On The Applied Value Orientation Of Information Technology In The Inheritance Of Tibetan Buddhist Arts

All Tibetans believes in Buddhism. Although the material life in Tibet is extremely scarce, the spiritual world of Tibetan’s is great abundant. Thangka, as the representative art of Tibetan Buddhism, occupies a very important position in Tibetan people’s life, which is a sign of converting to Buddhism and prostrating in worship. Since ancient times, Tibetan, rich or poor, believe the consecrated Thangka will bring auspicious, peace and happiness to family. However, most of Tibetan Thangkas in the current market are computer printing ones or half machine-half manual. By the field work in Rebkong, the birthplace of Thangka, we found that the a pplication of information technology brought huge impact on its inheritance since twenty-first Century. All Thangkas used in daily life of believers come from computer printing. Some artist are using computer to copy the manuscript of composition, which simplified traditong drawing process, such as according to measurement standard to make sketches. To some degree, Thangka is no longer sacred religious supplies, but tourism products of mass consumption and is to be priced in the entity store or on the internet.Based on the reflection on the phenomenon above, this study focuses on the following issues:what does information technology brings to the inheritance of Tibetan Buddhist art. Does the application of information technology distort the original value of Tibetan Buddhism art? Shall the traditional Thangka drawing technology be replaced by modern information technology? How to make full use of information technology to protect, inherit ethnic culture and maintain the diversity of human culture? These problems are all important research topic at present, which needs ascertaining the facts through the solid field investigation. The research method of this study includes field investigation, literature and comparative method. The field work last for three months. This study investigated Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous County, Wutun Village, Huangnan Occupation Technical School, Huangnan Ethnic High School, Qinghai Ethnic University and so on. The investigation focused on observation of Thangka production process and traditional craft, depth interview with Thangka artist, Thangka apprentice, sales clerk, and the questionnaire survey. The literature method is mainly aimed at carding and analysis on inheritance of Tibetan Buddhist art and of intangible cultural heritage. Comparative method mainly used to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the application of information technology during the inheritance of Thangka. The main conclusions of this study are as follows:First, according to the trail of media evolution, the inheritance of Thangka experienced four stages:painting technology, printing technology, electronic technology and information technology.Scond, before the religion reform in 1958, the main inheritance form is the monastery inheritance with family heritage as a supplement. Now it is the coexistence situation with the inheritance through temple, family, school and even enterprise. With the process of modernization and the rapid development of science and technology, the application of information technology has penetrated into the modern production, exhibition, promotion, communication, marketing, and other aspects of conservation and restoration of Thangka. The interviews and questionnaire surveys of this study shows that people are holding positive opinion on information technology as a means of communication and recording, and full of optimism and expectations. While most of them holds negative attitude towards information technology as the drawing assistant means. They believe that the core and nature of Thangka is traditional techniques and implication of cultural connotation.Third, before the application of information technology, the inheritance of Thangka is much more in favor of its spiritual value. The spiritual value of Thangka can be divided into religious value, education value and aesthetic value. After the application of information technology, the inheritance value is changing to chase material value. Therefore, under the impact of information technology, the most fundamental issue for modern inheritance of Thangka is the conflicts between spiritual value and material value that the information technology is chasing.Forth, the advantages of application of information technology are as following: the first one is spreading more widely and quickly. The art reproductions could be appreciated by the people all over the word. The second one is digital preservation in the form of digital museum, image database and website. The disadvantages of the application as a drawing auxiliary means ignored cultural connotation and disregard long-term development, which caused by economic benefits and led to the utilitarian purpose.Fifth, the application of information technology in the Tibetan Buddhist art shall pursuit the values as following:the first one is pursuing coexistence of two values, both the material and spiritual one. During the inheritance of Tibetan Buddhist art, people shall not only fully affirms its precious spiritual values, but also does not exclude the meet the artist life demand of material value. The fundamental starting point is realizing the coexistence of spiritual and physical value in the application of information technology. Second, "the more national, the more global". If the Tibetan Buddhist art wants to show their unique national character for all over the world, on the one hand, it must maintain their own distinctive national features, on the other hand to use information technology as a tool for cultural exchange in the complementary. Third, the ultimate purpose of application of information technology for the inheritance of Tibetan Buddhism art is to meet the needs of the local people and to promote the development of local people.This study has made comprehensive investigation and theoretical analysis on the challenges and opportunities that the application of information technology brought to the inheritance of Tibetan Buddhist art by solid field work, which expanded the research space of educational technology. It is the new area to explore the survival and development of Tibetan Buddhism art in the new digital era from the perspective of educational technology. The study is inadequate in the theoretical considerations on value orientation of application of information technology, which required author to further this study through harder work and constantly enhance.