Tibetan Handicrafts – Mask, Mound of Mani Stone, Prayer Wheel
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Tibetan Handicrafts – Mask, Mound of Mani Stone, Prayer Wheel

Update: Feb. 7th, 2013

Tibetan Mask

Tibetan Handicrafts – Tibetan Mask

There is a popular handicraft among Tibetan people. That's mask. It is named "Ba" in Tibetan language. It is mainly used in various folk performances. In general, Tibetan mask can be divided into "mask for religious dance", "hanging mask" and "Tibetan Opera mask". In each important festival, every monastery will hold the rite of religious dance. The masks which are used in religious dance include masks of ghost, Guardian Deity, Deity in charge of celestial burial, animals' images, etc. Hanging Masks mainly are the specific images of various gods, such as Guardian Deity, Pelden Lhamo, ghost soldier in hell, etc. all of these are related with people's daily life, work and entertainment. It reaches everywhere of Tibet.

It was recorded by Tibetan and Han historical records, as early as the first half century of 7th century during Songtsen Gampo in power, Tibetans performed the dances with the masks of lion, tiger, cow, leopard and other animals when held grand ceremony. It can prove that mask has formed in Tubo. Tibetan masks for religious dance and Tibetan Opera masks are inclined to the art style of expression and symbolism. The appearance of Tibetan mask is boorish and exaggerated. With loud and resonant music, the powerful mask is very overaggressive. The styles of Tibetan mask in different prefectures are different. Tibetan mask in Dbus Gtsang Region is relatively more refined, and Tibetan mask in Eastern Tibet is monstrous and dreaded.

Tibetan Handicrafts – Mound of Mani Stone

The mound of Mani stone is a kind of immobile scripture. Tibetans carved a sect of scripture, the Sutra of Six Truest Words (Om Mani Padme Hum) or the images of Buddha on stones and put them on side of road. After long time, these stones formed mound. On these mounds, the number of stones with Sutra of Six Truest Words is the largest. Hence, this kind of mound is named Mound of Mani Stone.

The mound of Mani stone was ever placed at major route of transportation or mountain pass to calculate the length of road. After Tibetan Buddhism rose up, believers of Tibetan Buddhism placed the stones which carved with Sutra of Six Truest Words and small clay sculptures of Buddha on the mound and stick prayer flags. Then, this kind of mound became holy mound of Mani stone.

The mound of Mani stone is important component of Tibetan religious atmosphere. The mound of Mani stone is also named "Mound of Hundred Thousand Mani Stone". It is holy place made by people. Tibetans walk around it again and again. Hence, it became folk simple place for worshipping.

Tibetan Handicrafts – Prayer Wheel

The prayer wheel in Tibet is also named Mani Prayer Wheel. Every Tibetan Buddhism believer holds prayer wheel. They will rotate it without stop.

To rotate the prayer wheel for one day can complete the merit of hundred million heart mantra. If keep chanting scripture, rotating prayer wheel and thinking about mantra for a long time, the one can get the special way of bliss in future life.

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