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A Tibetan Myth on Origin of Bows

Publication at Faculty of Arts |
2021

Abstract

The text introduces a ritual tradition called leu (Tib. le'u) from north-eastern Tibet. Among the texts recently discovered in the region of Thewo (The bo) figures ritual cycle called "bird-poles" (Tib. bya rdang) ritual dedicated to "warrior gods" (Tib. dgra lha/dgra bla/sgra bla).

This ritual is refferred to in many Bonpo texts, but until recently such ritual has remained enigmatic. A special construction called "bird-poles" consisting of wooden poles to which various birds are invited is used during the ritual.

It had been used in this particular area namely for propitiation of "warrior gods" before dispatching for fighting in the times predating the Cultural Revolution. A part of the texts contains myths on origin of various weapons associated with "warrior gods".

The text presents a series of short myths on the origin of bow in translation and facsimile of the original text.