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Grand Thanka Breaks World Record

KAF Report, October 28, 1999

Recently in Amdo a group of painters completed the world's longest thanka. At 618 meters long, it's listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. The thanka is two meters wide, including half-meter strips of framing material at top and bottom. This thanka will be exhibited in Beijing at the National Arts Gallery of China during spring festival (Chinese New Year) in 2000.

Kunchok Tenzin, who is on Kham Aid Foundation's advisory board, served as a consultant for the painting. With a team of other scholars, he helped decide the thanka's contents. It depicts "all aspects of Tibetan culture," including the history of Tibet, Buddhist philosophy, the history of Buddhism, the various sects of Buddhism as practiced in Tibet, folk and classical literature, and a compendium of scenic and historic sites in Tibet, to name some of the many fields represented.

For those who may not recognize all the figures shown in the many panels, the committee has published a book to explain in detail the various parts of the thanka. For example, where one section of the thanka depicts stories of the Nyingma Buddhist tradition, the corresponding book chapter gives background on the Nyingma-pa such as how the order was founded, its development and history, how it compares with other sects, its painting style, and so forth.

The painting was made in Huangnan Prefecture by a team of artists. At its summertime peak, the workforce numbered more than one hundred; even in mid-winter at least fifty painters remained at work. The thanka took four years to complete. Funding came via a loan from the bank, and exceeded three million Chinese yuan (US$370,000). They hope to recover their investment through ticket sales and offerings.

Exhibition of a painting that is longer than six football fields presents some serious logistical challenges. At present, the committee is not sure where the giant thanka will go after it is shown in Beijing this winter. Kunchok Tenzin says that Huangnan Prefecture may build a special exhibition hall for it. Wherever it goes, it is certain to draw crowds.

Anyone wishing to contact Kunchok Tenzin about the Grand Thanka can reach him in care of KAF's Kangding office at wubangfu@khamaid.org.

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Postscript.  Someone has created a website for the thanka, and posted information about it, with photos, in several languages, at http://bigthangka.gmxhome.de/index.htm