The Origin Of Tibetan Ga’u

Ga’u, or named amulet box, is not only animportant part of Tibet an traditional dresses,but also related to religious belief. Amulets and witchcraft were very popular in Bon, the nativereligion in Tibet, from which a few gods in Tibetan Buddhism,called Char mapala, originated. Gold and Turquoise have been very popular in ancient Tibet for along time.In the Tubo period, long earrings made of turquoises have become a symbol of hero. Turquoi seisal so considered as soulstone. But through the mural spainted inthe period of Tubo, it can be seen that the Tuboroyal didnot wear Ga’u. However, there was a tradition of royals wearing big gold jewelry on the breast in the vassel of Tubo. Some gold jevlelries inlayed with tur quoises were found in some tombs from the Tubo period in Qnghai Rovinee. These jewel riesindicated that people in Tubo period were ableto make Ga’u. The costumes with some or naments containing big gold Ga’uinlayed wiht turquoises, displayed in Museumof Tibet, were believed to be copied from the costumes of somelocal leaders in the period of Tubo. Therefore, Ga’u should come fromsome vassel kingdoms conquered by Tubo before 7th century.Tucci showed an amulet box in his book Tibet an archeology", saying it was the prototype of Ga’u, earlier than 7th century. The 5th sde-srid of PagmoDrupa and the 5th Dalai Lama copied some ornaments and costumes for their government officials, which can be dated from the Tuboperiod. In the beginning, Ga’u was a symbol of power and wealth. After the introduction of Buddhism,it had more religious meaning of Buddhism During Gaden Phodrang period, Ga’u became common as symbol of religious asylum...