zoltán horváth
Keywords: tibet | buddhist flag |
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Last modified: 2017-09-29 by zoltán horváth
Keywords: tibet | buddhist flag |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
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Tibetan Buddhism can also be described as Lamaism or Vajrayana Buddhism. It
is born in Tibet, but has spread to other Himalayan countries, western China,
Mongolia, some part of Russia and even to the Caucasus with the Kalmyk
people, and there are lots of Westerner worshipper too.
Corentin Chamboredon, 09 April 2007
![[Nyingmapa Order of Tibetan Buddhism]](../images/r/rel_nyi2.gif)
image by Corentin Chamboredon, 09 April 2014
Here is a flag presented as the flag of the Nyingmapa order of the Tibetan
Buddhism. I found it in the Google's cache for a commercial website selling
different Buddhist items. They told me it was really used as a religious order
flag. It has a turquoise blue field. There is a very complicated central device.
It is a piece of traditional Tibetan art, with different colours. On top there
is a burning sword on an altar. Just in front of it we can see what I suppose to
be a Tibetan book (in Tibet, books have a different shape than occidental ones,
they are larger than longer and open backward and not leftward as ours). The
altar is supported by lotus flowers and surrounded by green and blue leaves.
There are also two birds on each side (green on the right, red on the left).
The lotus flowers root in the water. The final element is a red scroll with
Tibetan script on the left and right, and the word NYINGMAPA in the center in
Latin letters.
Source:
http://www.zambala.com/images/Nyingmapa%20flag.JPG
Corentin Chamboredon, 08 April 2007
I found what this symbol was in one of my book, The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist
Symbols by Robert Beer, published by Serindia Publications in 2003. I have the
French translation, but you can read it in Google Books here :
http://books.google.fr/books?id=-3804Ud9-4IC
The said symbol is called the emblem of the three great Bodhisattvas. Here is
its description (pp. 55-56) :
"The symbolic design of a lotus, book, and sword rising above a lake, and
flanked by a double-headed duck and parrot, was first believed to have been
painted upon a wall at Samye monastery in central Tibet by the great Sakya
master, Sakya Pandita (1182-1251).
An alternative belief maintains that this motif first appeared as a cryptograph
during the six-year reign (836-842) of the Bönpo king Langdarma, who suppressed
Buddhism, destroyed many monasteries, and prohibited th artistic creation of
Buddhist imagery. This cryptic or coded motif is both an insignia of the three
great Bodhisattvas, and an emblem of the early transmission of the Buddhist
teachings into Tibet.
As the emblem of the three great Bodhisattvas, Manjushri is represented by the
lotus-borne book and wisdom sword, Avalokiteshvara by the double-headed orange
and pink duck, and Vajrapani by the double-headed green parrot. These three
Bodhisattvas represent the wisdom, compassion, and power aspects of the Buddha
respectively, and are collectively know as the "Lords of the Three Families".
The Tathagata Family of Manjushri transmutes ignorance, the Padma family of
Avalokiteshvara transmute desire, and the Vajra Family of Vajrapani transmutes
anger.
Five of the most important eighth century founders of the Tibetan Nyingma
tradition are represented in this design, as the emblem of the first
transmission of Buddhism into Tibet. The lake from which the lotus stem rises
represents the great Indian Buddhist master Shantarakshita, the "Lake of
Serenity", whos was invited into Tibet by King Trisong Detsen. The lotus
represents the great Indian tantric master Padmasambhava, the "Lotus born", who
was similarly invited by the king upon the recommendation of Shantarakshita. The
book and flaming wisdom sword represent the great Tibetan Buddhist king Trisong
Detsen (Tib. Khri-srong lde-btsan), who ruled Tibet between 754-797, and was
considered to be an emanation of Manjushri. The two-headed duck represents the
great Indian master and translator from Kashmir, Vimalamitra, who was also
invited to Tibet by Trisong Detsen. The two-headed parrot represents the great
Tibetan translator and disciple of Padmasambhava,
Vairocana. The two eyes and beaks of each bird, facing towards opposite
directions, symbolize both the transmission of the Buddhist teachings from India
into Tibet, and their translation from Sanskrit into Tibetan."
Corentin Chamboredon, 09 February 2014
I tried to make an image of this flag , but I couldn't find exactly the same
emblem: the foliage is different, as is the water and some other details.
Moreover, I noticed on the photograph
I had found two Tibetan texts on each side of the central scroll. The text on
the left means "early translation" (༈སྔ་འགྱུར།, wylie: snga 'gyur), a synonym
for Nyingmapa. The text on the right simply means Nyingmapa in Tibetan script
(རྙིང་མ་པ།, wylie: rnying ma pa). There are also three flaming jewels just above
the scroll.
Corentin Chamboredon, 09 April 2014
I found a very similar emblem what you are looking for. It is depicted on a
book cover.
