The Regong arts (or Rebgong arts) are the popular arts on the subject of

Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...

. They are painting, sculpture, engraving, architecture, and embroidery. They are associated with communities in

Tongren County Tongren (; ), known to Tibetans as Rebgong () in the historic region of Amdo, is the capital and second smallest administrative subdivision by area within Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai, China. The city has an area of 3465 squar ...

and along the river Rongwo which crosses the current Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the province of

Qinghai Qinghai (; alternately romanized as Tsinghai, Ch'inghai), also known as Kokonor, is a landlocked province in the northwest of the People's Republic of China. It is the fourth largest province of China by area and has the third smallest po ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. Regong arts were included in 2009 on the representative list of

intangible cultural heritage An intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is a practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill considered by UNESCO to be part of a place's cultural heritage. Buildings, historic places, monuments, and artifacts are cultural property. Int ...

History

Regong arts trace their origins to the 10th century

Different Regong arts

* The thangka, literally ''something which is unrolled'', is a painting on canvas characteristic of

Tibetan culture Tibet developed a distinct culture due to its geographic and climatic conditions. While influenced by neighboring cultures from China, India, and Nepal, the Himalayan region's remoteness and inaccessibility have preserved distinct local i ...

. Canvases of all sizes can be found, from thangka portraits which can be unrolled due to two sticks passing through eyelets, up to momentous designed to be unrolled to cover a wall or door, which can measure dozens of metres. The thangkas generally represent mystic symbols (''

mandala A mandala ( sa, मण्डल, maṇḍala, circle, ) is a geometric configuration of symbols. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for e ...

''), divinities of

Bon ''Bon'', also spelled Bön () and also known as Yungdrung Bon (, "eternal Bon"), is a Tibetan religious tradition with many similarities to Tibetan Buddhism and also many unique features.Samuel 2012, pp. 220-221. Bon initially developed in t ...

, or portraits of the

Dalai Lama Dalai Lama (, ; ) is a title given by the Tibetan people to the foremost spiritual leader of the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism, the newest and most dominant of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The 14th and current Dal ...

. They are often used as support for meditation. * The Thangka paintings stand as a paramount art form in Asia, it embodies intricate

Buddhist symbolism Buddhist symbolism is the use of symbols (Sanskrit: ''pratīka'') to represent certain aspects of the Buddha's Dharma (teaching). Early Buddhist symbols which remain important today include the Dharma wheel, the Indian lotus, the three jewels an ...

that demands comprehensive expertise and scholarly investigation. Every ornament, posture, and attribute holds profound significance, reflecting specific aspects of Buddhism and the related teachings. While materials have evolved, the techniques and methodologies have remained essentially unchanged, preserving the traditional essence of this art form. * The hues of the Thangka painting are naturally extracted from plants and minerals, and adorned with 24k gold paint. Each art piece of Thangka carries a unique tradition and lesson that survives intact to the present day. * Generally, Thangka paintings fall into two categories: painted (palas) and silk-made. While Thangka can be used as educational aids of Buddha to illustrate historical events to related lamas, Thangka are also used as a centrepiece in meditation rituals and worshipers’ rituals. Most Thangka paintings were crafted by monks, who acquired merits to do so. Rather than being sold for a fee, the art pieces were then given to monasteries and individuals in exchange for “gifts”. * The Dui tapestries (duixiu) or barbola are pictures of animals and plants, decorated on

silk Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the coc ...

, which creates a relief. These can be used to decorate columns or on walls. * Regong sculptures can be made of clay, wood, stone or brick, and decorate temples and homes; mural panels, furniture, or tables for serving

tea Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured or fresh leaves of '' Camellia sinensis'', an evergreen shrub native to East Asia which probably originated in the borderlands of southwestern China and northe ...

Notes and references

{{Portalbar, Religion, China, Asia Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Tibetan Buddhist art and culture Tibetan art Cultural heritage of China

History

Different Regong arts

See also

Notes and references