Thangka

Thangka, or scroll painting, a Tibetan Buddhist painting on cotton or silk, usually depicts a Buddhist deity, scene or mandala. The artwork usually performs several different functions including teaching tools, meditation tools, or prayer mediums during rituals. Making a Thangka has a long and complicated process which usually takes one year or even several years. Therefore, Thangka has a high economic value. A single large painting by a Thangka master can go for 30 million yuan (4.6 million U.S. dollars) at auction.