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Random Q

Wisdom23Wisdom23 Veteran
in Buddhism Basics
Is there a reason why ox bone is used frequantly in Tibetan Budhist jewellery ?

Comments

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    because human bone is now much harder to come by, as sky burials don't take place so much.....
  • CinorjerCinorjer Veteran
    edited November 2012
    The Tibetan wild and domestic yak or ox was about the only large mammal capable of thriving on the sparce vegetation of the mountains there. Like the native Americans did with the buffalo, about every part of a butchered ox was used, meat and hide and bones. So this is simply what was available to provide large bones for carving beads and such. It's not like they had lots of trees to provide wood.

    A side note, much of what is sold today as "carved Tibetan Ox bone" is actually Chinese fakes, and you're lucky if it's real bone, but almost certainly it's not from an actual Tibetan domestic yak.
  • KangarooKangaroo
    You can find additional information in this older post regarding bone malas.
    http://newbuddhist.com/discussion/3393/bone-mala-ethical
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