Cai Tang Vaishravana: The Guardian of Wealth in Tibetan Buddhism, The Golden Faith in Thangka Art

I. Cai Tang Thangka: An Epic of Mineral Colors on Tibetan Canvas

1. Pigments: Colors Ground from "Treasures of Mountains and Rivers"

• First, remove impurities from the ore, crush it, and rinse it repeatedly with clean water four or five times until the water clears;
• Then grind it by hand—azurite must be ground to a fine powder to separate shades like "primary blue" and "secondary blue"; gold leaf must be hammered thin as a cicada’s wing to adhere to the canvas;
• Finally, mix with bone glue and separate shades using the "water-flying method" to ensure color saturation and layering.

2. Craftsmanship: Devotional Creation Measured by the Iconographic Measurement Sutra

• Drafting requires charcoal to outline the deity’s proportions, ensuring the form aligns with the "thirty-two marks and eighty secondary characteristics" of enlightened beings;
• Line work uses wolf-hair brushes, with smooth, delicate lines—every pattern on the victory banner and every hair on the snow lion must be precise;
• Coloring and shading follow the rule of "from dark to light, from background to subject," layering colors to create a three-dimensional effect;
• The most critical "face-opening" process must be completed by a practicing artist—the majestic wide eyes and the subtle compassion at the corners of the mouth must be executed in one stroke, because "opening the face is endowing the soul," the core of the Thangka’s "liberation upon sight."

II. Vaishravana: From "Northern Heavenly King" to Tibetan Buddhism’s "God of Wealth and Protection"

1. The "Symbolic Code" of His Form (Based on This Cai Tang)

• Yellow Body: Corresponding to Ratnasambhava Buddha’s "yellow Buddha realm," it symbolizes increasing good fortune and accumulating virtuous karma, serving as a visual symbol of "wealth and merit" in Tibetan Buddhism;
• Mount Snow Lion: A Tibetan mythical beast with green mane and white body (painted with malachite green and mineral white pigments), its four claws represent the four immeasurables (loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity)—symbolizing both the fearlessness to subdue demons and the ability to spit out treasures to relieve sentient beings;
• Victory Banner (Dhvajra): Also called the "banner of triumph," its red and gold patterns (cinnabar + gold leaf) symbolize overcoming afflictions, protecting the Dharma, and also represent favorable weather and stable undertakings;
• Treasure-Spitting Rat (Nüli) in His Arms: A retinue of the dragon king, originally living in the sea, it can transform what it eats into treasures and spit them out—it is a symbol of abundant wealth, and when worshipped, it requires offerings of the "three whites (milk, cheese, flour)" and "three sweets (sugar, honey, rock sugar)," embodying the wish for "pure wealth";
• Jeweled Adornments: Necklaces, gold bracelets, and other ornaments cover his body, reflecting the deity’s dignity and symbolizing the state of "perfect good fortune."

2. The "Duality" of His Identity: More Than a God of Wealth, a Dharma Protector

III. Vaishravana in Cai Tang: Every Stroke Is the "Materialization of Faith"

1. The Religious Function of Thangkas: A Visual Dharma Gate for Liberation Upon Sight

2. Localized Expression of the Scene

IV. Devotional Practices of Vaishravana: From Monasteries to Secular Life—Wishes for Good Fortune

1. Worship in Monasteries

2. Secular Wishes

• During the Tibetan New Year, herders hang Vaishravana Thangkas in their tents and offer the "three whites and three sweets," praying for prosperous cattle and sheep in the coming year;
• Merchants hang Thangkas in their shops, praying for smooth business—yet Tibetan Buddhism emphasizes: "The wealth sought must be used for the benefit of others to receive blessings," which is the wisdom of "using wealth for good."

V. The Contemporary Value of Cai Tang Vaishravana: Dual Inheritance of Art and Faith

1. Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance of Art

2. Contemporary Resonance of Spirit