Tibetan Custom – Tibetan Waist Ornaments

Tibetan waist ornaments are various and with rich Tibetan characteristics. They feature in perfect combination of decoration and practicality. The articles of waist ornament almost adorn or hang on waist band. Consequently, the waistband is one of very important ornaments. The waistband in Tibet is not common thing for fastening trousers and clothes. It is beautiful and practical ornament, like beautiful clothes and jewelry. Except for silk waistband and colorful waistband which is made up of Tibetan wool, there are waistbands with golden and silver decoration, waistbands with pearls and jewelries, etc. Tibetans pay much attention to the making process and decoration of waistband. Tibetans regard the waistband as important part of the whole dress.

Tibetan Custom – Tibetan Men's Waist Ornaments

The most important waist ornament of men is waist knife. The waist knife can be divided into long and short. The long waist knife is about 50 cm long, with sharp edge. The knife handle is delicately made ox horn or hard wood. Some knife handles are also decorated with skin of rhinoceros and pearls and jewelry. The sheath of waist knife includes wooden, copper, etc. The most gorgeous is silver sheath. The sheath of waist knife is caved with auspicious patterns of tiger, lion, dragon, phoenix, etc, and decorated with agate, turquoise and other jewelry. The waist knife is stuck on the waist at common time. It is tool of production and weapon for own protection, as well as necessary ornament for men. The short waist knife is about several cuns long. Some of these short waist knives is very delicately made and with special appearance. Men often hang this kind of waist knife on the waistband. The short waist knife is often regarded as life appliance. Except adorning long or shirt waist knives, men also adorned Huolian (steel for flint) in the past. Now, the Huolian is often adorned by men in pasturing area. The Huolian is very delicate. It was very practical life appliance. In the past, people used Huolian to strike a fire when go out. And Huolian also became a necessary thing. Now, the decorative function of Huolian is far greater than practicality.

Tibetan Custom – Tibetan Women's Waist Ornaments

Women's waist ornaments are greatly richer than men's. Tibetan women often wear a variety of ornaments on waist. Women in Shigatse wear a silver or white copper ornament in front of waist. This ornament is very large, and with some pearls and jewelry on it. It is with rich local characteristics. Except for adorning various beautiful ornaments, women in Shigatse also adorn some products which are closely relevant with life on waist, such as delicate silver hussif, hook of leglen, key, toothpick and other practical poducts. Of course, a delicate small waist knife is necessary waist ornaments for every woman. These practical tools of production and life appliance in the past gradually became present ornaments with practicality and decorative function. Now, some of these ornaments even depart from its original practical function and become a kind of ornament.