Thangka masters modernize ancient art

Thangka, or Buddhist scroll painting, is a popular practice in Gojo county of the Tibet autonomous region, with local artists merging everyday life into ancient art.

Located in eastern Chamdo city, Gojo is regarded as a place popular for painting the Mansar style of thangka, a branch of the art that has been passed down for more than 300 years.

The modern updates avoid modifications to religious stories out of reverence.

According to the Gojo county government, the county has 11 thangka painting cooperatives and more than 100 artists. The total revenue generated by thangka painting hit more than 10 million yuan ($1.46 million) in 2019.

Last year, with financial support from the county's cultural bureau — an investment of 2.4 million yuan — 11 thangka masters in the county worked together to create seven large thangka with a variety of content, including an image of Beijing's Tian'anmen Square, a giant portrait depicting China's 56 ethnic groups and stories of people fighting COVID-19.