Zoltan Horvath, 09 April 2014
I had already seen it, but I wasn't satisfied with that one too. Moreover, I had
a look on the very few photos showing this flag I could find. Despite the small
size of the flag on it, I could see that the design was sometimes different from
the flag I had reported: the parrot's tail is sometimes longer, the silk behind
the birds waves more or less straightly. This emblem is a piece of traditional
art, and as such I guess its look may vary somewhat according to the artist who
make it.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jennylower/106266427/sizes/o/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/palyulian/3509353053/sizes/z/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienman/9639139436/sizes/o/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/30844066@N08/4265845656/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Corentin Chamboredon, 09 April 2014
![[Drigung-Kagyü of Tibetan Buddhism]](../images/r/rel_drig.jpg)
located by Corentin Chamboredon, 09 February 2014
Well, here is a flag used by the Drigung sub-school of the Kagyü school of
Tibetan buddhism. I found some photos of it, taken in a Drigung center in Taiwan
:
http://www.gloje.org/en/wp-content/gallery/granpuja2009_photo/GrandPuja2009_01_IMG_3201.JPG
http://www.gloje.org/en/wp-content/gallery/20101003_amitabha_puja/001_20100930_160854_DSCF7618.JPG
http://www.gloje.org/en/20101003_amitabha_puja
The flag is made of three parts. The first quarter is the Hung symbol of the
Drigung sub-school on a red field. The Hung symbol is made of a red circle for
the sun, a white crescent representing the moon, and the syllable Hung in blue.
The third quarter has five vertical stripes (from left to right : purple, white,
red, yellow, blue), and the right half of the flag has five honrizontal stripes
of the same colours (from top to bottom : blue, yellow, red, white, purple). The
red used in the stripes is different of the one used for the Hung symbol. I send
an image as rel_drig.jpg.
The website of the school explains its meanings :
"The Outer Meaning
The sun and moon symbolize the Physician of Dagpo and Rechungpa, the sun-and
moon-like heart sons of the Great Jetsun Milarepa, the crown jewel of the
Practice Lineage in the Land of Snow; it is symbolized that the sun-and
moon-like Kagyud gurus bless one's mind.
The syllable Hung in the center of the logo symbolizes the seal of the Drigung
Kyura clan. It is popularly known that this seal, which is the syllable Hung,
was among the many divine substances that descended with Kyura Namchen Karpo,
the trailblazer of the Kyura clan, when he was dropped onto earth from heaven by
the gods. Until today, the syllable Hung has been the royal seal of the Drigung
lineage. As legend goes, people who knew its great significance considered even
ordinary documents as a protection Chakra if it had the Hung seal on it. They
believed that the seal was able to dispel the harms and curses caused by gods,
ghosts, demons, obstructers, enemies, and dacoits, and always kept the sealed
documents close to their bodies. For this purpose the hung became designed as a
seal.
Inner Meaning
The white moon is Achi Chokyi Drolma in essence, the Dharma protectress of the
Drigung Kaygud Lineage. The deep blue Hung Syllable symbolizes Mahakala, the
Lord of Primordial Wisdom. The red sun symbolizes Dharmapala Tseumar. The three
of them together symbolize that Achi, Mahakala, and Dharmapala protect the
Buddha-dharma.
Secret Meaning
On the moon-seat of bodhicitta, the blue Hung syllable symbolizes
Chakrasamvara's essence, which is the "aspect of clarity" as skilful means. The
red sun symbolizes Vajrayogini's essence, which is the "aspect of emptiness" as
wisdom. The two together symbolize the co-emergent father and mother, the union
of skilful means and wisdom, which is the essence of Sambhogakaya form.
The Absolute Meaning
The blue Hung syllable symbolizes the minds of the Buddhas of the three times.
It has the nature of space, which is blue, clear, unceasing, empty, and
brilliant. In essence it is the Dharmakaya, the nature of reality-as-it-is,
which is beyond the scope of words, thoughts, and expressions.
The circle [at the top of the syllable] symbolizes Akshobya and the dharmadhatu
wisdom. The crescent moon symbolizes Vairocana and the mirror-like wisdom. The
top symbolizes Ratnasambhava and the equality wisdom. The letter HA symbolizes
Amitabha and the discriminating wisdom. The Aa and U symbolize Amoghasiddhi and
the activity accomplishing wisdom. Thus the syllable Hung in essence represents
the five Buddha families."
Source:
http://www.drikungkagyu.org/index.php/item1-topmenu-375
Corentin Chamboredon, 09 February 2014
See also:
![[Drukpa-Kagyü of Tibetan Buddhism]](../images/r/rel_drukpa.gif)
image by Zoltan Horvath, 18 February 2014
Here is another flag, which belongs to the Drukpa subschool of the Kagyü
school. I don't know if it represents the Gyalwang Drukpa, the leader of the
Drukpa school in Tibet (as this school is state religion in Bhutan, Bhutanese
have their own leader), or the Choegon Rinpoche, another important Drukpa figure
who was visiting in China. It could also just be an alternative flag of the
school.
