Opening tomorrow, Tibet at a Glance: Special Exhibition of Tibetan Miniatures at the Mongolian and Tibetan Cultural Center showcases Tibetan figurines made by monks at the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India.
Decked out in traditional clothes, the figurines are an introduction to the profound and diverse culture of Tibet. The exhibition will cover seven themes: kings and ministers; Lhasa street scenery; Tibetan costume; vajra or tantric dance; prayer; Milarepa, a celebrated historical figure in Tibetan Buddhism; and Tibetan theater.
Drepung Loseling Monastery itself has a fascinating history. Established in 1416, the original Drepung Monastery was regarded as the most important monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Located at the foot of Mount Gephel on the outskirts of Lhasa, in its heyday, the monastery housed 7,700 monks and was thought to be the largest in the world.
Photo courtesy of Ministry of Culture
After the Tibetan uprising in 1959 and China’s ensuing crackdown on Tibetan governance, religious and social structures, about 250 monks from Drepung Monastery escaped to India, where they founded Drepung Loseling Monastery in the spirit of the original. This “monastery in exile” now houses more than 3,000 monks.
Tibet at a Glance is part of the ongoing Tibetan Culture and Art Festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture and now in its fifth year.
The festival program also includes four talks conducted in Mandarin on Tibetan life, death and wedding rites; Tibetan documentaries; spirituality; and Tibetan yoga. The talks will take place tomorrow and on Jan. 18, Feb. 22 and March 14 next year respectively. In addition, there will be interactive sessions to make hand-molded rice flour figurines and paper crafts on Dec. 28 this year and March 21 next year respectively.
Photo courtesy of Ministry of Culture
■ Tibet at a Glance: Special Exhibition of Tibetan Miniatures shows until March 31 next year and is open Mondays to Saturdays, 9am to 6pm at the Mongolian and Tibetan Cultural Gallery (蒙藏文化館), 3, Lane 8, Qingtian St, Taipei City (臺北市青田街八巷三號).
■ Online registration is required for the talks and hands-on activities at: event.culture.tw/MOC. Several events are already booked.
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