Applique Origin

Origin of Tibetan Applique

It was first started by the fourth Karmapa Rolpai Dorjee (1340-1383 AD) who asked his followers to put white stones on the place where he rode his horse to build a huge brocade appliqué thangka. The open space marked with white stones were covered with cloth and later sewn together. Soon after that other religious sects also started making it for their own monastery and improved the technique of making it.

Basic moral requirements for making religious thangka:

SPONSOR’S MORAL OBLIGATIONS
Sponsor should not be those who indulges in sin, is of little faith, is non-believer, concerned for fame, passion, leaving the work uncompleted and speaking harshly to the artists.

ARTIST’S MORAL OBLIGATIONS
Must not be unprofessional, charging exorbitant money, siphoning off materials and leaving the work unfinished.

MERITS OF MAKING RELIGIOUS PAINTINGS
Those who make or sponsor the production of religious thangka will have no ill health, no fear of enemy, no tension and worry, will have good complexion, will not have foul smell on body and will ultimately attain nirvana.

MERITS OF OFFERINGS TO IMAGES OF RELIGIOUS DEITIES
Merits of good health, material gains and fame spreading over a vast area.

How it is made
The technique of making appliqué thangka is that each section of the image is produced separately, then dovetailed into one to another and fastened onto a background material to form the overall visual impact of thangka. Pieces are laid one next to another to create a smooth surface or sometimes they are overlapped to give a slight semblance of the third dimension. There are ten stages of drawing in making a complete appliqué thangka. Unlike the painted thangka where detailed linear is done on the last stages, the linear detailing of an appliqué thangka is worked into each piece as it is constructed. The outline cording (tangchey) is the last sewn part to be added to the individual piece before the form is finally cut, clipped and tucked into a completed piece of the puzzle.

Usefulness of brocade appliqué thangka
The most famous brocade appliqué is called ‘Gos-ku’ (fabric images). It is a huge brocade thangka of six storeys in width and length. It contains figures of Lord Buddha and other important religious deities, etc. It is shown to the public once a year and people from all over come to watch it and be blessed. It is believed that if you see and blessed by it, there will be no great sufferings and accidents. There will be timely rainfall and good harvest will result in that particular year.

They are also used as an object of offering and meditation in order to improve spiritual practice. Since thangka is a portable scroll of banner, it is the most popular religious object used by every Tibetan, especially by the nomads.