Page 9 - Tibetan Thangka Painting Methodsand Mat, Jackson

One
The Artistic Wealth of Old Tibet

In the past Tibet was so inaccessible to Western travelers them skilled artisans, especially metal workers talented
that its name still evokes images of supreme remoteness in the making of weapons and the like. Moreover from
and impenetrability. One Western historian has even an early period Tibetans were keen to receive the arts
described the culture of Tibet as the living fossil of an and artisans of other countries. From the 7th and
otherwise extinct civilization, preserved mainly because 8th centuries onward, many foreign artists and crafts-
of that great isolation. There is no denying that formid· men are known to have worked in Tibet, and the
able barriers existed along much of the Tibetan tradition of patronizing certain foreign artisans, such as
borderland. And in some ways Tibet was indeed a great Newar silversmiths, has continued down to the present
preserver of things. In its cool, dry climate manuscripts, day.
works of art and monuments could remain for centuries Since the formative period in its civilization Tibet
without noticeable decay. The inhabitants of Tibet too, has remained a fertile ground for the cultivation of many
with their respect for sacred traditions and their desire arts and crafts. In pre-1959 Tibet, as in Europe only a
to maintain them, succeeded in keeping alive religious few centuries ago, most ordinary implements and
and intellectual currents that had long ago vanished from objects had to be made by the hands and tools of skilled
their source of origin, India. Still, Tibet was never quite craftsmen. Fine workmanship was the goal, and quite
as isolated as' it sometimes appeared to the Western often it was the -result. A great many objects were also
world. Throughout its history and especially in early decorated and embellished, so that even commonplace
times Tibet maintained various contacts with neighbor- utensils could be appreciated for their aesthetic qualities.
ing countries. These contacts made possible not only Nowhere in traditional Tibet were superior artisans
the development of the traditional Buddhist culture of and their beautiful craftsmanship held in such high
Tibet, but also the flourishing there of a rich tradition regard as in the centers of religious culture, the
of arts and crafts. 1 monasteries. There the various arts reached their highest
Even before the advent of Buddhism in Tibet, expression in the service of Buddhism. The Tibetan
various craftsmen and artisans plied their trades there. nobility also patronized the arts, whether directly
Ancient records relate that since the time of their through sponsoring their own projects, or indirectly
earliest contacts with the civilizations of China, India through their support of the monasteries. Even in the
and Central Asia, the Tibetan people already had among lives of ordinary people the handiwork of artisans was

Spituk Monastery, Ladakh.

5