Unveiling a Hand-Painted Tibetan Thangka: The Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara, Retinue Deities & Regong Art Craft

When you gaze at a hand-painted Tibetan Thangka, you’re not just viewing art—you’re stepping into the spiritual world of Tibetan Buddhism. Today, we unpack a stunning Regong-style Thangka centered on the Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara (the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Tibet’s most revered protector).
The Core Theme: Compassion as a Sacred Vow
This Thangka’s heart is “compassionate salvation”: the Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara embodies the boundless mercy of Tibetan Buddhism, tasked with liberating sentient beings from suffering. Its layout (a mandala-like arrangement) frames this vow as a holistic, divine protection.
The Main Deity: Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara
• Appearance: Pale white (symbolizing pure, untainted nature), crowned with five Buddha crowns (representing the wisdom of the Five Dhyani Buddhas), and seated on a lotus moon-throne (signifying detachment from worldly cycles).
• Four Arms & Symbols:
◦ Two central hands hold a wish-fulfilling jewel (illuminating darkness for all beings);
◦ One right hand holds a crystal rosary (constant, unbroken compassion);
◦ One left hand holds an eight-petaled lotus (purity amid afflictions).
Retinue Deities: Layers of Spiritual Protection
The Thangka’s layered layout includes sacred figures with distinct roles:
• Upper Layer (Celestial Realm): Three Buddhas (typically Amitabha, Medicine Buddha, and Shakyamuni) represent past-present-future blessings, or the Five Dhyani Buddhas’ all-encompassing wisdom.
• Lower Layer (Protectors): A red Manjushri (wisdom), a wrathful deity (e.g., Vaishravana or Hayagriva, power against obstacles), and a multi-armed Tara (swift salvation)—forming the “Three Protectors” (compassion, wisdom, power) of Tibetan Buddhism.
Regong Art: The Craft Behind the Sacred
This Thangka belongs to Regong Art (a UNESCO Intangible Heritage):
• Canvas & Pigments: Linen/cotton coated with bone glue & chalk (for durability); colors from minerals/gems (lapis lazuli for blue, cinnabar for red) and 24K gold leaf (for divine radiance).
• Process: Strictly following Iconometry Sutras (for precise proportions), artists paint backgrounds first, then deities, finish with gold line details, and “open the eyes” (final, sacred step to imbue life).
This Thangka isn’t just decor—it’s a sacred object where spirituality, tradition, and craftsmanship converge.

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