The flag has the same layout as the Drukpa flag. It has
two horizontal stripes (blue and red), but instead of a dragon, there is the drukpa logo: two dragons holding a dharmachakra, standing on a lotus arising
from clouds. A yellow scroll with Tibetan script is on the bottom. Above the
dharmachakra there are the three flaming jewels. The flag lacks the knot and the
wheel which respectively appear in the lower hoist and upper fly sides.
The sources I have found show this flag in three locations: in Tsechu monastery
near Nangchen (Qinghai province, China), in Ladakh (India) and at Tay Thien
stupa (Vietnam).
Sources:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dechenchoekhor/9794846236/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dechenchoekhor/9835902065/
http://thuptendhargyeychoeling.weebly.com/4/post/2013/07/together-alone-reflections-on-life-refuge-and-dharma.html
http://thuptendhargyeychoeling.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/9/1/10916197/1584118_orig.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/590852633/drukpa-final.jpg
http://www.michalnovotny.com/tibetan-buddhism-in-ladakh.html
http://voluongcongduc.com/news/bao-thap-tay-thien-kien-truc-doc-dao.html
Corentin Chamboredon, 17 February 2014
![[Karma-Kagyü of Tibetan Buddhism]](../images/r/rel_karma.gif)
image by Corentin Chamboredon, 14 April 2014
Here are some informations about the flags of the Karma-Kagyü school of
Tibetan buddhism. First, I have discovered on His Holiness the XVIIth Karmapa's
blog that there was a construction sheet for the flag of his school. The flag is
in fact longer than the one shown at this page, and
the colors are a little different.
The colors are :
Blue : Pantone 3005 C (RGB 0, 122, 194)
Yellow : Pantone 116 C (RGB 242, 217, 16)
Construction sheet:
![[Karma-Kagyü of Tibetan Buddhism]](../images/r/rel'kar1.gif)
image by Corentin Chamboredon, 14 April 2014
Sources :
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PNWFkmBvcXA/UESipO42JxI/AAAAAAAAIsA/xSNWNBCSVwM/s1600/621708_463005257054119_96429242_o.jpg
http://the17thkarmapa.blogspot.fr/2012/09/geometric-and-color-code-of-dream-flag.html
Corentin Chamboredon, 14 April 2014
![[Zurmang Kagyü school]](../images/r/rel_zurka.gif)
image by Corentin Chamboredon, 17 November 2014
Here is a flag used by one of the numerous sub-school of the Kagyü school.
Zurmang is, according to Wikipedia, a sub-school of the Karma Kagyü. (One can
get lost very easily among all these buddhist schools, and spelling variations
don't help...) It is a horizontal bicolor (light blue, yellow). In the middle,
there is the logo of the school: a green leaf with a yellow wheel, surrounded by
what looks like a green laurel crown. Beneath the logo, there is the name of the
school in green, in Tibetan script (ཟུར་མང་བཀའ་བརྒྱུད།, Wylie: zur mang ka
rgyud).
Sources:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CFTkyF5GhPs/TMK5CvXNpmI/AAAAAAAAANk/JkdB8Tz3JkQ/s1600/File0257.JPG
http://zurmangkagyu.org/about-zurmang-kagyu/
http://zurmangk.server307.com/sites/default/files/images/activities_4_logo.jpg
Corentin Chamboredon, 17 November 2014
![[Karma-Kagyü of Tibetan Buddhism]](../images/r/rel_kamon.gif)
image by Corentin Chamboredon, 14 April 2014
Then, I have found an image of a flag used during the Kagyü Mönlam Chenmo. This
event is a religious festival apparently open to other Kagyüpa subschools, as
Mönlam Chenmo means "great prayer". It was founded by His Holiness the XVIIth
Karmapa:
"Each needs to grasp the other’s hand. So doesn’t the Monlam logo look like two
hands clasping each other? Its shape is also similar to the design of the
Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa’s Dream Flag of peace and serenity, which is used
regularly among the Karma Kamtsang. If I were to make up everything myself, I
doubt it would have any blessings, but using the previous Karmapa’s design as a
model probably gives this blessing."
The flag has a blue field with a yellow swirling emblem, which is the logo of
the Kagyü Mönlam. The photo of the flag shows it with the upper tip of the logo
near the hoist, but everywhere else the logo has its upper tip on the right.
Therefore, the flag is probably supposed to have the hoist on its right.
Sources:
http://www.drukpachoegon.info/media/38715/2012%20Kagyu%20Monlam%209_600x480.jpg
http://monlamaustralia.com/monlam-logo/
http://kagyumonlamhawaii.org/About
Corentin Chamboredon, 14 April 2014
There seems to be another flag on the
wall behind, blue with a large yellow Wheel of Dharma within a red border.
Tomislav Todorović, 15 April 2014
I saw it too, but as long as I don't see it flying at a pole or a staff, I
will consider it as mere decoration. Tibetan buddhism is very fond of religious
paintings and decorations which may look very similar to a flag, but are not
flags.
Corentin Chamboredon, 15 April 2014
