Tsa-tsa

Museum number:
9-21958
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21090021958
Alternate number:
BY.T-154 and T-154 (original number)
Description:
Tsa-tsas are stamped clay images of Buddhist deities, made from a bronze mold. The creation of tsa-tsas is in itself considered a merit making activity. At certain occasions, such as the death of a loved one, a Buddhist may make a large number of tsa-tsas and dedicate the merit to the departed one. The tsa-tsas may be placed within a stupa, or in an amulet worn around the neck, or otherwise installed in a sacred place. Represented here is Akshobhya Buddha, and imbedded barley grains can be seen. These are likely from the hand of the Neychung Oracle of some great Lama.
Collection place:
Tibet
Verbatim coll. place:
Tibet
Collector:
Theos C. Bernard
Materials:
Clay
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Amulets
Function:
5.0 Use not specified (Ritual, Pageantry, and Recreation)
Production date:
19th-20th century
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Comment:
Note that the photo of this item was wrongly labeled “T-54a-e.TIF” rather than “T-154a-e.TIF” and this mistake was burned into the CD.
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 2 titled Tsa-tsa, accession number 9-21958, described as Tsa-tsas are stamped clay images of Buddhist deities, made from a bronze mold. The creation of tsa-tsas is in itself considered a merit making activity. At certain occasions, such as the death of a loved one, a Buddhist may make a large number of tsa-tsas and dedicate the merit to the departed one. The tsa-tsas may be placed within a stupa, or in an amulet worn around the neck, or otherwise installed in a sacred place. Represented here is Akshobhya Buddha, and imbedded barley grains can be seen. These are likely from the hand of the Neychung Oracle of some great Lama.Hearst Museum object 2 of 2 titled Tsa-tsa, accession number 9-21958, described as Tsa-tsas are stamped clay images of Buddhist deities, made from a bronze mold. The creation of tsa-tsas is in itself considered a merit making activity. At certain occasions, such as the death of a loved one, a Buddhist may make a large number of tsa-tsas and dedicate the merit to the departed one. The tsa-tsas may be placed within a stupa, or in an amulet worn around the neck, or otherwise installed in a sacred place. Represented here is Akshobhya Buddha, and imbedded barley grains can be seen. These are likely from the hand of the Neychung Oracle of some great Lama.

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