Himalayan Art Resources

Painting Style: Guge Kingdom (Western Tibet)

Styles Page (Regional)

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Painting: Guge Kingdom (below)
- Sculpture: Guge Kingdom
- Tsaparang
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Tsaparang, located in West Tibet, was the name of the capital of the ancient Guge Kingdom. It is likely that the area gained prominence in the 9th century during the dissolution of the central Tibetan kingdom after the time of King Langdharma.

The town of Tsaparang consists of a large fortress on top of a hill, partially standing, and the village located below. The fortress also houses two prominent temples: the Marpo Lhakang (Red Temple) and the Karpo Lhakang (White Temple). Both temples contain Buddhist religious murals depicting figures such as Buddhas, complex deities and famous teachers. The quality of the art, colour, composition and artistic imagination stands as some of the most beautiful works ever created in this region of the world.

Jeff Watt 7-2012 [updated 12-2018]