PHILOSOPHICAL VISION OF THE BUDDHIST THEORY OF COLOR IN TIBETAN TREATISES OF THE 15th–18th CENTURIES // BSU bulletin. Philosophy. - 2019. №2. . - С. 31-35.

PHILOSOPHICAL VISION OF THE BUDDHIST THEORY OF COLOR IN TIBETAN TREATISES OF THE 15th–18th CENTURIES

DOI: 10.18101/1994-0866-2019-2-31-35 UDK: 316.4

The article is devoted to the analysis of the main Tibetan treatises on iconography, describ- ing the philosophical substantiation of color in canonical Buddhist thangka painting. We have paid special attention to the main distinctive features in the interpretation of color in- teraction and its relationship with the philosophical component of Buddhist teachings. While studying Buddhist painting we considered the traditional system of colors descrip- tion and their interactions. This system is associated with spiritual practice, which was re- flected in the religious painting of the Tibetan people, and resulted in a rich and diverse palette of Buddhist thangka painters.

In Tibetan religious painting the description of color reflects the philosophical considera- tion of “method” and “wisdom”, where “wisdom” symbolizes the maternal, feminine prin- ciple, and “method” — the fatherly, male principle. Certain artistic terminology relating to the designation of color is a unique legacy of Tibetan art, in which the philosophical out- look of Buddhist doctrine originating from the ancient traditions of India is represented through color.

Buddhist philosophy; method; wisdom; thangka; Tibetan painting; color; Tibet; tradition.