Tangka
Tangka (a Tibetan word meaning "silk, satin or cloth painting scroll") have been in vogue in Tibet for centuries, but no one knows when and where they evolved. In Tibetan, "tang" means "unfolding" or "displaying". Tangka is created with the intention of showing the painting art to the public. This shows the importance of frescos, rock paintings and painting scrolls. Archaeologists who found pottery bearing patterns in the Karub Site dating back some 5,000 years came to the conclusion they were the embryo of the Tibetan painting art. The content of most Tangka is mainly the images of Buddha, or reflection of lift stories of eminent monks and folk customs. The structure of Tibet Tangka is precise, balanced, plumpy and changeful. The painting methods are mainly bright color and line drawing.

The types of Tangka are very multifarious. Except colorful drawing Tangka, there are also breded Tangka, pasted-embroidered Tangka, leather thread Tangka, applique Tangka, and pearl Tangka., etc.

The content of Tangka has various subject matters such as historical incident, personage biographies, religion doctrines, Tibetan natural conditions and social customs, folklores, mythical stories etc., involving politic, economic, history, religion, literature and art, social life and many other respects. So Tangka is praised as a visual encyclopaedia.

Tsha Tsha
Tsha Tsha, a Tibetan transliteration of Sanskrit word, is the clay votive tablets in Tibetan Buddhism. Whether they are the relief images made out from one-side mould or they are round stupas completed by two-side mould. All of them are called as Tsha Tsha. It is a typical representative of Tibetan Buddhist arts, which is the precious treasure left to us by Tibetan ancestors, as well as an important part of human civilization.

The purpose that Tibetan monks and lay persons make Tsha Tsha is to accumulate Buddhist merit. The completed Tsha Tsha is mainly used to fill the inner shrines of bigger stupas or statues. Tsha Tsha is also used as the object dispelling illness or praying for good luck. When they are in the use Tsha Tshas are worshiped at the places such as Tsha-khang, snow mountain, peaks and caves.

Tibetan Opera
The opera, called "ache lhamo" in Tibetan, plays an important part in the social life of Tibetan people. It is a unique form in China's various theatrical arts. "ache" means elder sister or a female, and "lhamo" means a fairy. Tibetan opera is an all-round performing art that tells the story by the form of dances and songs. Folk troupes of Tibetan opera are easily encountered any time and anywhere, with the audience from miles away to crowd the performer. This art style is influenced by Tibetan Buddhism from the view of skills and contents.

It's widely believed that Tibetan opera comes from the following three aspects: folk songs and dance, folk rap, religious rituals and religious arts. Besides, there is a legend that the origin of Tibetan opera began from a dance to worhsip deity and the dance was created by Tibetan Buddhist, LianHuaShen, in 8th century. Later, LianHuaShen set up a theatrical troupe. It was composed of seven beautiful sisters who were good at dancing. They wrote and composed dramas of Buddhism stories and were on tour shows in Tibet. The shows not only cultivated ordinary people, but also collected some money. That is the beginning of Tibetan opera. Tibetan opera has many schools. It's full of Tibetan characteristics. Prince Nor-bzang, Princess WenChen, Prince Dri-med-kun-iden, Maiden Vgro-ba-bzang-mo, Brothers Don-yod and Don-grub, Gzugs-kyi-nyi-ma, Pad-ma-vod-vba, Maiden Shang-ma are eight classical operas, which have wonderful music, beautiful and colorful masks and finery.

Tibetan Musical Instruments in Religion
Tibet stands at the influence of three civilization, the Turko-Mongolian, the Chinese and the Indian. Enriched from time to time by influences from these, its own ancient tradition has developed in high isolation from the rest of the civilized world. This tradition embraces a very distinctive way of life and a music all its own.

The Lamas say "Religion is sound". The recitation of mantras, chanting and the playing of instrumental music are fundamental in their worship. For many ling hours, day after day, year after year, the red-robed monks intone their prayers, sitting cross-legged under the soft light of butter-lamps. Their cerebrations include the services of the regular Liturgy and various extra-liturgical rituals.

Tibetan Knives
Tibetan Knives are traditional and well-known handicrafts with a peculiar style. they are indispensable in the life of herdsmen. Tibetans use them as the tools to defend, to slaughter livestock and to eat meat. Tibetans have a sense of security with knives because Tibetan look might and valiant with knives. Tibetan knives are produced in many regions in Tibet. People may focus on knives' practicality, sharpness, decoration, shape, etc.

There are two categories: one for man and another for woman. Men's knives tend to be more curly and sharper while women's are delicate. The most famous Tibetan knives are Lhatse knife and XieTongMen knife in Shigatse Region, whose delicate decorations are unique from those in other regions. Shigatse knives are usually made of fine steel, with other materials like bronze, silver, iron, sharkskin, ox horn, agate and wood for decoration. Moreover, some of them are studded with gems. Thus, they are more expensive than the normal knives. The produce process is very complicated.

Tibetan Carpets / Rug
In a Tibetan house, there is an attractive Tibetan cushion. In general, there are some beautiful embroiders on the cushions, such as swimming dragons, running deer, flying phoenixes, flying butterflies, mountains and waters. Besides those mentioned above, the embroiders of some cushions may also include historic stories, tales, etc. A beautiful cushion may make a house more glorious. The cushion is made from pure sheep wool. The pigment is a local product which can make cushions colorful. They are hand-knitted. The patterns of Tibetan cushions are special and various.

Apart from Tibetan cushion, there are Tibetan carpets, which include backing carpets, saddle carpets, sleeping carpets and normal carpets. All of them are produced with similar process. The size varies, from less than one square meter or more than ten square meters. Tibetan carpets have a long history and have been famous all over the world.
Tibetan carpets involve complicate craftworks, reflecting the intelligence of Tibetan people. The craftworks are the combination of practicality and charm.

Masks
About Tibetan sculpture, there is one more special kind handicraft-masks, which is called Ba in Tibetan and mainly used in the various folk performances. Generally speaking, they are divided into "a dance to worship deity mask", "hanging mask" and "Tibetan opera mask". The first kind masks are mainly used in some important festivals, including the masks of ghosts, Gods, immortals and animal totems while the second ones are usually related to people daily life.

According to the historic record, the history of masks may date back to A.D. 779 when Tibet was under the rule of a great king, Songtsen Gampo. At that time, people wore various masks in the important festivals and pretended to be lions, tigers, oxes and leopards to dance. Tibetan masks usually have a inclination of expression and symbolization which is extensive and exaggerated. The styles of Tibetan masks are diverse from region to region. The masks in the mid-Tibet are serious while those in the east of Tibet are monstrous.

Silver Ornaments
Tibetan bracelets are usually made from Tibetan silver and bronze, with Sanskrits carved on the surfaces, having a sense of primitive simplicity and mystique. Tibetans wear crescent-shaped silver ornaments, which symbolize purity studded with agate gems symbolizing health and good luck. Red or blue Tibetan ornaments imply that the owner has a strong will to survive in the nature. It needs to be pointed out that there is a grain on the back side of genuine Tibetan ornaments. Also, the grain is not carved or printed, but is melted on it with brass wires through them.

In the past, the ornaments were made from alloy, containing 30% of Tibetan silver. But nowadays, Tibetan silver found in the market is mainly alloy. Some people refer to the archaized alloy as Tai Silver (a special name for 925 pure silver).