Tibetan Painting
Tibetan painting is a main form of Tibetan art and may be the most popular art form among all forms of Tibetan Buddhist Art. Like Christianity and other religions around the world, Tibetan painting plays an important role in expressing and strengthening their religious beliefs. Tibetan paintings have been influenced by Chinese, Nepalese and Indian art and develops its own characteristics. There are various kinds of Tibetan Buddhist paintings: rock painting, fresco painting, Thangka painting and engraving painting. Rock painting is the oldest art form and it was prevalent from prehistoric times to Tubo period. It includes sceneries like animals, tribes, herding, hunting, natural worshiping, religious events and so on. Fresco painting is a main kind of Tibetan art and is widely seen in temples, monasteries and palaces. Originated from rock paintings, fresco painting was first influenced by Tibetan indigenous religion, Bon, and learned from Buddhist painting skills from Chinese hinterland, India and Nepal to form its own style. It covers a wide range of subjects, such as Buddha, founders of different Buddhist sects, legends, historical events, social life and etc. Therefore, fresco painting is the encyclopedia of Tibetan religion, history and culture.