Hand-Painted by Master from Rebkong, Qinghai
Artist: Ji Hexian
This thangka features Manjushri Bodhisattva, a classic subject in Tibetan Buddhism. With a deep blue background accented by gold embellishments and colorful glazes, it integrates faith, art, and craftsmanship. As a 100% hand-painted work, it serves both as a sacred object for religious worship and an artistic treasure to adorn spaces, radiating the core spiritual energy of Tibetan Buddhism—"enlightening wisdom and dispelling ignorance."
Specifications
• Uniqueness: Each piece is an original, one-of-a-kind creation worldwide.
• Size: 52*75CM (subject to actual product).
• Technique: Created using traditional Tibetan meticulous heavy-color painting techniques, strictly adhering to the proportion standards specified in the Iconometry of Buddhist Deities. Centered on the main deity, the deep blue background enhances a solemn and sacred wisdom aura, with distinct layers between the deity and the background, showcasing the blue thangka's dignity and exquisite craftsmanship.
• Pigments: 100% natural mineral and plant-based pigments (including lapis lazuli blue, gold powder, etc.), blended with ox bile and animal glue. The colors remain vivid over time, embodying the artistic philosophy of "upholding faith through materials." The blue-and-gold color scheme delivers a striking visual impact.
• Canvas: Traditional Tibetan cotton cloth, processed through gluing, powdering, and repeated polishing.
• Mounting: Framed in modern solid wood with exquisite craftsmanship, preserving the artwork while highlighting its noble artistic aura.
• Origin & Craftsmanship: 100% hand-painted in Rebkong, Qinghai.
About Manjushri Bodhisattva Blue-Gold Thangka Art
1. Iconic Features & Deity Identity
Central Deity: Manjushri Bodhisattva – The Ultimate Symbol of Wisdom
As the core embodiment of wisdom in Tibetan Buddhism, his iconography strictly follows the Iconometry of Buddhist Deities. Every detail gains deeper meaning against the deep blue background:
• Body Color & Crown: His body glows with bright yellow, symbolizing wisdom as pure and imperishable as real gold. He wears a Five Buddha Crown (Pancha Buddha Crown), with leaves outlined in gold powder and inlaid with red gemstones, creating a striking contrast with the deep blue background and exuding solemnity and holiness.
• Posture & Lotus Throne: Seated in full-lotus position (Padmasana) on a multi-layered deep blue lotus throne. The petals are outlined with gold lines and gradient blue edges, representing purity and untaintedness. It signifies that wisdom originates from the pure dharma realm, enabling all beings to break free from ignorance and attain wisdom and freedom.
• Mudra & Holdings: His right hand holds a raised Wisdom Sword (Prajna Sword), its blade gilded and sharp, adorned with interlocking golden patterns—symbolizing cutting through delusion and ignorance with the sharpness of wisdom. His left hand holds a blue utpala flower (blue lotus) at his chest, with curved stems reaching upward and full blooms, symbolizing "wisdom flowers blooming across the world to fulfill all beings' good wishes."
• Facial Expression & Robes: His face radiates compassion and warmth, with eyes slightly lowered as if observing all beings' wisdom potential. His eyebrows are long and curved, and a subtle smile graces his lips, expressing joy for their wisdom enlightenment. Clad in a golden-blue celestial robe (Devata Vastra) with a deep blue gold-trimmed cloak, the robe is adorned with scroll grass patterns and roundel golden designs. The flowing lines of the robe follow the contours of his body, creating a soft and elegant texture. It not only reflects the Bodhisattva's sacred identity but also embodies the perfect state of "wisdom light permeating the world."
Attendant Deities
• Upper Left: Chenrezig (Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara), pure white in color, seated in full-lotus position on golden auspicious clouds. His four arms hold ritual implements such as a lotus and prayer beads (mala), symbolizing compassion and protective power. Complementing Manjushri Bodhisattva's wisdom, he forms the core support of "harmony between wisdom and compassion" for the belief system.
• Upper Right: Sakyamuni Buddha, solemnly golden in color, seated in full-lotus position on golden auspicious clouds with hands forming the Dhyana Mudra (Meditation Mudra). As the founder of Buddhist dharma, he clarifies Manjushri Bodhisattva's wisdom lineage, symbolizing that wisdom originates from the fundamental teachings of the Buddha.
• Lower Dharma Protector: Vajrapani Bodhisattva, deep blue in a wrathful form with a majestic and powerful posture. Holding a vajra and a lasso, the vajra symbolizes unbreakable protective power, while the lasso represents binding afflictions and demons. Echoing the main deity Manjushri Bodhisattva's wisdom, he clears obstacles on the path of wisdom and safeguards spiritual practice from interference.
Background Elements
With deep blue as the base, various elements form a harmonious and unified visual system with the main deity and attendants:
• Auspicious Cloud Patterns: Golden auspicious clouds surround the main deity and attendants, with flowing lines outlined in gold and light blue gradients inside. They not only highlight the sacredness of the deities but also metaphorically represent wisdom and compassion pervading all beings like auspicious clouds.
• Flowers & Offerings: Golden interlocking flowers adorn both sides of the main deity's lotus throne, with distinct petal layers echoing the utpala flowers. Below the painting, left and right are placed offerings such as a dharma wheel (Dharmachakra) and a treasure vase (Kalasha), all crafted in blue and gold, embodying reverence for the Buddha.
• Distant Mountain Mood: Lightly depicted deep blue distant mountains form a vague and profound outline, with mountain ridges gently sketched in gold. This creates a profound artistic conception of "wisdom residing in the pure dharma realm," perfectly aligning with the solemn temperament of the blue thangka.
2. Cultural Connotation & Artistic Value
Manjushri Bodhisattva is the core symbol of "wisdom" in Tibetan Buddhism. This blue-gold thangka is deeply rooted in believers' sincere prayers for "awakening wisdom and dispelling ignorance." By admiring the main deity's compassionate appearance and the attendants' protective postures, believers can not only gain spiritual enlightenment and wisdom growth through visualization but also embody the practice philosophy of "cutting through delusion with wisdom and protecting all beings with compassion," gradually moving toward the enlightened state of "harmony between wisdom and compassion." This vividly embodies the cultural connotation of Tibetan Buddhism—"saving sentient beings with wisdom."
In terms of artistic value, it is an exquisite example of Rebkong blue thangka. The blue-and-gold color scheme carries profound meanings: deep blue, derived from lapis lazuli powder, symbolizes the purity and depth of wisdom; gold, from natural gold powder, represents the eternity and sacredness of wisdom. Their fusion exudes solemnity and luxury while delivering a strong visual impact. Following strict iconographic rituals, the artist used meticulous heavy-color techniques to infuse reverence for faith and exquisite craftsmanship into every detail—from the direction of the golden lines on the robes to the Buddha's eyebrow expressions, and from the overall composition to the layout. The use of natural pigments ensures the colors remain vivid over time, materializing Manjushri Bodhisattva's wisdom vows through blue-and-gold craftsmanship. This allows viewers to experience artistic shock while comprehending the profound heritage of Tibetan Buddhist culture.
