BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Ciji, 24, from Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, western Sichuan Province, is a member of the first group of students studying thangka painting skills at the Pande Dajie Technical Welfare School in Lhasa.
Thangka is a religious scroll painting on cloth or silk with various religious functions. Students majoring in the art can only graduate after five years' study.
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Ciji, 24, from Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, western Sichuan Province, is a member of the first group of students studying thangka painting skills at the Pande Dajie Technical Welfare School in Lhasa. (Photo: chinatibetnews.com)
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Though the school has only been run for four years, some students have already graduated, said Ciji, adding the graduates can paint thangkas "very very well."
Ciji's younger sister Meiduocuo is also studying at the school. In 2007, Zhang Li, Ciji's teacher and also founder of the school, gave him some money to help him bring his mother to pay pilgrimage to Lhasa.
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A visitor is gazing at piece of thangka painting with a magnifying glass, Nov. 15. (Xinhua Photo)
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Speaking of his teacher, Ciji said repeatedly "very very amazing." That is why he decided to stay at the school to help with his teacher after graduation.
Almost all the students at the technical school are from poor families in Tibet and Tibetan-inhabited areas in other parts of China. Some are orphans and others could not afford tuitions even though they want to go to school.
After students are enrolled by the school, they will first take some elementary lessons such as studying Han and the Tibetan languages, maths and history. When they can speak simple Han language, they will begin to take professional lessons such as foundry, sculpting, carpet weaving or thangka painting.
Life at the school is simple. The class finishes earlier on Saturday afternoon. Instead of going to Internet cafes, playing skateboards or going to fast-food restaurants like their peers do, the students usually just go and buy some daily necessities or do window shopping in the Bakhor Street in downtown Lhasa.
(Source: Tibet Business)
