The mystery of those elements of Tibetan Buddhism
Take you to really understand what they are trying to say
1. Ten phases are at ease:
It consists of 10 symbols (3 figures and 7 Sanskrit letters), which can be understood as the various parts of Mount Meru and the human body symbolized by the 10 symbols. It has the highest divine significance and incomparably great mystical power.
This pattern is very common in Tibetan Buddhism. It can be found on tower gates, wall books, and thangkas, as well as emblems embroidered into amulets and made of enamel worn on the chest.
Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty Imperial Ten Phases Free Thangka
2, Yongzhong:
It refers to the symbol "swastika", and "Yongzhong" is Tibetan, because "Yongzhong Benjiao" is the first Buddhism to use this Buddha name.
▲The "swastika" character on the two clay pots on the six-character mantra copper bowl
▲The swastika on the temple door
▲The "swastika" character © of Tashilhunpo Monastery paratroopers outdoor bridge beans
Yongzhong "swastika" is the heart seal of the Buddha ("Yong" is a symbol of victory and righteousness, harmony and eternity, that is, the emptiness and true meaning of all laws; "Zhong" means worldly and imperishable)
2. Ten Elephant Diagrams: (Nine Dwelling Heart Diagrams)
It consists of a monk, an elephant, a monkey, a fuzi and an auxiliary motif. The nine stages of learning the Dharma are parable. It is commonly found in murals.
It depicts an elephant traveling towards the top of a mountain, and the color of the elephant changes with height.
At the foot of the mountain, the elephant is dark, with a small monkey leading the way in front and a monk chasing after him. The higher you climb, the darker the color of the elephant gradually changes from darker to lighter, and when you reach the top of the mountain, it is already a pure white elephant. The color of the monkey also changes from dark to white (many murals change from black to white). There is also a flame behind the elephant's buttocks, which lasts from large to small, and finally extinguishes.
Looking at the monk again, at first because the elephant was not tamed, he had to whip and chase and drive forward, and when he reached the mountainside, the elephant became docile, so he tied the reins to the elephant, and finally when he reached the top of the mountain, he was already riding on the elephant's back, and the elephant obeyed the order.
This is used as a metaphor for the stages of learning the Dharma, which means that when a person first learns Buddhism, he is like an unruly elephant, his mind is not enlightened, there are many obstacles, and he must be forced, and the monkey and the flame symbolize the "heart", and when the obstacle and the mind are purified, and the compulsion reaches the conscious willingness, it is like the color of the elephant slowly turns white from dark to light, and the temper changes from irritable to tame, and he is completely enlightened.
Looking at the background of the mural, the water waves are rolling at the foot of the mountain, but the top of the mountain is surrounded by red flowers, willows, green and white clouds, and the stars and the sun and the moon are shining.
4. Eight mascots (eight Rui things):
It is composed of spiegel, cheese, longevity grass, papaya, d-conch, bezoar, yellow dan, and white mustard seed.
The eight mascots have been mentioned in many classical texts, and the meanings they symbolize, as well as the details and key points of the teachings.
In addition to offering to the Buddha, the eight mascots are also often used in carvings, pictures, scrolls, walls, roof beams, and the decoration of butter flowers for offerings. At pujas, especially pujas that pray for the guru's longevity, it is often accompanied by prayers and is offered in kind or as symbols. Although the Eight Auspicious Treasures and the Eight Mascots are used at the same time in many pujas, the Eight Auspicious Treasures are only mentioned in ritual recitations and are more likely to be prayed for, while the Eight Mascots are often accompanied by prayers and made offerings in kind. Therefore, it can form a separate ritual in the puja.
5. Eight Rui Xiang (Eight auspicious emblems or eight treasures):
Traditional auspicious figure. It is composed of auspicious knots, wonderful lotus, treasure umbrellas, right-handed conchs, golden wheels, golden towers, treasure vases, and goldfish. In monasteries, ritual objects, ritual vessels, pagodas, Tibetan and Mongolian dwellings, costumes and paintings, these eight patterns are mostly used as ornaments to symbolize auspiciousness, happiness and perfection.
6. Mandala (mandala):
There are circular, prismatic, octagonal and other patterns, and there are wooden, copper, and earthy three-dimensional mandalas. That is, the place where Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and saints live.
7. Spa Ho Tu (Nine Palace Bagua Map):
Tibetan thangkatu. "Siba" means the cycle of life and death, also known as the cycle of life and death.
