Found a rare painting of Genghis Khan

Chinese heritage workers have discovered a rare painting of a famous Mongolian emperor in a temple in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, north of China.

The painting was painted in Thangka style from the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), probably in the 19th century. The work was painted on a cloth 28.5 cm long and 21 cm wide, showing Genghis Khan in a military uniform, riding on a white horse, the right hand holds a flag, a bow and arrow and a name bag on its back.

Thangka is a type of Tibetan art that dates back 1,000 years, often depicting images in Tibetan Buddhism. The painting was discovered at Wudangzhao temple, restored in 1749, in Baotou city.

"It is very rare to spot a Thangka painting of Genghis Khan," said Wang Dafang, an official at the Inner Mongolia Cultural Heritage Institute. The painting shows that Tibetan Buddhists also regard the emperor as a hero.

Genghis Khan, whose nephew, Kublai Khan, founded the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), uniting the Mongol tribes and dominating much of Eurasia.

MT