Dragon-Riding Avalokiteshvara (Nanhai Guanyin) Gemstone Thangka

Rebgong Hand-Painted Thangka with Natural Mineral Pigments & Pear wood Frame (123 × 82 cm)

Product Overview

This Dragon-Riding Avalokiteshvara Thangka, also known as Nanhai Guanyin, is a large-format gemstone thangka hand-painted in the Rebgong (Amdo) tradition.
The artwork depicts Avalokiteshvara standing gracefully above ocean waves while riding a celestial dragon—an image deeply associated with protection, harmony, and blessings for the human world.

Created using natural gemstone and mineral pigments, this piece is both a sacred visual symbol and a museum-level cultural artwork, suitable for refined interiors and serious collectors.

Who Is This Thangka For?

This Dragon-Riding Guanyin gemstone thangka is ideal for:

• Families seeking peace, protection, and auspicious harmony

• Individuals drawn to Avalokiteshvara / Guanyin imagery

• Collectors of large-scale Rebgong gemstone thangka art

• Cultural art lovers appreciating traditional Himalayan craftsmanship

Rather than making supernatural claims, this artwork offers a symbolic and contemplative presence, rooted in Buddhist culture and visual philosophy.

Symbolism & Cultural Meaning

Nanhai Guanyin, also known as Dragon-Riding Guanyin or Dragon-Head Avalokiteshvara, is one of the Thirty-Three Manifestations of Avalokiteshvara in Buddhist tradition.

In traditional cultural belief systems, Avalokiteshvara is also regarded as a spiritual guardian associated with certain zodiac and astrological signs.

This form of Guanyin is traditionally connected with the Rat in the Chinese Zodiac, as well as Cancer and Capricorn in Western astrology. These associations are understood as symbolic rather than predictive, reflecting qualities such as compassion, emotional balance, resilience, and quiet strength.

According to classical narratives, Guanyin rides a dragon across the sea to calm disasters, dispel suffering, and protect ordinary people.
Key symbolic elements include:

• The Dragon: harmony with natural forces, protection, and balance

• Ocean Waves: the human world filled with challenges

• Pure Vase & Willow Branch: compassion, healing, and renewal

Over centuries, Avalokiteshvara’s image evolved from early masculine forms to the elegant female depiction widely recognized today, particularly from the Tang and Song dynasties.

Art & Craftsmanship – Rebgong Gemstone Thangka

This artwork is created using the Rebgong gemstone painting technique, a highly respected tradition from the Amdo region of the Tibetan Plateau.

Craft features include:

• Fully hand-painted by skilled artists

• Natural pigments ground from precious gemstones and minerals

• Materials such as malachite, cinnabar, lapis lazuli, and other mineral pigments

• Multi-layer coloring that creates depth, luminosity, and long-lasting brilliance

• Exceptional color stability — resistant to fading over time

Unlike modern synthetic paints, gemstone pigments provide a natural radiance and refined texture unique to traditional thangka art.

What Is a Gemstone Thangka?

A Gemstone Thangka is a traditional form of Tibetan Buddhist painting created using mineral pigments ground from natural gemstones and precious minerals.
Unlike modern synthetic paints, these pigments are carefully prepared through washing, grinding, and layering, following techniques passed down for generations in Himalayan art traditions.

Common materials include lapis lazuli for deep blues, malachite for natural greens, cinnabar for sacred reds, as well as gold, silver, and other mineral substances.
These pigments produce colors that are luminous, rich, and exceptionally stable over time, giving gemstone thangkas their distinctive depth and lasting brilliance.

In the Rebgong tradition, gemstone thangka painting is valued not only for its visual beauty, but also for its respect for material authenticity, craftsmanship, and cultural continuity.

Placement & Display

With its large scale and dignified composition, this thangka is well suited for:

• Living rooms and main family spaces

• Private meditation or contemplation rooms

• Reception halls, studies, or cultural interiors

• High-end Buddhist or Himalayan art collections

It is recommended to display the artwork in a clean, respectful, and well-lit environment.

Size & Materials

• Painting size: 123 × 82 cm

• Art form: Rebgong Gemstone Thangka

• Technique: Hand-painted

• Pigments: Natural gemstone & mineral pigments

• Frame: Solid Pear wood Frame

The rosewood frame is selected for its durability, fine grain, and warm natural tone, complementing the depth and brilliance of gemstone pigments.

What You’ll Receive

• 1 × Dragon-Riding Avalokiteshvara Gemstone Thangka

• Solid Pear wood framed artwork (as shown)

• Protective packaging suitable for international shipping

• Artwork information card introducing Rebgong gemstone thangka tradition

SEO FAQ 

What is Dragon-Riding Guanyin?
Dragon-Riding Guanyin, also known as Nanhai Avalokiteshvara, is one of the thirty-three manifestations of Avalokiteshvara, symbolizing compassion, protection, and harmony.

What is a Rebgong gemstone thangka?
A Rebgong gemstone thangka is hand-painted using natural mineral pigments derived from precious stones, following traditional Himalayan Buddhist painting techniques.

Is this thangka suitable for collectors?
Yes. Due to its size, craftsmanship, materials, and framed presentation, this piece is suitable for collectors of museum-level Buddhist and Himalayan art.