Material: Copper. Iron

Size: About 5 cm

Description:

Origin of Tsa-tsa in Tibetan Buddhism

Tsa-tsa (Tibetan: ཚ་ཚ་, Willy transliteration: tsha tsha; Sanskrit: satchāya), also translated as 礤礤, is a small demoulding clay sculpture in Tibetan Buddhism, often used in religious ceremonies and offerings, and regarded as a sacred object for accumulating merit and praying for blessings and warding off disasters. Its origin and evolution are as follows:

1. **Origin and name**:

- Tsa-tsa originated in ancient India and was introduced to Tibet along with Buddhism in the 7th century. It originated from the ancient Indian custom of placing sacred objects in the belly of stone slab towers.

- There are three main explanations for the term "Tsa-tsa":

- **Sanskrit transliteration**: Originated from the central and northern dialects of ancient India, the Tibetan transliteration of the Sanskrit word "satchāya" (meaning "copy" or "truth") is still used in Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu and other Tibetan areas.

- **Onomatopoeia**: It is an onomatopoeia derived from the "tsatsa" sound made by the collision between the mold and the clay when making tsatsas.

- **Tibetan "Sa/Qia" theory**: Tibetan "Sa" or "Qia" means "soil", so tsatsas should be called "Sa-tsas" or "Qia-tsas", that is, mud-tsatsas, which is consistent with its clay properties.

- In the early days, tsatsas mainly referred to small pagodas, and later evolved into Buddha statues, Bodhisattva statues and sutras and mantras, becoming an important sacred object of Tibetan Buddhism.

2. **Historical development**:

- **Origin period (7th-9th century, Tubo period)**: Tsatsas were introduced to Tibet along with Buddhism. In the early days, they were influenced by Indian style and were mostly made of red clay. The patterns were mainly heavenly towers, gate towers, bodhi towers and the mantras of the Heart Sutra of Prajnaparamita. Due to Langdarma's destruction of Buddhism at the end of the 9th century and the fragility of the clay, there are few tsatsas in existence.

- **Transitional period (early post-promotion period)**: From the 10th century, the tsa-tsa integrated the art styles of Swat, Pala, Kashmir in northwest India, Nepal, and the Central Plains, and gradually became localized.

- **Mature period (14th-first half of the 17th century)**: The production process matured, and the themes expanded to six-character mantras, Buddha statues, Bodhisattva statues, etc. Tibetan tsa-tsa was introduced to Hangzhou, Beijing and other places, such as Baocheng Temple in Hangzhou and the White Pagoda of Miaoying Temple in Beijing. [](https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/%25E6%2593%25A6%25E6%2593%25A6)

- **Peak period (after the mid-17th century)**: The tsa-tsa became an important representative of Tibetan Buddhist art, with exquisite production and widely circulated in Tibetan areas and the mainland.

3. **Shape and material**:

- Most tsa tsa are made by pressing soft clay into a concave mold (copper, iron, pottery, wood), ranging in size from less than half an inch to a foot, mostly in relief, and a few in round (except for pagoda tsa).

- There are two types of shapes: pagoda (including Buddha statues or transformations) and brick (printed with Buddha statues or scriptures). The colors include plain clay, color (red, blue, white, etc.), mud gold or both, and the production is divided into air-dried and fire-baked (ceramic).

- Materials include:

- **mud tsa**: ordinary clay or Aga clay, mixed with incense ash, paper pulp, etc.

- **medicine tsa**: mixed with Tibetan medicine or medicine pulp, with medical and religious significance.

- **bone tsa**: mixed with the ashes of eminent monks or relatives and friends, to eliminate sins or offer to Buddhism.

- **cloth tsa**: mixed with the dehydrated body fluids and clay of great living Buddhas such as the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, regarded as a treasure.

- **Famous Tsatsa**: Made by famous living Buddhas, often with seals or fingerprints.

4. **Religious and cultural significance**:

- Tsatsa are sacred objects for Tibetan Buddhist monks and laymen to accumulate good deeds and merits, pray for blessings and ward off disasters. They conform to the rituals of Tibetan Buddhist statues and carry Buddhist doctrines and artistic norms. It is an important carrier and is listed as a representative of Tibetan Buddhist art along with thangka and butter sculptures.

How Tsatsa are used in Tibetan Buddhism

Tsatsa are used in religious ceremonies, offerings and folk activities in Tibetan Buddhism to accumulate merits, pray for blessings and ward off disasters, and save the souls of the dead. The following are its main uses:

1. **Stupa and Buddha statue storage**:

- Tsatsa are often used as sacred objects for stupas or Buddha statues, placed in the belly of the stupa or the inner chamber of the Buddha statue, with a number of tens of thousands to more than 100,000, and sealed together with Buddhist scriptures, jewelry, etc. For example, dozens of Tsatsa were found in the belly of a future Buddha statue in the Gasa Hall of Toling Monastery.

2. **Tsa-tsa-kang and temple offerings**:

- Tsa-tsa-kang is a small house dedicated to the worship of tsa-tsa, built in temples or beside the circumambulation path, with small windows on the four walls for believers to place tsa-tsa. Tsa-tsa is also placed in temple halls, monks' practice caves, Buddha niches or altars to be worshipped.

