B: Do I have any talent?

N: Anyone who can hold a pen has talent.

B: Alright, I'll take a week off to come over and learn it.

Nyangben / Inheritor of Regong Arts (intangible cultural heritage)

N: People all over the world should truly understand Thangka, appreciate this culture, and recognize the importance of inheriting and protecting our Chinese cultural heritage.

Qinghai is home to the longest Thangka in the world. In December 1999, it was listed in the 'Guinness World Records'. It took more than 300 painters four years to complete, measuring an impressive 618 meters. This masterpiece is considered the ‘treasure’ of the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum.

There’s a place in Qinghai called Regong, which in Tibetan means ‘the golden valley where dreams come true.’ One of the painters, who participated and inspired by the spirit of the ‘treasure’ of the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum, is currently working on another masterpiece.

B: Teacher, can I touch this work?

N: Sure! You can feel that this texture is made from mineral sands. All that glittering gold is actually made from sand.

Master Nyangben mentioned that the new artwork measures 1,300 meters, yet what lies before me is merely a small part of this masterpiece. It will take 13 years to complete.

N: It encompasses astronomy, geography, humanities, history, and medicine — essentially, it's an encyclopedia of Tibetan culture. Sometimes, more than 400 people work on it; other times, over 300. This year marks the tenth year of our collective efforts to complete this painting. It’s set to break four world records and leave a cultural legacy for future generations.

Nyangben began his journey as an art apprentice at the age of twelve and has devoted his life to Thangka ever since. He has given back the knowledge he gained to his hometown. He founded the Regong Painting Academy eighteen years ago.

N: I have painted 148 works in my lifetime, and currently, over 50 of my best pieces are on display in the exhibition hall. These have been exhibited twice at the National Museum of China, and also at the Louvre Museum in France.

Last year, when my works were being exhibited in Boston, a visitor bowed in front of my paintings. Upon seeing these exquisite artworks, he felt they were beyond what any human could create.

I believe the most perfect and satisfying work of my life is the one which took me three years to complete. It’s unlikely that I could create such a large piece again because my eyesight, strength, and energy are not what they used to be. Attempting to paint something of that scale would bring immense psychological pressure. I will not sell this work; I will keep it forever.

Thangka, the traditional Tibetan scroll painting, was recognized as a world intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2006. The pigments used are derived from various precious natural minerals, including gems, gold and silver, as well as plants, and pearls, enabling Thangkas to endure for thousands of years.

N: My greatest wish is to teach students. Traditionally, Thangka painting was a family craft taught only to men, not women. But for me, anyone can learn here. We don’t distinguish between gender, nationalities or regions.

B: Teacher, can you teach me how to draw?

N: Of course! Let’s start with something simple, like drawing a cloud.  

B:It’s complicated!

B: Can I be your apprentice?

N: Absolutely! You can stay here for free—food, lodging, and studying.

Ban Ma / Apprentice of Nyangben

I must do well with the tasks he assigns. He is very strict. He has taught me to be brave because I've come this far, and I cannot give up.  

Ban Ma is one of Nyangben’s apprentices. After nine years of training, he has become a skilled artist in his own right. A single piece created by him sells for RMB50,000 to 80,000. Master Nyangben said, "Learning to paint means also learning to be a good person.”

N: First, become a qualified person, and then become a qualified artist. Their parents entrust all their hopes to me. My apprentices see me as a father, and I also treat them like my own family.

Ban: If I ever have apprentices, I will also share my experiences and teach them well.

N: When I teach one student, that student can go on to teach 10 more. So, if I teach 100 students, it’s like teaching 1,000 students.

From Hong Kong to the international market, the integration has occurred relatively swiftly, it provides a great gateway to the international economic landscape.

We have always looked forward to this opportunity for greater exposure, and share Thangka art with the world.