Multi-analytical study on the Tara Thangka at Daxingshan Temple in Xi'an, 
Shaanxi, China

Zhu, Zhanyun; Wang, Jia; Yao, Xiuya; Ma, Qinglin; Wang, Juanli; Lu, Zhiyong; Tian, Yunyan; Du, Jianghao; Li, Zhimin; Zhu, Yan; Liu, Liu; Cao, Jing

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Multi-analytical study on the Tara Thangka at Daxingshan Temple in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China

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Zhu, Zhanyun
Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

Zhu, Z., Wang, J., Yao, X., Ma, Q., Wang, J., Lu, Z., et al. (2023). Multi-analytical study on the Tara Thangka at Daxingshan Temple in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. Studies in conservation, 68(6): 2084809, pp. 602-613.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-000A-A78E-A

Abstract

In this study, a Tara thangka (from a complete set of 21) dating to the mid-Qing Dynasty (1776–1839 CE) at Daxingshan Temple in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China was analyzed using various techniques, including portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (p-XRF), Raman spectroscopy (RS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), optical microscopy (OM), and mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Through a multi-analytical methodology, in situ non-invasive testing was complemented with an analysis of a limited number of samples. By complementary evidence derived from the above analyses, it can be determined that the thangka was painted on a hemp substrate, with common colorants such as cinnabar, orpiment, gold, azurite, and malachite, and porcine glue as binding material. These results provided important scientific data for the production crafts of the precious Tara thangkas, contributing to the revelation of its value in art history and enabling conservators to make informed conservation decisions.