China Customs: Ornaments for Tibetan Women

Tibetan women like to wear all kinds of decorations around their necks, including necklaces made of ancient seashells (called "silk") with different styles, necklaces made of colored beads, seashells and turquoise, and decorations made of bones, jewels and wax beads with different lengths. Among these necklaces, there is often a beautifully made metal box called "Gawu".

Different shapes, usually silver or copper. The box surface is inlaid with agate and turquoise, and various patterns are carved. There are Buddha statues or living buddhas, lamas' sacred objects and amulets in Gawu. Gawu, which evolved from a Buddhist box, has become an indispensable ornament for Tibetan women, and people think that wearing it can protect them.

Tibetan women also like to wear waist ornaments. Waist ornaments are mostly broadband metal or leather products, and some are single or multi-strand silver chains inlaid with gold and silver jewelry, one end of which is tied around the waist, and the other end is hung with keys, bells and ear spoons. The waist ornaments are carved with lotus petals, peacocks, deer, auspicious eight treasures, six longevity and other patterns and hollow patterns, symbolizing good luck and peace.

Xue Ji, commonly known as "milk hook" or "small mulberry", is the favorite ornament of women in Qinghai pastoral area in northern Tibet. It used to be a hook for women's milking pails in Tibetan pastoral areas, and later it gradually became an ornament with both practical and decorative functions. Xue Ji is shaped like a small iron anchor, about 1 ft long, mostly made of silver, inlaid with turquoise and agate, and carved with various patterns. Women in Tibetan pastoral areas like to wear it at home or when they go out, tie it around their waist and hang it in front of their left abdomen. Because its function is more and more decorative, its production is more and more exquisite.

Beads are also religious ornaments that Tibetans will never give up. A total of 108 beads, connected by a string, can be worn around the neck or wrist. Among the vast number of Tibetan farmers and herdsmen who generally believe in Tibetan Buddhism, men, women and children, most of them wear Buddha statues, scriptures or "relic pills" as "amulets", put them in exquisite Buddha boxes or precious purses and wear them around their waists or necks, so as to get the blessing of the Buddha at any time and avoid disasters. It has also become an ornament with Tibetan characteristics.