Tibet
late 18th or early 19th century
Tibet
late 18th or early 19th century
This Tibetan astrological chart is an auspicious talisman and an instructional tool that is believed to bring good fortune to all those who see, display, or possess it. Such charts can often be found hanging on the walls of Tibetan houses and are commonly engraved on amulets worn or carried on one’s person.The primary figure at the bottom center is a tortoise, a metaphor for creation. On the tortoise’s belly are concentric circles that illustrate, from the inside out, the nine magic numbers (sme ba dgu), the eight trigrams (spar kha brgyad), and the twelve animals of the zodiac, which, combined with the five elements, form the sixty-year cycle of the Tibetan calendar. Along the sides are rows of sigils, each representing a negative spirit. These symbols bind those spirits in a contract agreeing to not to harm the displayer of the image. Along the top, Indian deities, planetary deities, and important stars are shown guarding against maladies like epilepsy.
While the primary religious goal for followers of Buddhism is enlightenment, many of the practices also serve secular goals related to daily life, including ethical conduct and cultivating well-being.
Teachings and precepts that offer practical and experiential guidance. In Buddhism instruction is primarily an oral tradition and is often targeted to the specific needs or disposition of a student or disciple.
Today, Tibetans primarily inhabit the Tibetan Plateau, situated between the Himalayan mountain range and the Indian subcontinent to the west, Chinese cultural regions to the east, and Mongolian cultural regions to the northeast. During the 7th to 9th century, Tibetan rulers expanded their empire across Central Asia, and established Buddhism as the state religion.
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