Material: cloth. Embroidery. Printing and dyeing. Prayer flag

Size: 2 feet. About 65cm

Description:

I. The origin of the prayer flag (scripture hanging cloth)

1. **Historical and cultural roots**

The prayer flag (Tibetan: ལུང་རྟ་, Lungta, meaning "wind horse") is a unique instrument in Tibetan Buddhism. It originated in the Tubo period (7th-9th century) and is closely related to the formation of Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism began in the period of Songtsen Gampo (617-650). Buddhism was introduced to Tibet from India and Han China. In the 8th century, Trisong Detsen (742-797) invited Padmasambhava and Śāntarakṣita to Tibet and established Samye Monastery, laying the foundation for Tantric Buddhism. The development of prayer flags combines the tradition of prayer flags in Indian Buddhism with the symbol worship of the Tibetan Bon religion.

- **Indian Buddhist influence**: In ancient India, Buddhists used cloth strips or flags to hang in holy places, write mantras or scriptures, and pray for blessings and auspiciousness. This tradition was introduced to Tibet along with Buddhism and evolved into the form of prayer flags.

- **Bon religion integration**: Bon religion has the custom of hanging colored cloth or flags to worship mountain gods and natural spirits and pray for good weather. Tibetan Buddhism absorbed this tradition, printed scriptures and mantras (such as the six-syllable mantra) on cloth, gave them religious meaning, and formed prayer flags.

- **Promotion by Guru Padmasambhava**: According to Nyingma literature, Guru Padmasambhava promoted the use of prayer flags as a tool to purify the environment and spread Buddhism. He taught believers to print mantras and prayers on prayer flags, which would flutter in the wind and spread blessings.

2. **Production and form**

Prayer flags are usually five-color strips of cloth (blue, white, red, green, and yellow), representing the five elements (space, water, fire, wind, and earth) and the five Buddhas (Vairocana, Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha, and Amoghasiddhi). There are two main forms of prayer flags:

- **Darchogs**: single-sided long flags hung vertically on poles, commonly seen at the entrances of temples and holy places.

- **Lungtas**: multiple square pieces of cloth are tied together and hung horizontally on ropes, commonly seen on mountaintops, bridges, or villages.

Prayer flags are printed with scriptures, mantras (such as "Om Mani Padme Hum"), wind horse patterns (horses carrying precious beads on their backs, symbolizing good fortune), and auspicious symbols (such as the Eight Auspicious Signs). The production materials are mostly cotton or linen, using woodblock printing technology, and sometimes screen printing in modern times.

3. **Spread and Evolution**

Prayer flags spread to Bhutan, Nepal, Ladakh in India, and Mongolia with Tibetan Buddhism, and were integrated into local culture. For example, Bhutanese prayer flags often incorporate dragon patterns, while Mongolian prayer flags emphasize blue (symbolizing the sky). In modern times, with the globalization of Tibetan Buddhism, prayer flags have appeared in Western Buddhist centers and cultural exhibitions, becoming a symbol of Tibetan culture.

2. The symbolic meaning of prayer flags

1. **Dharma spread and blessing**

Prayer flags are regarded as "wind horses". Their fluttering in the wind symbolizes the spread of Buddhism to all directions, just like the constant rotation of the Dharma wheel. The mantras and prayers on the prayer flags are spread by the wind, spreading the Buddha's teachings and the blessings of the deity, purifying the environment and benefiting all living beings (including humans, non-humans and animals). Tibetan Buddhism believes that the fluttering of prayer flags is equivalent to reciting scriptures countless times, with immeasurable merits.

2. **Harmony of the Five Elements**

The five colors of the prayer flags (blue, white, red, green, and yellow) correspond to the five elements, symbolizing the harmony and balance of the universe. Blue represents space, white represents water, red represents fire, green represents wind, and yellow represents earth. Hanging prayer flags is believed to harmonize the energy of nature and human heart, and promote harmony between the environment and sentient beings.

3. **Purification and blessing**

The fluttering of prayer flags is believed to purify karma (negative karma), dispel evil spirits and obstacles, and bring blessings to the hanger and the surrounding sentient beings. The prayers on the prayer flags (such as the "Auspicious Sutra" or the terma text of Guru Padmasambhava) pray for health, longevity, wealth and peace, reflecting the compassionate spirit of Tibetan Buddhism.

4. **Reminder of impermanence**

Prayer flags gradually fade and break with wind, rain and sun, symbolizing the impermanence of life (Anicca). This natural disappearance reminds practitioners to cherish the present, practice diligently, and transcend reincarnation. Tibetan Buddhists often replace prayer flags with new ones after they are old, symbolizing the renewal and continuation of Buddhism.

5. **Wind Horse and Good Luck**

The wind horse (with a pearl on its back) on the prayer flag symbolizes good luck and auspiciousness, the horse represents speed and strength, and the pearl represents Buddhism and wisdom. The fluttering of the wind horse is believed to spread good luck to all directions and help sentient beings realize their worldly and otherworldly wishes.

