Top 10 Tibetan Handicrafts


Plan your Tibet Tour? You can buy some souvenirs if you travel to Tibet. Handcrafts has been an indispensable part of Tibetan people's life since ancient times. What they wear on the body and head, hang on the waist as well as labor tools, home furnishings, house decoration, etc., each piece is closely related to the craft. The most famous and common ones are the following.

No.1: Tibetan Thangka
Thangka is a kind of special painting in Tibet. A scroll painting with a strong Tibetan flavor, most of which are statues of Buddha and bodhisattvas. There are also some paintings of flowers and birds, mountains and waters, medicine and astronomy. Due to natural and historical reasons, it is difficult to trace the origins of Thangka. According to legend, Tubo King Srongtsen Gampo used his nosebleed and painted the portrayal of Bailamu following the divine guidance, and this was the first Thangka. According to legend, the tangka was hidden by Living Buddha into the abdomen of the Bailamu’s statue. The art of painting can be traced back earliest may to the Neolithic, and to the Tubo Dynasty, the art of painting was perfected.


No.2: Tibetan Carpet
Tibetan Carpets are traditional handicrafts of the Tibetan people, and they are not only well-known throughout China, but also sold to many foreign countries including India, Nepal and Bhutan. It is one of the world's top three famous carpets. Besides Tibetan carpets, footcloths and rugs, there are also other handicrafts such as saddle cushions, decorations made from the skulls of large livestock.  Situated at Hebalin to the east of the old Lhasa City,the Lhasa Carpet Factory is one of the remarkable enterprises in Tibet Autonomous Region, mainly producing traditional Tibetan carpets.It is an ideal purchase as a wonderful reminder of a trip to Tibet.


No.3: Tibetan Knives
Tibetan knives with delicate carvings and exquisite silver ornaments on the sheath may not only be used for cutting meat and self-defense, but can also serve as a special decoration. It is a personal necessity for all people regardless of age and sex among the Tibetan people. Yak is the best friend of the Tibetan people and is honored as a beautiful sacred animal by the tibetan people. The yak bone, as a kind of unique adornment, has the characteristics of primitive nature, bold and vigorous thus can add a kind of feral charm to the wearer! 


No.4: Tibetan Wood Curving
Woodcarving is a part of traditional Tibetan culture and art, including the contents of religion, art, ethnic life and architectural decoration. The art of woodcarving painting in Tibet has a long history, which reflects the ideology and sentiment, the simple national temperament and wisdom of the Tibetan people. The expressive techniques of the woodcarving paintings in Tibet are simple and concise, which not only have rich decorative interest, but also have attractive artistic appreciation value. The fascinating culture of Tibet is so attractive.Especially, Baima Tibetan nationality,a unique ancient ethnic group,preserves some basic characteristics of its primitive art and ethnic culture...


No.5: Tibetan Masks
Tibetan masks are handicrafts derived from religion. The masks include ghosts, monsters, celestial beings and animal totems appearing in religious dance ceremonies and significant festivals such as the guardian of Buddhism, Pelden Lhamo and Hayagriva hanging in temples, and various figures in history and in Tibetan opera. Although such techniques are abstract, symbolic and metaphorical, they endow the personalized feature to the colors, making each mask color represent a kind of fixed character, rich in unique aesthetic appeal of Tibet.


No.6: Tibetan Sheepskin painting
The Sheepskin painting, one of Tibet's unique cultural and artistic forms, is a type of pure handmade painting that is made from an entire sheep's hide and wool. Sheepskin paintings are painted with natural colored stones to depict the life and culture of Tibetan people. Made with highly delicate skill, a sheepskin painting has a concave and convex surface showing a strong 3-dimensional sense. Sheepskin paintings are thick and heavy in colors to demonstrate both the refreshing atmosphere of snow-capped mountains and marshlands, and the bold and mighty style of Tibetan people. Sheepskin paintings have frames with exquisite decorations, and are easy to preserve and do not fade or deform easily. Sheepskin paintings are not only a good choice for home decoration and souvenirs for friends, but they also have the high collection value.


No.7: Tibetan Religious souvenirs
When people think of Tibetan religion, they immediately think of the local national color of Lamaism, and its mysterious and strange atmosphere. And the related technological souvenirs, such as the prayer wheel, the stone engraving sutras, the stone statues, etc., are more mysterious and dignified, which can be said to be the symbol of the long history of Tibet religion. At the mere mention of Tibetan religion, we all see an image of the mysterious Tibetan Buddhism with regional features and strong ethnic colors. Corresponding handicraft souvenirs are symbols of the long-standing religious history of Tibet, and always leave mysterious impressions on people. Examples of such religious souvenirs include figures of Buddha, Thangka, Hadda, Dharma wheels and others.


No.8: Tibetan Pulu
The Pulu, the transliteration of its Tibetan name, is also called Tibetan wool fabric. It is said pulu has a history of over 2,000 years and it is a type of handmade wool fabric in mixed colors such as black, red and green. Thanks to its strong durability and warmth, pulu is used not only as the main material of Tibetan clothing, shoes and hats, but also as blankets and souvenirs. It was once one of Tibet's major articles of tribute. The most famous pulu is made in Zalang, Nagarzê, Gyangzê, Markam and other counties. Material: wool is used as its basic material, and rubia cordifolia, rhubarb, buckwheat and walnut shell is used as dye.


No.9: Tibetan jewelry
Tibetan jewelry are polished out of coral, agate, yak bone, Tibetan silver and other materials only available on the Tibetan plateau. They are polished by Tibetans not only in the pursuit of beauty, but they can also bring auspiciousness or avoid evils, and make people who wear it look more generous and bold. Jewelry in Tibet includes pearls, agate, gold and silver products. Different Tibetan adorn article has different moral, and the different design implication of the same kind of Tibet adorn is different also, but basically means blessing. Tibetan bracelets and rings are usually made of Tibetan silver, inscribed in Sanskrit, which can ward off evil spirits and pray for good fortune.


No.10:  Tibetan Ox horn combs
Ox horn is a precious Chinese medicine that can clear away heat and toxic materials, nourish yin and cool blood, lower blood pressure, remove damp, and treat unhealthy urinary systems and remove stones from the body. The Tibetans make combs out of natural ox horn. The long-term use of ox horn combs will prevent hair loss, clear away heat and cool blood, make you feel refreshed, reduce mental pressure, adjust blood pressure, avoid headaches, relax muscles and activate blood circulation, and enhance cellular immunity, and will help combat neurosis. Because the ox horn comb is polished by hand from natural materials, every comb bears a unique "flaw." Ox horn combs are good gifts for friends and relatives because they not only keep you fit, but also are worthy of collecting.



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