On The Art Of Small "Pagoda Tsha" In Tibetan Area

“Tsha-tsha” refers to small clay sculptures made by demoulding or pressing,whose original meaning is "replication",a transliteration of Sanskrit.Small pagoda tsha-tsha is called "pagoda tsha" for short,which is a type of tsha-tsha.Actually,they are miniature sculptures printed with a tower-shaped scrub mold.The tower is called "(?)" in Tibetan,which literally means "the object worshiped and consecrated by believers".The tsha-tsga found in Tibetan areas are mostly statues,scriptures and pagodas of Bon and Buddhism.Since the spread of Bon in Tibet,Tibetan believers have regarded "three reliances" as a way to accumulate good karma,which are "reliance on the body","reliance on the language",and "reliance on the meaning",respectively.And the corresponding images are icons,scriptures and towers.Namely,believers viewed molding statues,copying or sculpting scriptures,and building pagodas as the foundation of accumulating good karma,but the cost and technology used for such good karma are relatively high,which are not suitable for all.Therefore,those who do not qualify can print cheap and convenient clay-printed small statues in the wiping mold,which has the same merit as building equivalent Buddha statues and real pagodas.It shows that tsha-tsha is of great significance in the dissemination of religious art.Tsha-tsha refers to a miniature clay sculpture that is easy to make and easy to carry.It is not only a religious sacred object,but also a work of art,as well as a narrator of Tibetan history and culture.As an indispensable item in religious activities,tsha-tsha enjoys a high religious value in the Tibetan area where people profess a religion.Moreover,tsha-tsha has a unique artistic charm as a work of art handed down from ancestors.As Tibetan studies continue to deepen and refine,tsha-tsha gradually reflects its importance from multiple perspectives,including religion and art.Thus,it has a significant value in terms of religious history and art.There are a lot of tsha-tsha expressed in the image of Tibetan towers,most of which are based on the shapes of the Bon tower and Eight Pagodas of Buddha.It has formed either two-dimensional or three-dimensional towers.Through the integration of regional culture and the change of historical aesthetic demands,the unique characteristics of Tibetan tsha-tsha are gradually formed.It is both an image of "reliance on the meaning" and an indispensable religious item in the religious transmission of Tibet.As a result,the "pagoda tsha" plays an important role in Tibetan religious activities.