Thangka appliqué is a technique of creating thangkas using not paint but precious silk. Just like thangka paintings, thangka applique is a sacred art, and appliqués follow the iconography for Buddhist deities as laid down in Buddhist scripture. The art of appliqué began among the Huns of Central Asia to embroider saddle blankets. Gradually, it spread east across the Silk Road and was adopted by Tibetans as a religious art.

Some appliqued thangkas, called kyigus, can be many stories high. The largest, which hangs down the face of the Potala, can be over one hundred feet in length. Traditionally, these are only brought out on special religious occasions, and the rest of the year, they are kept safely stored away. These thangkas are considered great treasures and are so well cared for that silk thangkas dated back to the 13th century still exist within living memory. 

A completed thangka comprises hundreds, if not thousands, of individually embroidered pieces, each outlined by a border of horsehair wrapped in silk thread. This type of embroidery, called couching, is different from other methods in that the design is not embroidered directly onto the fabric, but rather, the cord of horsehair and silk is "couched" over the fabric to create the design. Once finished, the pieces are assembled and hand-sewn onto a base to form the design. This layering technique creates an extremely durable piece, while the horsehair gives the thangka strength and allows it to adjust to different environments without losing shape. A completed thangka is the product of many months of work and the care of many artists.