III. How to use prayer flags

1. **Hanging and praying**

- **Place**: Prayer flags are often hung in high places (such as mountain tops, bridges, and temple entrances) to ensure that they flutter in the wind and spread blessings. They are especially common around holy places (such as Mount Kailash and the Potala Palace) and villages.

- **Occasion**: During the Tibetan New Year, Vesak Day, or major ceremonies, believers hang new prayer flags to pray for good luck in the new year or a smooth ceremonies. Prayer flags are also often hung for personal blessings (such as seeking children or curing diseases).

- **Method**: When hanging, monks or believers need to chant mantras (such as the six-syllable mantra) and pray to ensure that the prayer flags have spiritual power. The hanging direction usually follows the clockwise direction, which is in line with the Tibetan Buddhist circumambulation tradition.

2. **Purification and rituals**

- **Environment purification**: During a puja or opening ceremony, prayer flags are hung around the venue to purify the space and call on the deity and guardian deities (such as the God of Wealth and the Goddess of Good Fortune).

- **Sacrifice and blessing**: Prayer flags are used to save the souls of the dead and help the bardo beings to obtain bright guidance. Believers also hang prayer flags to pray for the health of their loved ones or a successful career.

- **Protector ceremony**: During the ceremony of calling on the guardian deities (such as Aqi Dorje), the fluttering of prayer flags enhances the sacred atmosphere and protects the puja from interference.

3. **Pilgrimage and circumambulation**

When pilgrims circumambulate in holy places (such as the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa and the Samye Monastery), it is common to see prayer flags hung on both sides of the path. Pilgrims combine chanting mantras with turning prayer wheels to enhance merit and pray for the blessings of Guru Padmasambhava or Avalokitesvara.

4. **Daily Offerings**

Tibetan families hang prayer flags in villages or pastoral areas as part of their daily prayers. The mantras on the prayer flags (such as "Om Mani Padme Hum") are believed to be spread by the wind, purifying the home and the surrounding environment.

4. Characteristics of prayer flags of different sects

1. **Nyingma Sect (Red Sect)**

Nyingma sect prayer flags are often printed with the mantra of Guru Padmasambhava (such as "Om Ah Hum Benza Guru Pema Siddhi Hum") and hidden prayers, emphasizing their purification and blessing functions. The prayer flag design incorporates Bon elements, with bright colors and free style.

2. **Kagyu Sect (White Sect)**

Kagyu sect prayer flags are mainly based on the prayers of Avalokitesvara and Milarepa, focusing on the spirit of Mahāmudrā practice. Prayer flags are often hung in retreat centers to help practitioners concentrate.

3. **Sakya (Flower Sect)**

Sakya prayer flags incorporate the mantras and guardian deity patterns of Lam Dre, with exquisite designs that emphasize the unity of wisdom and compassion.

4. **Gelug (Yellow Sect)**

Gelug prayer flags are often printed with Tsongkhapa's prayers or Medicine Buddha mantras, with a high degree of standardization, and are widely used in temple ceremonies and pilgrimage sites.

V. Modern influence of prayer flags

1. **Globalization**

As Tibetan Buddhism spread to Europe, America and Asia, prayer flags became a common decoration in Buddhist centers and spiritual places. Western practitioners hang them in gardens or meditation rooms as symbols of auspiciousness and purification.

2. **Culture and Art**

The five-color design and mantra patterns of prayer flags have become a symbol of Tibetan culture, appearing in movies, books and cultural exhibitions. Rekong and Lhasa in Tibet are centers for prayer flag production, attracting art lovers.

3. **Business and Controversy**

Modern prayer flags are sometimes commercialized and sold as tourist souvenirs. Some traditionalists believe that prayer flags should maintain their religious functions and should not be purely commercialized, so as not to lose their blessing power.

4. **Ecology and Ethics**

Traditional prayer flags use natural fabrics and dyes, which have less impact on the environment. Modern production sometimes uses chemical dyes. Tibetan Buddhists advocate the use of sustainable materials, which is in line with the concept of compassion and ecological protection.

VI. Summary

Prayer flags (assuming that "scripture hanging cloth" refers to prayer flags) are important instruments in Tibetan Buddhism. They originated in the Tubo period in the 7th century and are a fusion of Indian Buddhist prayer flags and the local traditions of Bon religion. Its five-color cloth strips and mantras symbolize the spread of Buddhism, the harmony of the five elements, the purification of karma and the reminder of impermanence. They are widely hung in holy places, temples and villages for blessing, salvation and ceremonies. Prayer flags flutter in the wind, spreading blessings, and reflecting the compassion and cosmology of Tibetan Buddhism. The designs and uses of prayer flags vary slightly from one sect to another (such as the Nyingma and Gelug sects), but their core function is to purify and bring good fortune. As Tibetan Buddhism has become globalized, prayer flags have become a symbol of religion and culture, with far-reaching influence.