In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, thangkas are far more than mere artworks—they are sacred objects used for meditation, visualization, and devotional practice. This Tibetan Buddhist Gold Thangka of Green Tara combines the profound iconography of the “swiftly rescuing deity” with the centuries-old Reigong school gilding technique, creating a masterpiece that embodies both spiritual significance and exquisite craftsmanship.
1. Core Theme: The Compassionate Manifestation of Swift Rescue
The central figure of this thangka is Green Tara (Tibetan: Dolma Nyegu), depicted in her nirmanakaya form. As the foremost of the Twenty-One Taras, she is known as the “Swiftly Rescuing Tara,” responding immediately to the prayers of sentient beings.
Green Tara is venerated for her ability to relieve the “Eight Difficulties and Sixteen Sufferings” and is particularly revered by female practitioners and lay devotees across Tibet.
This thangka is more than a representation of a deity—it conveys deep Vajrayana teachings through its visual language of gold and green:
The composition serves as a visual vessel of aspiration and compassionate rescue, translating abstract vows into tangible imagery.
2. Main Deity Iconography: Green Tara in Nirmanakaya Form
The Green Tara depicted here is a two-armed figure, seated in a lalitasana (relaxed pose), following strict iconometric guidelines from the Sutra of Measurements for Images and the Root Tantra of Tara. Every detail carries symbolic meaning:
Body Color and Posture
Her emerald-green body, derived from finely ground natural turquoise and azurite, signifies growth and swift salvation. The left leg is folded in meditation while the right leg extends naturally onto the lotus, representing readiness to rise and aid all beings, in line with the descriptions in the Praise of Tara text.
Mudras and Attributes
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Right hand forms the wish-fulfilling mudra, symbolizing immediate response to devotees’ prayers.
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Left hand holds an Utpala lotus, with stem extending to her shoulder, featuring a bud, blossom, and fruit. This symbolizes the continuity of the Dharma across past, present, and future, capable of embracing sentient beings across the three times.
Ornaments and Halo
She wears a five-buddha crown and eight auspicious jewel ornaments. Her robe folds follow the Reigong style of “U-shaped triple folds with nine pleats,” blending softness with strength. Behind her, the golden halo and body aura are rendered in concentric circles, signifying the all-pervasive light of the Buddha.
3. Attendant Deities: The Protective Network of the Thangka
The thangka employs the classic Vajrayana “principal deity with attendants” composition, representing the interconnected network of blessings and protection:
Upper Attendants: The Three Times Buddhas
Above Green Tara’s head are five Buddhas, integrating the Three Times Buddhas and Five Directions. Central is Amitabha Buddha, the dharmakaya source of Green Tara. On either side are Shakyamuni (the teacher of worldly Dharma) and Bhaisajyaguru (healer of suffering), with Akshobhya and Ratnasambhava representing subjugation of obstacles and bestowal of merit. Their meditative gestures symbolize the support of the dharmakaya in Green Tara’s compassionate activity.
Lower Attendants: Protective and Healing Deities
On either side of the lotus seat are two attendant protectors:
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Vajrapani incarnation holding a vajra, safeguarding the Dharma and subduing negative forces.
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White Tara incarnation holding a vase, assisting Green Tara in healing and longevity.
Together, they extend the compassionate power of Green Tara into a complete circle of protection and benefit, forming a holistic visual representation of “relief, guardianship, and merit.”
4. Artistic Craftsmanship: The Reigong Carved Gold Technique
This thangka exemplifies the Reigong school’s “Carved Gold Thangka” method, one of the highest achievements in Tibetan Buddhist painting, where material and mastery converge.
Layered Gold Base
24K gold leaf is ground with fingerprints into a fine gold paste (~5 μm particle size) and mixed with ox bone glue. The paste is applied in seven layers to a pure cotton canvas, each layer dried for 72 hours. The total gold thickness of 0.12 mm ensures durability during carving without cracking—a process that takes 49 days alone, distinguishing it from conventional thangkas.
Carved Detailing with Agate Brushes
Once dried, the gold layer is outlined with a fine squirrel-hair brush, then carved using agate tools (hardness 6.5). The artist carefully engraves clouds, robes, and ornaments, combining curved and straight lines for a balance of flow and solemnity. Lotus bases and halos are layered with point and line carving. Each centimeter of line requires 3–5 precise cuts, with a tolerance of less than 0.05 mm. Carving alone can take over 200 hours per thangka.
Mineral Pigments and Facial Features
Green Tara’s body is painted in five layers using natural turquoise and azurite, with subtle additions of lapis lazuli and pearl powder to create a gem-like depth. Facial features are painted during a three-day meditative retreat, using the three courts, five eyes measurement (≤0.5 mm error). Eyebrows, eyes, and lips are delicately rendered—each stroke reflecting devotional connection rather than mere painting.
5. Cultural and Collectible Value: Dual Significance of Devotion and Heritage
This carved gold Green Tara thangka serves as both:
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A meditative tool for practitioners: Viewers can focus on the green body to contemplate vitality and rescue, the gold background to visualize unchanging Buddha-nature, and the attendant deities to sense protective and benevolent energy.
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A living representation of Reigong intangible cultural heritage: From layered gold application to agate carving, every step embodies craftsmanship passed down over 700 years. The combination of gold and mineral pigments ensures the thangka remains vibrant for centuries.
In essence, this piece is not just a painting—it is a timeless vow of compassion, an icon of spiritual rescue, and a masterwork of sacred artistry.
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