Introduction to Tibetan Art

Abstract Most Tibetan art is religious art. The phrase “Tibetan art” encompasses not only art made in Tibet but also the art associated with Tibetan Buddhism. Indeed, some of the finest examples of Tibetan art come from Nepal, Kashmir, China, and Mongolia. The subjects of Tibetan art are typically buddhas, lamas, historic figures, and deities; mandalas, representing the dwelling place of the deities; stupas or reliquary monuments; and ritual and decorative objects for use in shrines or temples.Many Tibetans believe that the first paintings and statues of the Buddha were made during Shakyamuni Buddha’s lifetime in the sixth century B.C.E. in India. The Buddha himself was supposed to have blessed and consecrated those objects. One of these early statues, known as Jobo Rinpoche, said to represent Shakyamuni at the age of twelve, is presently in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa and is considered the holiest image in Tibet. Another of the early statues, an Akshobhya Buddha the size of Shakyamuni at the age of eight, is now in the Ramoche Temple in Lhasa.