Tibetan Buddhist Statues: Postcards

As the prosperity of Tibetan Buddhism increased, the sculptural art of Tibetan Buddhism also developed and flourished. Sculpting statues which could be worshipped by believers so as to arouse their love for Buddha needed very skilled and creative artisans. The artisans made the statues according to the requirements of the supreme master. Their work laid the foundation for the most recognizable characteristics of Tibetan Buddhist statues.
The materials commonly used are metals such as gold, silver and copper, wood, rock and clay. The statues are produced using casting, molding, carving, chiseling and basso-relief. The height of the statues ranges from several centimeters to dozens of meters. There are statues of of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, guardian deities and famous characters in the history of Tibetan Buddhism, such as Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug sect, as well as all previous Dalai Lamas and Panchen Erdenis. In the areas inhabited by Tibetans, all Tibetan monasteries worship a whole host of Buddhist statues. Some large monasteries maintain several hundred or thousand fairly precious Buddhist statues.