A Study On The Function And Aesthetics Of Minitangka

The minitangka are the religious artcrafts used in meditation,offering,setting up mandral,decoration and dharma transmission.With small size,easy taking and abundant religious functions,the minitangkas nationally reflects the aesthetie interests and religious belongings. Based on a extensive investigation, this thesis evaluates the aesthetic values of minitangka and sums up the aesthetic principles of it under the deductive and analogous methods.Taking the five vajras(Guhyasamaja,Yamantaka, Samvara , Hevajra,kalachakra )of Tibetan Buddhism as examples, this thesis makes a philosophic explanation of the colorful and frightening expressions of the vajras and also analyzes the symbolic meanings while trying to reveal the latent philosophy inside it.The minitangka has unique national characteristic and it has very high aesthetic values.Revealing the general principles of tibetan paintings, the aesthetic theory of minitangka are representative. By bestowing rich philosophic and symbolic meaning on some substances of speeial form and color ,the vajra vehicle secret mantra approach of Tibetan Buddhism brings the practician to realize the wisdom and beneficence of Buddha. Mainly used in mentally entning into the truth in the praltice of esoteric methods, the dharmalakshana of the five vajras are the figurative expressions of the Tibetan Buddhist philosophy while they have very unique symbolic meanings.While demonstrating the profound virtue of bhutatathata (true and genuine suchness ) of mind-nature, the five vujra's dharmalakshana tells a harmonious philosophy sense in case they are perfct unity of phenomena and noumena. Taking those as the target in meditation and practice of esoteric methods, the vajra vehicle secret mantra approach of tibetan Buddhism are not fabulous but are the practical persue for the harmony of body with mind and human beings with the outside world, reflecting the seeking to the harmonious world in Tibetan traditional culture.