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Even in the XIII century the well-known venetian trader Marco Polo recounted how coral was used in necklaces and traditional jewels by the inhabitants of Tibet. In fact, it seems that even on the so-called “roof of the world’, the great power of this stone was recognised, as it was considered capable of giving both vital energy and protection.
If you want to learn more about the traditions linked to this country, you might consider the idea of taking a flight to go there.
However, you should know that, at the moment, there are no direct flights to Tibet. The only way to go there is to enter from China or Nepal, with which the area borders. So, what can we do? No problem, once again Moni Lisa comes to give you a hand.
Explore the world with us thanks to our monthly column Coral brings you through the streets of the world, it is free and you will love it!
A bond with our Mother Earth
As you may have already heard, the most widespread religion in Tibet is Buddhism.
Indeed, in many places where Buddhism is practised, this stone is not only associated with the menstrual cycle (which is said to be regularised by the coral if placed on a woman’s lower abdomen), but also with the ability to ward off the evil eye and negativity. In fact it seems that its bright red colour tend to whiten when the person who is wearing it is the object of negative thoughts.
Even in Tibet, this profound bond is strengthened.
In fact, here coral is particularly valued because it is seen by the inhabitants of these places as a reminder that all life originates from the Earth.
It is no coincidence that, for Tibetan Buddhists coral is one of the five sacred stones, and it symbolises precisely the life energy.
Because of its religious, symbolic and protective value, coral is – together with other stones – used to create pendants as amulets, jewels to be worn on traditional clothing and hair accessories.
The jewels of this kind help to represent also the social status of those who wear it, which is why wealthier men are often more likely to pay even large amounts of money to allow the women of their families to wear big accessories.
More specifically, it seems that in the North East of Tibet there is the tradition of combing the hair into 108 braids (a number with a strongly positive connotation in Buddhist culture, as it is symbol of all human desires and passions, seen as a link with the reincarnation cycle) which are then embellished with decorations made of coral, turquoise and amber.
In the Khampa population, located in the prefecture of Qamdo, men and women wear necklaces made of the so-called “nine-eyed” stones, combined with coral and turquoise (which together recall, as we have seen above, the union of natural energies).
Such accessories then tend to be worn especially during certain festivals such as the Losar, the Tibetan New Year, during which Khampa women tend to wear accessories on their heads (such as those decorated with red coral, emerald and amber flowers), around their necks and waists.
What we have offered to you is of course only a small cross-section of a culture about which there is still much more to be said.
Yet once again, it has emerged how coral – often accompanied by turquoise – is capable of bringing distant cultures closer, highlighting similarities and points of contact.
Coral brings us closer, it connects, reminding us – as the Tibetans say – that we all come from the same land and that we are indissolubly linked to each other.
