Thangka painting is a unique painting art form in Tibetan culture, and its pigments are also unique. Thangka painters divide all the pigments needed for Thangka painting into nine categories: earth, stone, water, fire, wood, grass, flowers, bones and precious stones. These natural raw materials are carefully collected, processed and mixed to make pigments with different colors and effects in Thangka paintings.

Traditional Thangka drawing has strict requirements and complicated procedures, which must be carried out in accordance with the rituals in the scriptures and the requirements of the guru, including a whole set of technological processes such as pre-drawing ceremony, making canvas, composition and drawing, coloring and dyeing, setting hook lines, laying gold and silver, opening eyes, sewing and mounting. It takes a long time to make a thangka, from half a year to more than ten years.

1. Mineral pigments: including red coral, agate, pearl, gold, etc. These pigments have high purity and strong colors, and are often used to draw the background and patterns of Thangka.

2. Plant pigments: including turquoise, lapis lazuli, amber, coral, etc. These pigments are soft and fresh, suitable for drawing the patterns and details of Thangka.

3. Animal pigments: including malachite, snail shells, tortoiseshell, etc. These pigments have special textures and colors, which can add unique texture to Thangka's pictures.

4. Metal pigments: including silver and copper. These pigments have high brightness and high reflectivity, and are suitable for drawing special effects of Thangka, such as metal utensils or jewelry.

5. Synthetic pigments: These pigments are often used in modern Thangka paintings, including acrylic and oil painting pigments. They have good stability and durability and are not easy to fade.