Dharma Wheel (chakra)：symbolizing the unity of all things and Sakyamuni himself.

Golden Fish (gser-na)：symbolizing spiritual liberation. As water allows fish to swim freely, so Buddhist belief emancipates the soul.

Lotus flower (padma)：symbolizing purity. As the flower rises from muddy roots, so Nirvana arises from this shabby world.

Banner of Victory (dpal-be)：a unique Buddhist object, with the cylindrical layered banner symbolizing victory over ignorance and death.

 Tibetan Knife

The Tibetan knife is essential and indispensable to Tibetan daily life. Most Tibetans, male or female, carry knives. Indeed, knives have become a kind of decoration loved by boys and girls. Tibetan knives designed for men are usually rugged, while those designed for women are typically elegant.

Usually, Tibetans wear a waist knife that is used to cut meat, and can double as protection while also serving as an accessory. It also has high value as an ethnic handicraft with a longstanding good reputation at home and abroad.

There are three sorts of knives: long, short, and small. The longest ones are usually more than a meter, short ones are about 40 centimeters, and the small ones are just over 10 centimeters in length. In terms of shapes, there are pastoral styles, kamba styles, and the Xigaze-area style (described below). Knives are widely used for chopping down trees, for butchering animals, or even for the celestial burial in Tibet.

 Tibetan Robes

Robes are Tibetans' main traditional clothes. They are mainly made of pulu woven with wool in farming areas, and of sheepskin in more pastoral areas. The basic characteristics of Tibetan robes are: wide fronts with wide waists and buttoned on the right side; wide, long sleeves; the collar, edge of the front, cuff and the lower hem of the gown are mostly edged with fine and soft fur, pulu or colorful cloth.

Tibetans take off one or both sleeves when working during the day, and tie them around their waist. A shirt with long sleeves is worn inside of the robe. When men tie their belts, they usually pull the lower hem of the robe up to their knees. When women tie their belt, they pull the robe up a little bit and make the lower hem cover their ankles. Thus, a big bag is formed in the bosom and the waist, and many odds and ends can be placed inside this convenient space.

Page:

1

2

3

4

All rights reserved. Reproduction of text for non-commercial purposes is permitted provided that both the source and author are acknowledged and a notifying email is sent to us.