Research On Thangkas’ Conservation In Mental Cultivation Hall

The art of thangkas has a long history.It can be traced back to Tibetan Srong-btsan-sgam-po reign（AD 617-650）according to the legend.As the instrument to Buddhist worship and meditation,the Buddhism has great influence on the generation,formation and development of thangkas.It has great Buddhist characteristics and its unique artistic feature.The art of thangkas had experienced the generation in ancient Tibetan Regime(7^th-9^thcentury),the beginning of prosperity of Separate Regime(10^th-13^thh century),the integration of Sa-skya Regime(13^th-14^thh century),the development of P’ag-mo-gru-pa Regime(15^th-16^thcentury),and the great prosperity of Ganden Pho drang Regime(17^th-19^thh century).Meanwhile,many artistic schools come out and the art of thangkas embodies powerful vitality.In the 11^thh year of Qianlong reign（AD 1746）,the west chamber Buddhist Hall of the Mental Cultivation Hall in the Forbidden City was built as a private Buddhist Hall for Qianlong emperor to practice Tibetan Buddhism.It was renovated in the 12^thh year of Qianlong region（AD 1747）,and began to hang for Thangkas.The thangkas inside represent the prosperity of the art,and highly embody the artistic features of thangkas in Qing Court.Since the 12^thyear of Qianlong reign（AD 1747）,the thangkas had been hung on the walls for more than 270 years.Due to the long history,aging of the materials,environment and other factors,the thangkas have caused various damages:dust,stains,creases,border laceration and lost,insect holes,pigment lost and color fading and so on,therefore,they are in urgent need of conservation.The thesis focuses on the researches of conservation and restoration of the thangkas in the Mental Cultivation Hall,and mainly studies the damages and the causes of the original displaying thangkas;research the materials and manufacture techniques;on the basis of the scientific analysis,draw the conservation program.Under the instruction of the conservation program,do the conservation practice,and complete partly conservation.Conclude the conservation methods and the experience of the conservation and restoration works,and then provide the reference for the other thangkas conservation.The thesis consists of the introduction,six chapters and conclusion.In the introduction,it mainly discusses the research objects and contents,the aims and significance,and research summaries,methods,difficulties and innovations.From the art history aspect,the first chapter traces to the source of these thangkas,clarifies the status,the origin and document of these thangkas;The second chapter discusses with the manufacture techniques of the thangkas and its materials,reveal the art beauty of the thangkas.The third chapter refers to the damages and the causes of the thangkas.Chapter Fourth to Chapter Fifth are the conservation case-Kurukulla,do the scientific analysis and conservation and preservation.The last chapter concludes the conservation methods of the various damages.By the research above,the thesis systematically studies the conservation and restoration methods of the thangkas in Mental Cultivation Hall.And set up several methods and standards:I.Create the methods of scientific analysis on thangkas,including the non-destructive analysis method and destructive analysis method.II.Create the methodological system of conservation and restoration,including the cleaning methods and consolidation methods.III.Set up the conservation and restoration record standard and project standard of thangkas;Creating these methods and standards will provide the suitable methods to protect the thangkas in the Palace Museum,and will foster the experienced experts or conservators in the thangkas’field,and will provide the conservation cases for the whole nation,meanwhile it can impel the development of the thangkas conservation and restoration industry,and improve the research of Tibetan culture.