There are nine palaces in the center of this picture, and the diagram of the eight trigrams is ringed, and the twelve genera are matched around it.
Directly above this picture are painted the statues of Manjushri, Guanyin and Vajrapani, commonly known as Risong Gongpo in Tibetan, which is the statue of the Buddha-figure of Tantra. In the major religious ceremonies of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, the promotion of former Kashag government officials and the celebration of weddings and funerals at home should be used to open the way, and it is regarded as a sacred object for subduing demons and subduing demons, driving away evil spirits and concealing evil.
The spajo in Norbulingka is a Qing Dynasty canvas painting, 30 centimeters long and 40 centimeters wide.
8. Seven Treasures of National Politics (Seven Treasures of the Wheel King):
It refers to the Golden Wheel Treasure, the White Elephant Treasure, the Horse Treasure, the Divine Jewel, the Queen's Treasure, the Treasure of the Lord and the Treasure of the Lord. It is a kind of artwork and is painted in temples and other places. The Golden Wheel Treasure represents the Dharma Wheel, the White Elephant Treasure represents the Dharma far-reaching, the Horse Treasure represents auspiciousness, the Divine Jewel represents wisdom, the Queen's Treasure represents pure happiness, the Lord Tibetan Ministers represent the Dharma like a treasure, and the main soldier protects the Dharma.
9. Manza:
Manzhapan, also known as manza or mantra, is a common ritual vessel in Tibetan Buddhism.
The symbolic shrinkage of the entire universe on it and the physical visualization of it as an offering is the spiritual medium through which Tantra rapidly accumulates merit and wisdom.
Manza dishes come in a variety of forms, and the materials used vary from one to the other.
Some are made of gold and silver walls, surrounded by precious stones, and some are made of pearls.
Tibet Museum, 19th Century Tibetan Silver Gilt Inlaid Coral, Pearl Mantle Tie, Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, Tibet Museum, Tibet Museum, p11
Collection of Tibet Museum, Silver-gilt and Gem-inlaid Mustard, Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, Tibet Museum, p112
Norbulingka Collection, 19th Century Silver-gilt Manza, China Tibetology Publishing House, Norbulingka - Selected Cultural Relics from the Collection, p184
Manza Pan generally has four layers, each of which is a hollow ring
It contains cereals, pearls, agate, turquoise, shells and coins
Above the fourth floor, there is a spiral-shaped Mount Meru.
△ Screw-shaped Mount Meru
10. Vajra:
One of the tantric instruments. Made of gold, silver, copper, iron, sandalwood, 8~20 fingers long. There are single shares, three shares, five shares, and nine shares. It represents the wisdom of the Buddha and has the meaning of non-emptiness, truthfulness, and wisdom.
11. Cross vajra:
One of the tantric instruments. It is used in the drumpets, tables, pagodas, temple buildings, ritual utensils and paintings.
12. Ring bell:
One of the magic weapons. It is divided into four types: Tibetan bells, Huo bells, Indian bells, and Nepalese bells. Copper. Tibetan bells are divided into single and double bells. The single bell is used in the middle of the day, and the double bell is used in the morning for the Dorma ceremony.
13. Vajra:
One of the tantric instruments. It is divided into copper, silver, wood, ivory, mud and so on. Length 10~50 cm. The peg head is a pointed three-edged one. The handle is carved with patterns such as Guanyin and Ming Wang. Meaning wrath and subjugation of demons.
14. Life and death flow chart (six reincarnation charts):
In the center is the symbol of the three evils, the second layer is the six realms of reincarnation, and the third layer is the twelve karmic asceticisms. It depicts the various actions in the course of life to be shown to Buddhists.
15. Eight Treasure Pagoda (Eight Relic Pagoda):
It refers to the Pagoda of Good Death, the Bodhi Pagoda, the Auspicious Pagoda, the Divine Transformation Pagoda, the Heavenly Descent Pagoda, the Harmony Pagoda and the Nirvana Pagoda.
16, wonderful winged bird (Peng):
It is formed by a combination of many animals such as people, birds, and cows. It means reaching the other side of wisdom.
17. Skull bowl (Gabala):
One of the tantric instruments. It is only available in the Dharma Protector Temple and the meditation room or secret room of the tantric master. It is made of the skull of great achievement.
18, Bone No.:
It is made of human shins. Used in tantric activities.
17th-18th century silver tibia (Tibet Museum)
19. Heavenly Scepter:
The staff held by the tantric deity. It is 1.5~1.7 meters long and is made of red sandalwood and black willow wood. It is divided into upper and lower ends.
