Case Study in Connotation of the Number in Tibetan Buddism Thangka

• Main Authors: Meng Chao-Ching, 孟昭慶
• Other Authors: Huang Ting-Chao
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/71031913852536865369

碩士 === 嶺東科技大學 === 視覺傳達設計研究所 === 99 === Tibetan Buddhism Thangka is not only the encyclopedia to understand the Tibetan, but also the crystallization of Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhism. Thangka covers the history, myth, legend, medical science, calendar and religion. In the earliest period, Thangka is used to preach, consecrate and self-practice, therefore, there are many religious meanings and symbol patterns in Thangka art. Besides, there are many repeated images found in Thangka patterns, these patterns were counted by me and concluded in number. Then this study is thought up from "The hidden meaning of number in Thangka" and I keep exploring. After exploring, five key points were derived: finding religious doctrines related with numbers in Tibetan Buddhism teachings, analyzing patterns related to numbers, enjoying the sight of Thangka from the aesthetic point of view, exploring the presence of number in Thangka and the appearances of the same divinity presented in different Thangkas. From exploration in documents I get two key points: First, Tibetan Buddhism classified the same property of doctrines together in order to facilitate monks to memorize and preach, and gave them a general term, which is related to number. Second, Tibetan Buddhism painters transformed these related doctrines into the same image and drew it on Thangka. After analyzing Thangka art, this study found out three key points: First, there is beauty everywhere in Thangka art, the beauty exists in Thangka early before foreign elements came. Second, not every piece of Thangka Art has doctrines related to number, doctrines most appear when preaching, or in Thangkas which divinities are depicted on them. Finally, since it was influenced by many schools of painting, denominations and foreign cultures, the same divinity is hardly the same in different Thangkas. This shows that there are no exactly the same two Thangkas unless purposely imitation.