Thangka,Traditional Tibetan Painting : Cultural and Negotiating Identities of Minority and Nationality in Context of China Nation State

Abstract

Research topic “Thangka,Traditional Tibetan Painting : Cultural and Negotiating Identities of Minority and Nationality in Context China Nation State” has three objectives. There are There are 1) To study Thangka, a Tibetan traditional painting in the dimension of cultural identity of Tibetan people 2)To study Thangka, a traditional Tibetan painting in the dimension of negotiating identities of minority and nationality and 3) to study artist Tanba Ramdan, focusing on cultural identity and negotiating identities. The method is qualitative methodology. Collect data with field work and document data. Based on research principles of Cultural identity, Negotiating identity, Re-invention of tradition

Thangka, a Tibetan traditional painting in the dimension of cultural identity of Tibetan people is religious painting. Thangka was painted by a clergy artist, conveying his creations through religious and family systems. The person who will paint the Thangka painting will also have a good knowledge of religion philosophy. Thus, it made the Thangka a sacred painting and was used in various Tibetan belief and religious contexts. However, with Tibet being the part of China. The Chinese government has come to create China in the Tibetan area by opened up Thangka into an natinal education system. That allows the general public to study Thangka painting. It also honors the Tibetan artist Thangka as the national artist of China. In addition, the Chinese government has opened the door to Tibet as a cultural tourism area. As a result, both Chinese and foreign tourists travel to Tibet in large numbers. In this case,Thangkas were used as souvenirs to generate income for the Tibetans. Put Thangka in the context of making culture as a serious commodity. For study artist Tanba Ramdan, to understand cultural identity and identity negotiation through the life and work of the famous Tibetan artist. Tanba Ramdan was born and raised in Lhasa, Tibet. Tanba Ramdan passed as a Buddhist priest and also studied Thangka painting. He has served as an artist and conveyer of tonka art to the Tibetan people. He is regarded as the National Artist of China. When the Chinese government opened Tibet as a cultural tourist destination, he was adapted to serve as an educator for Chinese students across the country who came to study Thangka and create Thangka paintings as souvenirs. Tanba Ramdan's life has seen both cultural identity and identity negotiation go hand in hand.

This research directly benefits the academic circle of Chinese arts to understand Tibetan painting in the dimension related to cultural identity and identity negotiation. In addition, the research structure can also be used as a research model for the study of the art of other ethnic minorities in China and internationally.

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