Painting Schools of Tibet Thangka – Chintse Painting School

Painting Schools of Tibet Thangka – Brief Introduction of Chintse Painting School

As on of the three great painting schools of Tibet Thangka, Chintse Painting School formed after middle of 15th century. It was popular in Tsang and Shannan Prefecture of Tibet. Chintse Chamao, the founder of Chintse Painting School, loved painting very much since he was a child. When he was young, he can vividly draw mountains, the sun, the moon, flying birds and animals. After grown up, he devoted to Buddhist painting and formed his own style. The artistic style of Chintse Chamao directly inherited the painting style which was very popular in Tsang during 14th century and developed it. The rise of Chintse Painting School and ManNyang Painting School ended the Indian and Nepal painting style which was very popular in Tsang from 14th century to the first half of 15th century. It also made great contribution to formation and development of medieval Tibetan local painting style. The art circle named this two painting schools as "Man-Chin Painting School".

Painting Schools of Tibetan Thangka – Features of Chintse Painting School

Composition

About the composition of a picture, Chintse Painting School kept the feature of Indian and Nepal traditional paintings that the main deity occupies a large area. However, about the description of scenery, Chintse Painting School started to absorb the painting style of Han Nationality. Chintse Painting School gave prominence to the key point and orderly arranged surrounding small images. Since Chintse Painting School had absorbed the description methods in Han Nationality, the distinctive system of Tibetan painting language gradually formed. According to legends, the fresco in Duojidan Monastery in Shannan was painted by Chintse Chamao. There is an idea about Chintse Painting School and ManNyang Painting School in art circle that "one military and the other civil". The ManNyang Painting School esteems "civil", while the Chintse Painting School esteems "Military". Comparatively speaking, Chintse Painting School is good at painting deities with angry faces. The face of deity which was painted by Chintse Painting School is stately and puissant, and the modeling of character is well-developed and mellow and full, and the image is steady and with some vividly dancing postures. The paintings of Chintse Painting School are with dynamic details in the statics painting and move among force and soft. It fully shows manly beauty.

Color

The color used by Chintse Painting School gives people the sense of being broad and profound. Chintse Painting School is good at using contrast colors which are bright and bouncing. The color matching of Chintse Painting School is fine and dainty, with strong decorative function. Chintse Painting School is also good at painting Mandala with different styles. Paintings of Mandala which were drawn by painters of Chintse Painting School are with exquisite painting technique and dense and beautiful patterns. All of these are breathtaking and impressive. The Chintse Painting School is closely related with Esoteric Art which was very popular in Tsang in the Middle Ages. Consequently, Tibet Thangka is valuable for appreciation and collection.