the iconography of various thangkas that I was hoping someone could assist me with.
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