Conservation Challenges for Thangkas in the Buddha Room of the Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin dian), Palace Museum, Beijing

Thirty-eight thangkas have been displayed in the Buddha Room in the Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin dian) of the Palace Museum, Beijing, for more than 270 years. A huge and systematic project is presented including the conservation of thangkas, the environmental control of the historic buildings, as well as research into possibilities for display and storage. The methods and materials used to conserve the thangkas as well as decisions regarding their display are presented alongside considerations of how to control the environment without damaging the historic buildings.