Tibetan Buddhist Jewelry

History of Buddhist Tibetan Jewelry

Our Tibetan jewelry does not come from Tibet but is made by craftsmen living in Tibetan communities in northern India and Nepal. Large Tibetan communities have fled Tibet, annexed by China in the 50 years, to establish themselves in India and Nepal. Moreover, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile are in Dharamsala, in northern India.

Materials and symbolism of Tibetan jewelry

Our Tibetan Buddhist jewelry is entirely handmade, in natural materials ranging from semi-precious stones, to plant seeds and wooden beads. Other jewels are in worked solid silver, in particular meditation rings and other creations with the symbols of Buddhism: tree of life, seed of life, mandalas… These beneficial jewels are vectors of appeasement, sources of tranquility and serve sometimes support for meditation.

The soul of Tibetan jewelry

Jewelry has never been worn by Tibetans just to embellish themselves. Indeed, Tibetan jewelry is linked to Buddhism, or serves as amulets. Today the best known in the West are the necklaces and mala bracelets, a sort of Tibetan rosary that the monks string out by reciting their 100 prayers (108 beads: 100 prayers and 8 omissions). These malas are now available in necklaces, multi-wrap bracelets or thin bracelets.

Amulets and lucky doors

In time the jewels held places of bank reserve, or indicator of social status. Most of the jewels made of precious metals, silver or gold, were considered auspicious and lucky. In southern Tibet, a woman who did not wear an ornamental headdress was a sign of bad luck. This led the women to sleep with their huge headdresses until the 50 years.

Tibetan jewelry, social symbol

For men, jewelry was a symbol of their position in society. Like the gun, sword, and saddle, a man's amulet was an indicator of social status. "Gun, sword", I can see your surprise from here, but yes some Tibetans were great fighters. The Tibetans of Kham, better known as Khampa / Khamba, are traditionally known as the warriors of Tibet. The Khampa follow another known branch of Buddhism.

Whether from Beijing or Lhasa, the Khampa have always resisted foreigners. Throughout their long history, Khampa fought against anyone trying to settle in their area. At the beginning of the XNIXXth century, several European and American explorers were killed by the Khampa - including Jules-Léon Dutreuil of Rhins, Louis Victor Liotard and Albert Shelton. Kham is one of the three main regions of Tibet. The Kham is 20 times bigger than Sweden or California.