Drangsong No. 234

Text number

A brief summary of the item’s contents

Schematic diagram for making trigram symbols

Item number and filenames of the corresponding photographs

V234_IMG_5828-5829

Transcription of colophon

spar kha’i phyag rgya’i shing ’di gtso bor ’don dgos shing dbus dang/ de’i g.yas  khrams shing dang pho mdos gcig/ g.yon du khrams shing gcig dang mo mdos bcas shing byang lnga/ mda’ lnga ’phang lnga bcas dgos pa lag khrid dpe rigs yin/ bhu bham/ bris ’di mnga’ ris tshul khrims bstan ’dzin rtsāl yig tu bris/ lhag mchad[chd] ’gal ‘phrul ‘byung na rkong rtse spyan sngar tho[mthol] lo gshegs [gshags]/ phyogs su mkhas pa rnams gyis[kyis] dgongs phrel [khrel] med snang [gnang]/ bkra shis/ ‘gro don ‘phel par shog/

Translation of colophon

The symbolic wooden sign of the trigram is in the middle; to the right is the tally-stick and the dö effigy of men, and to the left is the tally-stick and the dö of women. Also, one needs five wooden tablets, five arrows and five spindles. This is the diagram for making them. Virtue. This text is written by me, mNga’ ris tshul khrism bstan ‘dzin (?). If there is any omission or fabrication or error, then [I would like to] repent before [the divine king] rKong rtse. It is also my hope that scholars on all sides will not be ashamed of this work. Good fortune. May there be benefit all living beings.

Remarks

This text is a part of Bon elemental divination (nag rtsis). In the Bon tradition, elemental divination and astrology are considered to have been taught by Kong rtse ’phrul gyi rgyal po. Generally, wooden tablets featuring trigrams are used in funeral rituals, with the configurationn of trigrams being based on the deceased’s birth information.

XRF Analysis

 Main elements : Ca, K, Fe, S, Cl
Trace elements: Si, P, Mn, Cu

RTI Images

Fibre Composition