Material: Bamboo, Fabric, Embroidery

Size: 28 x 9 cm

Description: The "pecha boards" (also known as scripture clips or pecha boards) used in Tibetan Buddhism are wooden boards or clips used to secure and protect loose scriptures. They typically consist of two rectangular boards and originate from the palm leaf manuscript format of ancient India. This format became the standard for Tibetan Buddhist scriptures from the 11th century onwards. Initially, palm leaves (such as palmyra or talipot palm leaves) were used as writing material, later transitioning to paper, but retaining the loose page structure to adapt to the high-altitude environment and nomadic lifestyle, facilitating portability and reading.

In terms of usage, pecha boards are primarily used to hold long, narrow pages of scriptures (called pecha), which are usually horizontally elongated, loosely stacked, and unbound. The scriptures are placed between the two boards and then wrapped with fabric (such as silk or brocade) to prevent the pages from scattering and to protect them from dust and damage. When reading, it is taken out of its cloth wrapping, held in the right hand, and turned the pages one by one from right to left, usually used during chanting or rituals. When storing, it is rewrapped and placed in a temple or personal mandala as a symbol of respect for Buddhism.