DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.649#0211
dress: amulet boxes. 175
boxes are pointed, imitating the form of a fig-leaf; but
they are also square or circular. The outside is either
embossed or painted.
Wooden boxes are closed by a slide, which has not
unfrequently a space cut out to allow the image of the
chosen tutelary god to be seen. Those of brass have
the two parts fitting together like the cover and the
lower part of boxes; but hinges are replaced by rings,
of which one at least must be connected with each part.
A string or a piece of leather can be passed through,
and serves to hang up the object as well as to keep it
together.
The things put into such cases are relics, images of
deities, objects which are believed to be dreaded by the
evil spirits, and charms.1 I had occasion to examine
the following different sorts:—
1. A square wooden box from Gyungul, in Gnari
Khorsum; the box was bound in brass. In the interior
were carved on one side one of the goddesses Dolma^ee
p. 66), who are supposed to protect against emaciation,
having on her left Chenresi (see p. 88) and Amitabha (see
p. 53) on her right. The opposite side shows Sakyamuni
with the same deities.
2. A leaf-shaped wooden box painted yellow, with
red clouds. It contained a figure of Shinje (see p. 93)
of tinted /clay; at the bottom of the case lay a little
medal of hardened barley-paste representing Tsonkhapa
1 Compare about the kind of charms, ('soma, "Journ. As. Soc. Beng.,"
Vol. IX., p. 905.
boxes are pointed, imitating the form of a fig-leaf; but
they are also square or circular. The outside is either
embossed or painted.
Wooden boxes are closed by a slide, which has not
unfrequently a space cut out to allow the image of the
chosen tutelary god to be seen. Those of brass have
the two parts fitting together like the cover and the
lower part of boxes; but hinges are replaced by rings,
of which one at least must be connected with each part.
A string or a piece of leather can be passed through,
and serves to hang up the object as well as to keep it
together.
The things put into such cases are relics, images of
deities, objects which are believed to be dreaded by the
evil spirits, and charms.1 I had occasion to examine
the following different sorts:—
1. A square wooden box from Gyungul, in Gnari
Khorsum; the box was bound in brass. In the interior
were carved on one side one of the goddesses Dolma^ee
p. 66), who are supposed to protect against emaciation,
having on her left Chenresi (see p. 88) and Amitabha (see
p. 53) on her right. The opposite side shows Sakyamuni
with the same deities.
2. A leaf-shaped wooden box painted yellow, with
red clouds. It contained a figure of Shinje (see p. 93)
of tinted /clay; at the bottom of the case lay a little
medal of hardened barley-paste representing Tsonkhapa
1 Compare about the kind of charms, ('soma, "Journ. As. Soc. Beng.,"
Vol. IX., p. 905.