Period:Unknown Production date:15thC (The pierced and inlaid decoration are typical of Yong Lo type diplomatic gifts to Tibet (see Clarke 2001))
Materials:gold, iron, niello,
Technique:nielloed, inlaid,
Subjects:lotus blossom lotus
Dimensions:Height: 9.20 centimetres Length: 9.50 centimetres Width: 1.80 centimetres (Painted wooden dice inside the talisman box) Width: 3.50 centimetres
Description:
Talisman box. Gau. Made of gilt iron, openwork panel on top surface decorated with scrolling lotus blossoms. The elaborate decoration of swastikas on the reverse has been worn smooth. Niello inlay. The hinge is inlaid with spiral gold wire, a feature distinctive of 15th century Chinese diplomatic gifts to Tibet (see Clarke 2001). Inside the ga’u are three items – 1) a painted wooden dice with a raised letter on each face. Combined, these letters form a protective mantra; 2) a dried fungus (Lin. Cordiceps sinensis, Tib. jartsa gumbu (trans. ‘summer grass, winter worm’) which is used as a medicine. This type of fungus is remarkable because the spore grows by infesting a particular caterpillar which it then takes over, growing out of the dead caterpillar. This is a renowned type of Tibetan medicine and the Cordiceps is considered the quintessence of all plant qualities, just as the zi-stone is believed to contain the quintessence of all useful mineral qualities and the snow-frog considered to contain the quintessence of all animals (the rationale here is that if the snow-frog can survive living in the snow, it must have extraordinary strength, containing within itself the most powerful and remarkable qualities of all the animals); 3) two twigs which are probably broken pieces of the fungus. Among the different types of ga’u used in traditional Tibetan society eg. those that protect in war, or provide material benefit such as riches, there is one common type that is for the promotion of health; this ga’u here described is of that type. The contents of ‘health-promotion’ ga’u are prepared for each specific individual according to their needs and the diagnosis of the Tibetan doctor. They thus vary widely. (Information in paras 2 and 3 kindly provided by Dr Lama Dietschy, researcher and practitioner in Tibetan medicine, resident in Switzerland, native of Amdo).
IMG
![图片[1]-gau BM-1992-1214.8-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Unknown/43/mid_00007887_001.jpg)
![图片[2]-gau BM-1992-1214.8-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Unknown/43/mid_00011350_001.jpg)
![图片[3]-gau BM-1992-1214.8-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Unknown/43/mid_00020262_001.jpg)
![图片[4]-gau BM-1992-1214.8-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Unknown/43/mid_RRI11670_34788A_1.jpg)
![图片[5]-gau BM-1992-1214.8-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Unknown/43/mid_RRI11670_34788.jpg)
Comments:
Materials:gold, iron, niello,
Technique:nielloed, inlaid,
Subjects:lotus blossom lotus
Dimensions:Height: 9.20 centimetres Length: 9.50 centimetres Width: 1.80 centimetres (Painted wooden dice inside the talisman box) Width: 3.50 centimetres
Description:
Talisman box. Gau. Made of gilt iron, openwork panel on top surface decorated with scrolling lotus blossoms. The elaborate decoration of swastikas on the reverse has been worn smooth. Niello inlay. The hinge is inlaid with spiral gold wire, a feature distinctive of 15th century Chinese diplomatic gifts to Tibet (see Clarke 2001). Inside the ga’u are three items – 1) a painted wooden dice with a raised letter on each face. Combined, these letters form a protective mantra; 2) a dried fungus (Lin. Cordiceps sinensis, Tib. jartsa gumbu (trans. ‘summer grass, winter worm’) which is used as a medicine. This type of fungus is remarkable because the spore grows by infesting a particular caterpillar which it then takes over, growing out of the dead caterpillar. This is a renowned type of Tibetan medicine and the Cordiceps is considered the quintessence of all plant qualities, just as the zi-stone is believed to contain the quintessence of all useful mineral qualities and the snow-frog considered to contain the quintessence of all animals (the rationale here is that if the snow-frog can survive living in the snow, it must have extraordinary strength, containing within itself the most powerful and remarkable qualities of all the animals); 3) two twigs which are probably broken pieces of the fungus. Among the different types of ga’u used in traditional Tibetan society eg. those that protect in war, or provide material benefit such as riches, there is one common type that is for the promotion of health; this ga’u here described is of that type. The contents of ‘health-promotion’ ga’u are prepared for each specific individual according to their needs and the diagnosis of the Tibetan doctor. They thus vary widely. (Information in paras 2 and 3 kindly provided by Dr Lama Dietschy, researcher and practitioner in Tibetan medicine, resident in Switzerland, native of Amdo).
IMG
Comments:
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