ORIGINS OF THE TIBETAN PLAYER FLAG

In 800 C.E. (current era) Buddhism was first introduced to Tibet by Padmasambhava. Before that, most Tibetans followed the Bon religion, a shamanistic practice. Then because Buddhism was mixed with the Bon tradition, sacred mantras and iconographies were painted onto the Bon’s flags. This is basically the origin of the Tibetan prayer flags: a synthesis of the Bon’s elemental flags and the Indian Buddhist’s dharma.

THE PLAYER FLAGS AND THEIR SYMBOLS

Tibetan prayer flags can be divided into many different types (two dozen), but the more common ones are the Lung- ta. Many people think that the word lung-ta means prayer flag, but it is not correct. Lung-ta literally means “Horse of Wind”, (“Lung” means Wind and “Ta” means Horse).

The wind horse, usually in the form of a picture, normally is at the center of the flag and holds the “Wish fulfilling Jewel of Enlightenment”. It represents good fortune, the uplifting life force energies and opportunities that make things go well.

The outside corners of the flag are always guarded by the four great animals; the garuda, dragon, tiger and snow lion. They represent the qualities and attitudes that are developed on the spiritual path to enlightenment. Garuda (wisdom), Dragon (gentle power) Snow Lion (fearless joy), and the Tiger (confidence).

The texts on the flags differ; usually a collection of various mantras or a short sutra. The Victory Banner Sutra (Gyaltsen Semo) is the most popular one, and is used to overcome obstacles and disturbances.

COLORS: THE FIVE ELEMENTS

Tibetan Medicine believes that the entire universe is composed by the five great elements. Every single atom, cell, or anything visible as well as invisible to the human eye, consists of these five elements. In our physical world these manifest as earth, water, fire, air and space. But on a spiritual level these basic energies correspond to the 5 Buddha Families and the 5 Wisdoms.

Prayer flagsreflect this comprehensive system through color; each of the 5 colors relates to an element and an aspect of an enlightened mind. The order of the colors in the flag is always the same: yellow, green, red, white and blue. In the vertical flags the yellow goes at the bottom and the blue at the top, and in the horizontal one´s the order, from left to right or from right to left does not matter.
According to the Nyingma School the color element correspondence is:

Blue – space
White – air or wind
Red – fire

Green – water
Yellow – earth
The New Translation Schools switch the colors for air and water but keep the order of the colors the same.

USE AND SYMBOLISM

The Tibetan word for prayer flag is Dar cho. “Dar” means to increase life, fortune, health and wealth and “Cho” means all sentient beings. This means that the flag in contact with the natural energy of the wind impartially increase the life, fortune, health and wealth among all living beings.

Originally, flag ceremonies were intended to provide benefit in this life, but as they gradually became more imbued with religious meaning, they came to be associated with benefit in future lives and the achievement of spiritual as opposed to material success. Although the actual ceremonies and rituals have changed very little, the significance or content of the rituals has gradually evolved a spiritual element through a mixture of Bon and Buddhist symbolism.

Wandering pilgrims carry strings of flags with them to adorn the sacred sites that they visit and also as protection against harm when traveling. That is why also many Sherpa’s before climbing the Himalayas, put some flags, burn some incense and sing some mantras.