The Ancient Art of Tibetan Butter Sculpting Is Melting Away




But the torma, or butter sculptures, are as difficult to make as they are beautiful. Because of the medium’s low melting point, monk craftsmen usually work on their creations in the coldest rooms of their monasteries, on the coldest days of the year. They use tools like hollow bones for making long threads and molds for making leaves, but their most important utensils are their fingers, so to make sure they are cold enough not to melt the artwork while modelling, monks constantly have to dip their hands in icy water. These may not be the most ideal working conditions for an artist, but these spiritual craftsmen are more than happy to endure the cold as they believe their work creates a positive collective karma that brings peace and harmony into the world. It can take over a month for half a dozen monks to create a large traditional sculpture out of colored butter, during which time they work from daybreak until nighttime, with a very short break for lunch.


A lot of lama artists fell ill due to the harsh working conditions, and the number of gifted artists is dwindling at monasteries all over Tibet. As fewer monks become involved in this ancient practice, experts say little breakthrough has been made in recent years, although butter sculptures still look impressive to the untrained eye.







Photos: Absolute China Tours

Sources: Tibet Travel, Travel China Guide

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