Material: Red Copper, Cast, Gilded

Size: 22cm

Description:

Zhaji Lhamo's Role, Origin, and Story in Tibetan Buddhism

Zhaji Lhamo (Tibetan: གྲ་བཞི་ལྷ་མོ, English: Zashi Lhamo), also known as "Zhaji" or "Auspicious Mother of Heaven," is an important female guardian deity in the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon. Known as a symbol of wealth and auspiciousness, she is particularly worshipped in Tibetan areas and areas where Han Chinese and Tibetans coexist. She is typically depicted with a black face, a long tongue, a skull crown, ornate attire, and holding objects symbolizing wealth (such as gems or ritual implements). Despite her terrifying appearance, she represents powerful protection and the bestowal of wealth. The following details her role in Buddhist rituals, her origins, and the classic stories surrounding her.

Role in Buddhist Ritual

In Tibetan Buddhist rituals, Zaki Lhamo primarily serves as a Dharma protector and a female wealth deity. Regarded as the guardian of wealth and auspiciousness, she protects believers from poverty, disasters, and evil spirits, while granting both material and spiritual prosperity. Specifically:

- **Wealth and Career Protection**: Devotees often offer Zaki Lhamo in blessing ceremonies to pray for prosperity and success in their careers. She is particularly favored by businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and practitioners, believed to alleviate financial difficulties and attract positive wealth (such as salary and investment returns) rather than unhealthy gains (such as gambling). In Tibetan Tantric Buddhist rituals, she often appears alongside Yellow Jambhala (Zenpal) in joint "wealth deity" ceremonies or Dharma protector empowerment ceremonies.

- **Energy and Peace Protection**: As a Dharma protector, she plays a key role in rituals designed to exorcise evil spirits and dispel resentment. For example, during the "Protector Offering" ceremony at Zhaji Monastery, monks invoke her protection and blessings on the temple and its followers by chanting her mantra (such as "Om Zhaji Hum Pe") and offering blood and food (either symbolic or literal). Her devotion also extends to blessing those born in certain zodiac signs (such as the Rat or the Dragon) and helping to resolve palace intrigues and interpersonal conflicts.

- **Ritual Form**: In actual Buddhist rituals, offerings to Zhaji Lhamo often incorporate thangka paintings, sculptures, or living offerings (such as divine dances). Devotees are required to observe taboos, such as fasting and sincere prayers, and avoid greed, which can backfire. Her role emphasizes the causal relationship between giving and receiving: by offering to her, believers not only seek wealth but also cultivate the virtue of generosity. In Han Buddhist temples in Northeast China (such as the Huguo Falun Temple in Shenyang), she is incorporated into Han-Tibetan rituals, symbolizing a bridge of cultural exchange.

Generally speaking, Zhaji Lhamo's role embodies the Tibetan Buddhist system of "worldly guardian deities." She is not a principal deity (like Guanyin), but rather a supporting force, helping believers balance desire and liberation in worldly affairs.

Origin of Zhaji Lhamo

Zhaji Lhamo's deity worship originates from the Tibetan Buddhist system of guardian deities, specifically dating back to the period of cultural exchange between Han and Tibetan peoples during the Qing Dynasty in the 17th and 18th centuries. Her principal temple, Lhasa Zhaji Monastery (located in Zhaji Valley, northwest of Lhasa, Tibet), was built during the Qianlong reign (circa 1750s) specifically to dedicate her to her worship. The temple's name, "Zhaji," derives from her Tibetan name, meaning "Four-Faced Goddess" or "Auspicious Goddess."

