TSONGKHAPA-REFUGE TREE THANGKA

TSONGKHAPA
Tsongkhapa usually taken to mean “the Man from Onion Valley”, born in Amdo, was a famous teacher of Tibetan Buddhism whose activities led to the formation of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. He is also known by his ordained name Losang Drakpa (Wylie: blo bzang grags pa) or simply as “Je Rinpoche” (Wylie: rje rin po che). Also, he is known by the Chinese as Zongkapa Lobsang Zhaba, He was the son of a Tibetan Longben Tribal leader who also once served as an official of the Yuan Dynasty of China.
In his two main treatises, the Lamrim Chenmo (Wylie: lam rim chen mo) and Ngakrim Chenmo (Wylie: sngags rim chen mo), Tsongkhapa meticulously sets forth this graduated way and how one establishes oneself in the paths of sutra and tantra.

REFUGE TREE : Brief Introduction
The Tsongkhapa Gelugpa Refuge Tree is a thangka, or Tibetan painting, that depicts the lineage of teachers and lineages of refuge within the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The tree is rooted in a deep blue sea, which represents the ocean of samsara, or cyclic existence. The trunk of the tree represents the path to enlightenment, and the branches and leaves represent the different lineages of teachers and teachings that lead to enlightenment.
The central figure in the thangka is Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa tradition. Tsongkhapa is seated on a lotus and sun disk, and he is surrounded by a host of other figures, including bodhisattvas, meditation deities, and protectors. The figures on the left side of the thangka represent the lineage of teachers who transmitted the sutra teachings, while the figures on the right side of the thangka represent the lineage of teachers who transmitted the tantric teachings.

THANGKA LHYAPE : What is Lhyape Style
Tsongkhapa, an enchanting Lhyape Thangka masterpiece, emanates an aura of celestial splendor. The golden-yellow background bathes the entire composition in a luminous glow, symbolizing purity and enlightenment. Intricately painted with 24-carat gold, Tsongkhapa’s divine form and surrounding elements glisten with a mesmerizing metallic shine.

WHAT IS MASTER QUALITY?
The attribute of “master quality” distinguishes the Tsongkhapa as an embodiment of extraordinary craftsmanship and artistic excellence. This exceptional piece is directly handcrafted by an artist or craftsman of the highest categorization, reflecting their unparalleled skill and expertise. The uniqueness of Tsongkhapa lies in its exclusivity to the artist, making it a rare find with nearly impossible chances of finding an identical piece in the same category. While copies may exist, they can never truly replicate the essence of the original, as an artist or craftsman capable of creating such exceptional artistry would prefer to showcase their own creative vision rather than reproduce another’s work.

USE OF REAL GOLD
This thangka of Tsongkhapa has real gold painted on its surface along with other paints. This is an ancient process of decorating the thangka in Tibetan Buddhism, Here gold is ground into gold dust, which is then mixed with other undisclosed material to make it paintable on the canvas. this mixture is then mixed with transparent glue and painted on the thangka.

INTRODUCTION TO THANGKA
A thangka, also known as tangka, thanka, or tanka, is a vibrant and intricate Tibetan Buddhist painting that serves as a visual representation of spiritual teachings. Crafted with meticulous detail on cotton or silk appliqué, thangkas depict a wide range of subjects including Buddhist deities, sacred scenes, mandalas, and narrative stories. These sacred artworks are traditionally kept unframed and rolled up for storage, resembling ancient scrolls. To protect their delicate nature, thangkas are mounted on textile backings and often adorned with a silk cover on the front. Proper preservation in dry environments is crucial to maintain the integrity and longevity of the silk.