Treasure chest

Tibetan Ritual Objects

Tibetans created many objects to be used in religious rituals and ceremonies. Monks hold the thunderbolt and bell in their hands during prayers, and such implements are seen in the hands of Buddhist deities. Held in the right and left hand respectively, they represent the wisdom and skillful means without which one cannot be enlightened. The soundings of long horns and conch-shell trumpets summon the monks to prayers every morning, and together with the sounds of cymbals and drums, they punctuate the prayer sessions. Prayer wheels, which come in all sizes, express Tibetan Buddhists’ devotion to their religion. Stuffed with rolled-up prayers, prayer wheels are rotated clockwise, and a rotating prayer wheel ensures that, even when one is having a conversation with friends, prayers are being said. Skull bowls, trumpets, and vessels made of human bones remind devotees that life is impermanent, and they have to work hard for their salvation.

Every monastery has a chest in which to lock its treasures, such as silver and gold butter lamps and rare thangkas. As befitting a treasure chest, this example has elegant inlaid fittings and is elaborately painted, bearing the image of a rare form of a wealth-deity; he has three heads and holds various objects, including two mongooses from which spill jewels. Also depicted on this chest are two Karmapa Lamas, the highest incarnation of the Kagyu order, indicating that this piece of furniture came from a temple of that order. The design of the bottom part of this chest gives us the illusion that it is in two sections, but actually there is only one space inside.

Such chests were made in pairs. The twin of this one is in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.