The art of thangka painting may have arrived in Tibet soon after the introduction of Buddhism in the 7th century. Originally of Indian religious influence, Tibetan thangka paintings, over the centuries, absorbed Kashmiri, Newari, and Chinese styles. This infusion of styles, along with a heavy indigenous development, produced the unique forms and traditions of Tibetan painting that we today know of as Thangkas.
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Thangkas are paintings on canvas and mounted on silk brocade. They depict representations such as the Buddhas, deities, famous lamas and lama kings, the Tibetan view of life and death, medicine, and astrology. Thangkas are hung on the walls and serve various purposes, depending on the religious nature of the individual. For some, it mainly forms a decorative part of the chapel or room, a holy representation felt to bring blessings, protection, and happiness. For a serious practitioner of Buddhism, a Thangka could serve as a vehicle for visualizations on the path of enlightenment.
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Thangka painting is a highly skilled art. The preparation of the canvas, sketching the deities and illustrations, learning to prepare the natural paints, application of the colors, and mounting the painting involves detailed skill and knowledge handed down by generations of master painters. To be a skilled thangka painter one has to train for many years.