Tibetan medicine mask is an intangible cultural heritage heirloom at the provincial level. As one of art treasures of Tibetan culture, the Tibetan medicine mask is a hand-made craftwork integrating religious culture, folk culture, and medical culture.

Historical materials recorded that local folk artisans made clay sculptures of Buddhas in an attempt to increase the influence of Buddhism during the Trisong Detsen era (the then king of Tibet from 742-797).

Different from other clay sculptures, Tibetan medicine mask has strict material requirements and construction procedures.

The mud and water used for making masks must be unpolluted and collected from holy mountains at an altitude of over 4,600 meters. The mud and water must be mixed together in accordance with acertain proportion of a valuable powder made from Tibetan herbs, religious articles, and Buddhist scriptures, and eminent monks and lamas must be invited to chant scriptures towards the clay. Then the clay must be buried underground for at least seven days before it can be takenout, in order for the fragrance of Tibetan herbs to be able to be smelled. This is the perfect time for artists to sculpt the clay and dye it with natural mineral pigments.

Tibetan people put the medicine mask on the wall as a holy article, praying for good luck and blessing.

 

Artists are dying the masks. [Photo/Files]

Photo shows tools used to sculpt the mask.[Photo/China Tibet Online]

Photo shows Tibetan herbs mixed in the mask.[Photo/China Tibet Onlien]

Photo shows natural mineral pigments used to dye the mask.[Photo/China Tibet Online]

Tibetan medicine masks hang on the wall. [Photo/China Tibet Online]