Material: Five-color cloth. Used for smoke offering. (No discount for special offer)

Size: 20 gm (approximate weight)

Description:

In Tibetan Buddhism, **Five-color cloth for smoke offering** (often called "sangbu" in Tibetan, Tibetan: བསང་ཡིག་, bsang yig) is one of the common offerings in the smoke offering ceremony (Tibetan: བསང་མཆོད་, bsang mchod), used for praying, purifying karma, and offering to sentient beings and guardian gods. The following will explain its **influence and status**, **usage methods** and **origin**.

1. The influence and status of smoke offering of five-color cloth in Tibetan Buddhism

1. **Religious and cultural significance**:

- **Purification and offering**: Smoke offering (Sanggong) is an important ritual in Tibetan Buddhism. It aims to produce smoke by burning offerings (such as incense powder, wood, five-color cloth, etc.) to offer to the six realms of sentient beings, the eight divisions of heaven and dragon, the guardian gods and local gods to calm obstacles, eliminate karma, and pray for peace and good fortune. [](https://vocus.cc/article/65f83a5cfd89780001af6d99)

- **The symbol of five-color cloth**: Five-color cloth (usually white, red, blue, green, and yellow) represents the five Buddhas, five wisdoms, and five elements (earth, water, fire, wind, and space), symbolizing the harmony and balance of the universe. In smoke offering, the burning of five-color cloth is believed to convey the intention of offering to the spiritual world at all levels, enhancing the effectiveness of the ritual.

- **Compassion and charity**: Smoke offering is centered on compassion, and by offering to invisible beings (such as hungry ghosts, dead souls, etc.), it embodies the spirit of charity in Buddhism. As one of the offerings, the five-colored cloth strengthens this symbol of compassion and helps practitioners accumulate merit.

2. **Status in Tibetan Buddhism**:

- Smoke offering is a common ritual in daily practice and large-scale ceremonies in Tibetan Buddhism, especially in the Gelugpa and Nyingma sects. Although the five-colored cloth is not the core offering of smoke offering, its symbolism and visual effects make it play an important auxiliary role in the ceremony.

- In Tibetan areas, smoke offering rituals are often integrated with local beliefs (such as some customs of Bon religion), reflecting the inclusive nature of Tibetan Buddhism. The use of five-colored cloth also has a certain origin with the five-colored flags (prayer flags) of Bon religion, showing the combination of Tibetan Buddhism and local culture.

3. **Scope of influence**:

- The five-color cloth for smoke offering is not only widely used in Tibetan areas (such as Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, etc.), but also has an impact on Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, Bhutan, Nepal and Western Tibetan Buddhist practice groups as Tibetan Buddhism spreads.

2. How to use the five-color cloth for smoke offering

1. **Ritual preparation**:

- **Material selection**: The five-color cloth is usually made of cotton, linen or silk materials, cut into small pieces or strips, and the colors are white, red, blue, green and yellow, symbolizing the five Buddhas and the five elements. These cloths are usually clean and uncontaminated to ensure the purity of the offerings.

- **Matched with other offerings**: The five-color cloth is prepared together with other offerings (such as incense powder, grain, medicinal materials, wood, etc.) and placed in a special smoke offering furnace or open fire.

2. **Ceremony process**:

- **Lighting the offerings**: In the smoke offering ceremony, the practitioner or monk first recites the smoke offering scriptures (such as "Sangcho" or related tantras) and prays to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Dharma protectors and sentient beings in the six realms to accept the offerings. Then the offerings are lit, and the five-colored cloth burns with other materials to produce thick smoke.

- **Symbolism of smoke**: Smoke is considered to be a carrier of offerings, which can transform offerings into invisible resources and offer them to invisible sentient beings. When burning the five-colored cloth, its five colors represent different offering objects and wishes (such as white for purification, red for strength, etc.).

- **Location and timing**: Smoke offerings are usually performed in the early morning or evening, and the location is mostly outdoors at high places (such as mountain tops, temple roofs), so that the smoke can spread widely. It is also held on special festivals (such as Tibetan New Year, Buddha's Birthday) or for personal blessings and salvation.

3. **Merit and purpose**:

- According to the teachings of Master Longde, smoke offering can "eliminate disasters", help practitioners eliminate obstacles to life, diseases, nightmares and disasters, and make good connections.

- The burning of the five-color cloth is believed to enhance the visual and symbolic effect of the ceremony, making the offering more comprehensive, covering both material and spiritual levels.

III. The origin of the five-color cloth for smoke offering

1. **Historical origin of Tibetan Buddhism**:

- The origin of the smoke offering ceremony can be traced back to the early days of Tibetan Buddhism (7th-8th century), when Buddhism was introduced from India to Tibet and merged with the local Bon religion. The Bon religion has a tradition of burning offerings to support the gods. Tibetan Buddhism absorbed this custom and gave it the Buddhist connotation of compassion and offering.

- The use of the five-color cloth may be inspired by the five-color prayer flags of the Bon religion. The five-color flags of the Bon religion are used for blessing and exorcism. Tibetan Buddhism improved it as part of the smoke offering and incorporated the symbolic meaning of Tantra (such as the Five Buddhas and the Five Wisdoms).

2. **Influence of Indian Tantric Buddhism**:

- The Tantric tradition of Tibetan Buddhism originated from late Indian Buddhism, especially the rituals of the Anuttara Yoga Tantra. In Indian Tantric Buddhism, burning offerings (such as incense and cloth) is used in fire offerings (homam) rituals, which are intended to feed the gods or purify karma. Tibetan Buddhism localized this ritual, forming smoke offerings, and added five-colored cloth to strengthen the symbolism.

3. **Contributions of Songtsen Gampo and Guru Padmasambhava**:

- Songtsen Gampo (7th century), the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, introduced Buddhist rituals and culture by marrying Princess Vijudi of Nepal and Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, laying the foundation for the development of smoke offerings.

- In the 8th century, Guru Padmasambhava entered Tibet to spread Buddhism, systematized Tantric rituals, absorbed elements of Bon, and established smoke offerings as part of Tantric practice. Guru Padmasambhava's tradition (Nyingma school) paid particular attention to smoke offerings, and the use of five-colored cloth gradually became standardized during this period.

4. **Cultural evolution**:

- With the development of Tibetan Buddhism, the use of five-color cloth has evolved from a simple offering to a ritual element with rich symbolic meaning. Especially in the later period (after the 10th century), as the great translators Rinchen Sangpo and Marpa introduced more Tantric scriptures from India, the symbolic meaning of the five-color cloth was further deepened and closely integrated with the teachings of the Five Buddhas and the Five Wisdoms.

Summary

Although the **Five-color cloth for smoke offering** is not a core ritual implement in Tibetan Buddhism, it plays an important auxiliary role in the smoke offering ceremony because of its profound connotation of symbolizing the Five Buddhas and the Five Elements. It embodies the spirit of compassion and charity in Tibetan Buddhism, helping practitioners purify karma, pray for blessings and eliminate disasters, and provide for the six realms of sentient beings. Its use originated from the fusion of Indian Tantric fire offerings and Tibetan Bon religion. After being promoted by Songtsen Gampo, Guru Padmasambhava and others, it has gradually become an important part of Tibetan Buddhist rituals. In contemporary times, with the globalization of Tibetan Buddhism, the application of five-color cloth has also expanded to all parts of the world, becoming an important medium connecting traditional and modern practice.