Thokcha

A Thokcha ( Tib: thog lcags; pronunciation: toktscha ) is an ancient object made ​​of metal, which is often worn as an amulet in Tibet. The Thokchas are sometimes attributed to "special forces "; in this respect they are with Tibetan Dzi ( Tib: GZI zhags; necklaces or Malas in whole or in part from Dzi ( etched agate) ) comparable.

Age

Can be divided into two groups Thokchas coarse. The first includes objects that have arisen in pre-Buddhist period roughly between 1000 BC and 900, while the Thokchas the second group are attributed due to their Buddhist motifs of time of about 700 to about 1800. Some of the early Thokchas may come from the little researched Zhangzhung culture of northwestern Tibet.

Different types of Thokchas

Thokchas are metal objects that can be between 2 and about 15cm. Many of the early Thokchas had probably originally practical use and could be part of horse harness or have served as a belt buckle or brooches. Even old arrowheads were to Thokchas. A large number of Thokchas represent mythological or real animals or deities of the Bon religion and Buddhism in Tibet. There are also abstract forms of Thokchas whose significance is still unclear.

Word Meaning and popular beliefs

The term Thokcha is composed of two words: thog means " above ", " first " or " thunderbolt " and LCAG is translated as "iron" or " metal ". The meaning of the whole word can be classified as " original metal ", " metal top " or " sky metal " or "Meteorite iron " are played. The Tibetan folk belief assumes that Thokchas arise naturally or magically when a flash with the earth comes into contact. Whoever finds a Thokcha on or under the earth, is given a special and happy and he or she will adore this object of his life and wear. There is also the popular opinion that many Thokchas have emerged from the metal of a meteorite. Most of the Thokchas but was created by artists from a copper alloy as an amulet. They are usually fitted with an eyelet so that they can be worn around the neck with a leather strap. Some have several loops, suggesting that they were originally sewn on clothing or on consumer goods such as wallets, lighters or bags.

Bibliography

  • Toni Anninos: Tokches - Images of Change in Early Buddhist Tibet. In: Orientations. October 1998, pp. 93ff.
  • Toni Anninos: The Ancient Charm of Tibet - Thokcha. The Max Maxwell Collection, San Francisco, 2000.
  • John Vincent Bellezza: thog lcags. In: The Tibet Journal. vol. 19 ( 1), Dharamsala 1994, pp. 92-97.
  • John Vincent Bellezza: Thogchags: Talismans of Tibet. In: Arts of Asia. vol. 28, no 3, May- June, 1998, pp. 44-64.
  • Gudrun John: Tibetan Amulets of sky iron - Mystery of the Toktschaks. VML Verlag, Raden / Westphalia. 2006, ISBN 3-89646-034- X.
  • Tung- Kuang Lin: Antique Tibetan Thogchags and Seals. The Art of Tibet. Taipei 2003.
  • Hans Weihreter: thog lcags. Mysterious Amulets of Tibet. Edition Kyung, Augsburg 2002, ISBN 3-938221-00-3.
Tibetan Buddhism
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