Lurong Gedeng – Inheritor Tibetan Color Painting and Mask-making Skill in Deqin County, Diqing 

Lurong Geden (鲁茸格登), male, of the Tibetan ethnic group (藏族), was born in February 1970 in Cheju Villager Group (车居村民小组), Shusong Village (书松村), Benzilan Town (奔子栏镇), Deqin County (德钦县), Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (迪庆藏族自治州). He is a recognized representative inheritor of a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage item. Lurong Geden became a monk at a young age and, at 18, became a disciple of the living Buddha Gada·Chiliequwang (噶达·赤列曲旺) of Dongzhulin Monastery (东竹林寺), studying Buddhist cultural knowledge. Through years of learning and practice, he has mastered a wide range of Tibetan traditional crafts including mural painting, thangka (唐卡) art, decorative painting, mask-making, and the sewing and processing of monastery items and deity clothing.

Promotion and Transmission

Cultural Preservation

Lurong Geden’s artwork is known for its lifelike detail and sophisticated composition, earning admiration from both local monks and the wider community. He has painted over 50 murals for monasteries in Diqing Prefecture (迪庆州) and places like Yunnan Ethnic Village (云南民族村), and created more than 100 thangkas for both religious and folk purposes.

Mask-Making

He is also highly skilled in creating Tibetan Cham dance masks (羌姆面具), with the ability to craft over 80 types. He expertly handles each step of the process—from clay modeling to mold making, painting, and decoration. More than 100 of his mask works are preserved and exhibited by institutions such as the Yunnan Nationalities Museum (云南民族博物馆) and the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Museum (迪庆藏族自治州博物馆).

Mentorship

As a dedicated inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, Lurong Geden has trained over 40 apprentices. Among them is Cili Peichu (此里培初), who has become capable of independently creating paintings.

Craftsmanship Features

Traditional Tibetan painting is mainly categorized into murals and thangkas. Murals are typically found in monasteries and homes and include depictions of Buddhist figures, historical stories, and folk scenes. Thangkas are a distinctive form of Tibetan painting that often feature similar content, with religious imagery—especially Buddha figures—being the most prevalent. Lurong Geden’s works not only demonstrate superb technique but also incorporate elements of modern aesthetics, breathing new life into traditional Tibetan art.

Through teaching apprentices, participating in cultural events, and integrating innovative designs, Lurong Geden has successfully preserved and revitalized the traditional Tibetan arts of painting and mask-making, making a significant contribution to the protection and development of this invaluable intangible cultural heritage.

For Chinese version please go to:
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-3334.html