3. **Mani piles and holy places offerings**:

- Tsa-tsa is often piled on the top of a mountain, at a crossroads or in a holy place, alongside wind horse flags, mani stones and prayer flags, to be visited and worshipped by believers. For example, the Tsa-tsa pile in Duoma Village, Ruoergai County, northwest Sichuan can be traced back to the 9th century.

4. **Carrying with you and Gawu**:

- Tsa-tsa is often placed in a silver or copper Gawu (amulet box) and carried with you for visualization and praise at any time. In ancient Tibet, officials of the fourth rank and above in the local government wore a Gawu containing tsa-tsa in their hair as a symbol of official position.

5. **Consecration and religious ceremony**:

- After the production of the tsa-tsa, it needs to go through the consecration ceremony, which is completed by the monks who have received the initiation under strict rituals, so that it has Buddha nature and spiritual power and becomes an object of worship. The unconsecrated tsa-tsa is only a work of art.

- After the consecration, the tsa-tsa is used to pray for blessings and ward off disasters, exorcise evil spirits and diseases, and save the souls of the dead. Believers accumulate merits by circumambulating the tsa-tsa-kang or the Mani pile.

6. **Special uses**:

- **Medicine tsa-tsa**: mixed with Tibetan medicine, can be taken to treat diseases or as amulets.

- **Bone tsa-tsa and cloth tsa-tsa**: used to eliminate sins or worship Buddhism, with high religious significance, often used as amulets to ward off evil.

- Tsa-tsa is also used for wall inlay (such as Xialu Temple, Toling Temple) or to decorate the shadow wall of the cave, adding a religious atmosphere.

Precautions

- **Purity and respect**: Tsa-tsa is a sacred object and cannot be profaned. It needs to be stored in a clean place to avoid unclean touch. When offering or wearing, one must keep the body, speech and mind pure.

- **Making and consecrating**: The making of Tsa-tsa must follow the "Ritual of Copying Tsa-tsa", the mold must be finely carved, the clay must be purified, and the consecration must be presided over by a qualified monk.

- **Right view and motivation**: The making and offering of Tsa-tsa must be based on bodhicitta, aiming to accumulate merit and benefit sentient beings, and cannot be for personal gain or non-religious purposes.

Summary

Tsa-tsa is a molded clay sacred object from ancient India in Tibetan Buddhism. It was introduced to Tibet in the 7th century and became an important religious and artistic carrier after localization. Its shape is divided into tower shape and brick shape, and the materials include mud tsa-tsa, medicine tsa-tsa, bone tsa-tsa, cloth tsa-tsa, etc. It is used for stupa storage, Tsa-tsa Kang offering, Mani pile stacking and carrying. Tsa-tsa has become a sacred object for praying for blessings and warding off disasters and transcending the dead through consecration, reflecting the Tibetan people's pious belief in Buddhism and artistic creativity. In Tibetan Buddhism, Tsa-tsa is not only a religious relic, but also a miniature art treasure that spreads Buddhism and culture. It must be used with a pure heart and correct view to obtain its blessing.

# The origin and use of Tsa-tsa in Tibetan Buddhism

Origin

- **Origin**: Tsa-tsa originated from the ancient Indian custom of pagodas with stone slabs. It was introduced to Tibet with Buddhism in the 7th century. The Tibetan transliteration of Sanskrit "satchāya" (copy), or because of the sound of making, or the Tibetan "sa/qia" (earth) got its name.

- **Development**: After the Tubo period (7th-9th century), the later propagation period, the mature period (14th-17th century), and the peak period (after the mid-17th century), it integrated the styles of India, Nepal and Han areas, and the themes expanded from pagodas to Buddha statues, six-character mantras, etc.

- **Shape and material**: The clay is pressed with a concave mold. The shapes are divided into pagoda and brick shapes, mostly reliefs, and a few round sculptures. Materials include mud tsak (ordinary mud or Aga soil), medicine tsak (Tibetan medicine), bone tsak (ashes), cloth tsak (living Buddha body fluids), and famous tsak (made by famous living Buddhas).

Usage

1. **Pagoda and Buddha statues**: Placed in the belly of a pagoda or in a Buddha statue, the number can reach tens of thousands.

2. **Tsak-tsak-kang and temple offerings**: Placed in a special hut or temple hall, practice cave, and worshiped.

3. **Mani piles and holy places**: Pile up on the top of a mountain or at the intersection of a mani pile, alongside wind horse flags and mani stones.

4. **Wear it with you**: Placed in a gawu as a talisman or official position mark.

5. **Opening and ceremony**: After opening, it is used to pray for blessings, ward off disasters, and transcend the dead, and strict rituals must be followed.

6. **Special uses**: Medicine tsak-kang can cure diseases, bone tsak-kang and cloth tsak-kang can ward off evil spirits, and wall inlays can add a religious atmosphere.

Notes

- Keep it clean, store it in a holy place, and worship it with piety.

- Production and consecration must follow the rituals and be presided over by qualified monks.

- Based on Bodhicitta, it aims to accumulate merits