20. Vajra knife (moon knife):
One of the tantric instruments. The blade is shaped like a crescent moon, the blade has a delicate pattern, and the blade is a vajra. Made of copper, silver, ivory, sandalwood, etc. It is only used in tantric practice.
21. Gabala Dharma Drum:
One of the tantric instruments. It is a double-sided small drum, shaped like a "butterfly", with a diameter of 20 cm and a small drum of 8~10 cm. It is divided into circles, ovals, lotus shapes, etc., and most of them are round. The drum is made of wood, bone and jade.
22. Rub:
Small clay pagodas and small Buddha statues printed with models. The big one is a square foot, and the small one is square inch. The themes include Buddha, Bodhi, Tara, Heavenly King, King Kong, High Monk, Tower, etc., which are very exquisite. It can be used as a protector Buddha or a vow offering.
23, Falun and male and female deer:
Many tour guides tell tourists that this is a sheep, because Lhasa is built of goats carrying soil. In fact, this is a pair of fawns, symbolizing the endless life of Buddhism and the Buddha nature of all things. It is also to commemorate the first turn of the Dharma wheel (transmission of scriptures) in the Wild Deer Garden, a pair of docile fawns kneel down to listen to the Dharma, which is generally placed in the center of the front of the temple hall.
24. Fireproof wheel diagram:
The Holy Monk (Fire Wheel Diagram): It is composed of sea water, lotus flowers, birds, scriptures, swords, etc. It is a painting created by Sakya Pandita with the intention of not forgetting the merits of the sages.
The Holy Monk (Fire Wheel Diagram): It is composed of sea water, lotus flowers, birds, scriptures, swords, etc. It is a painting created by Sakya Pandita with the intention of not forgetting the merits of the sages.
25. Harmony Four Ruitu:
Harmony Si Rui Tu (Jing Chang Tu): It consists of an elephant, a monkey, a mountain hare, a white grouse (or partridge bird) and an ancient tree. To show peace and happiness.
26, six spirits hold the seat:
Six Spirits Holding Seat (Six Holders): It is composed of two parts. The upper part is the backrest, there are 1 wonderful winged bird, 2 dragon girls, 2 whales, 2 children, a pair of auspicious lins, and a giant elephant, and the lower part is the cushion. It is made of copper, wood, clay and so on.
27. Six-Seat:
Rokutsuza: It is a throne dedicated to the Buddha statue. On the pedestal are lions, elephants, BMWs, peacocks, sympathetic birds, and the god of power.
28. Evil Mirror:
Bronze mirror (talisman mirror): about 5 cm in diameter, about 3 mm thick, convex and concave mirror-shaped. It is a thing to ward off evil and protect oneself.
29, King Kong Bell:
Golden steel bell: one of the tantric instruments. The diameter is generally 9~10 cm, the handle length is 9~10 cm, and the bell height is 8 cm. Generally, it is cast bell, and the superior one is made of gold, silver and copper alloy, and most of them are copper bells.
30、牦纛：
Yak: A type of flag. It is sewn with black tweed and inserted into the temple wall, and is also used for ritual activities.
31, Fuku 运幡:
Fortune Banner (Wind Flag): Found around temples, sacred trees, sacred mountains, pagodas, holy sites, etc. Red, green, yellow, white, and blue are hung in front of the door and on the wall to show good luck. Printed scriptures, mantras, mantras, horses, dragons, lions, tigers and winged birds, Buddha statues, etc. To hang a banner of good fortune is to pray for all the best and the stars to shine.
32, Footmarks:
Achiever's footprints: The footprints left by the achiever on the stone. Legend has it that it can convey the message of the achiever, has infinite blessing power, bows and worships, can take good luck, and eliminate disasters.
33, Kichijoto:
Auspicious bucket (Zhuo Song Chema): a wooden wide-mouth bucket type utensil, mainly used in the Tibetan calendar. They vary in size, from 60 cm long and 25 cm high, to 35 cm long and 20 cm high. It is painted with flower and bird patterns, or carved by dragon and phoenix patterns, etc. In the Tibetan calendar, there is an auspicious fight, and you go to the neighbor's house or the elder's house to bless the New Year.
34, Dajue Banner:
Dajue flag: a small flag planted on the roof of residents' houses. The flagpole is about 2 meters long and has a three-pronged spear on the dry top. The flag is white square with blue floating corners on the sides. Changed once a year. Changed during the Tibetan New Year.