The origins of Zhaji Lhamo's deity worship are closely tied to Qing Dynasty politics and culture: According to documents such as the "Zhaji Monastery Records," the belief in Zhaji Lhamo stems from Emperor Qianlong's invitation to eminent Tibetan Buddhist monks (such as the Sixth Panchen Lama) to Beijing to subdue "Han female ghosts" in an effort to appease vengeful spirits and court disputes in Tibet. Since then, she has been formally incorporated into the Tibetan Buddhist guardian lineage, becoming the "Mother Deity of the World." Her image blends elements of indigenous deities of the Tibetan Bon religion (such as her long tongue symbolizing the devouring of negative karma) with Han Chinese folklore (such as the grudged court lady), embodying Buddhism's inclusiveness and localization. Her deity has now spread to Tibetan Buddhist communities worldwide and is popular in places like Taiwan and mainland China, where she is particularly common in ritual objects for wealth, such as Zakiram statues or mantra plaques.

Zakiram's Story

Zakiram's story is steeped in mystery and drama, with numerous versions circulating, reflecting the diverse interweaving of Han and Tibetan cultures. The most classic version is divided into two parts: a "previous life" (human tragedy) and a "present life" (spiritual devotion). She is often compared to the reincarnation of vengeful spirits in Chinese folk tales like "The Legend of the White Snake" or "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio" to enhance her relatability. The following is the mainstream narrative (based on oral tradition and documents from Zhaji Monastery):

Previous Life: Palace Tragedy and the Awakening of a Vengeful Spirit**

Long ago, in the imperial palace of the Qing Dynasty's capital (Beijing), lived a beautiful and talented concubine named "Zhaji" (also transliterated as "Shaji Lamu"). She was deeply favored by the emperor, intelligent and kind, and renowned for her generosity and charity. However, due to intense palace intrigue, the other concubines, jealous of her favor, conspired to poison her to death. Filled with grievances before her death, the concubine's soul refused to leave, transforming into a fierce ghost that haunted the Forbidden City. Using her long tongue to devour her perpetrators, she triggered strange phenomena in the palace: lights suddenly went out, wailing echoed throughout the night, the emperor's chambers were frequently disturbed, and the entire harem was in a state of panic. Her resentment spread like a plague, even reaching the border regions and affecting the stability of Tibet. Folklore circulated that she was originally a Han Chinese woman, reborn into the palace due to past life karma, destined to endure this calamity.

Present Life: Conversion to Buddhism and Becoming a Protectorate Deity

Emperor Qianlong was alarmed by the news and urgently summoned high-ranking Tibetan monks to Beijing to exorcise the demon. Led by a Tantric master (some say the Sixth Panchen Lama or one of his disciples), carrying vajra, bells, and other ritual instruments, they performed a large-scale exorcism ceremony in the Forbidden City. The monks chanted the Great Compassion Mantra and Dharma protector mantras to disarm the tormented spirit. Initially, Zakiram appeared as a black-faced female ghost, roaring in resistance. However, the monk compassionately enlightened her, revealing her past life's karma and promising that if she took refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha), she would be reborn as a Dharma protector, protecting all beings from similar suffering.

Moved, Zakiram cast aside her resentment, drank the nectar (symbolizing purification), and converted to Buddhism. She was given the name "Auspicious Mother" and her image became formidable yet benevolent: her black face symbolized the devouring of greed, hatred, and delusion, her long tongue symbolized the licking away of karmic obstacles, and her skull crown symbolized transcendence of life and death. To reward the eminent monk, the emperor built a temple dedicated to her in Zhajigou, Tibet, and compiled her story into the "Zhaji Temple Records," which continues to this day.

Variations of this story include: one that claims she was originally a Tibetan Bon spirit who later assimilated into Buddhism; another that emphasizes her identity as a "Han female ghost," bridging Han and Tibetan cultures. Each version emphasizes the theme of "transforming resentment into blessing": through Buddhist compassion, she transforms from victim to protector, helping believers resolve worldly conflicts, such as those involving palace intrigue.

The legend of Zhaji Lhamo is more than just a myth; it is a vivid embodiment of Tibetan Buddhist teachings, reminding believers to maintain compassion and generosity while pursuing wealth. If you have further questions about her worship rituals or related ritual implements, please feel free to ask!

Zhaji Lhamo, the Tibetan Female Goddess of Wealth