Tibetan Me lcags

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A Tibetan me lcags (pronunciation: "Metscha"; literally: "Feuereisen") is a lighter , consisting of a leather case to which a semicircular iron blade is attached at the bottom and a loop or handle at the top. A flint (quartz) and tinder (e.g. cotton) are kept in this case . These objects are also referred to as chuckmuck (Tibetan lcags mag ) in older English-language literature . The term chuckmuck (pronunciation: “Tschakmak”) is probably a Turkish loan word that has been reinterpreted in Tibetan by folk etymology .

Tibetan lighter decorated with chased bronze and silver sheet and turquoise. First half of the 20th century
Simple Tibetan lighter studded with iron and decorated with a Tibetan copper coin. First half of the 20th century
Tibetan lighter decorated with embossed silver sheet and a red coral pearl (imitation). The strap is studded with a silver button. First half of the 20th century

ornament

Most of the time a me lcags is shod with embossed silver or gold sheet, which is decorated with Buddhist, mythological or floral motifs. Simple lighters are studded with engraved bronze or iron plates.

use

A me lcags is carried on the belt with other utensils such as a purse (Tibetan: ba 'khug ), sewing kit container (Tibetan: khab shubs ), knife, seal or container for writing implements and, depending on its value and quality, can say something about the social status of the wearer . Before the Chinese occupation of Tibet, a me lcags were both an object for everyday use and what, in modern terms, can be described as a “fashion accessory”. It is still worn today by many Tibetans, although its function as an "accessory" or jewelry predominates.

literature

  • Haenlein, Monika and Fehre Eberhard: Arsonists! A brief cultural history of the lighter. From fire steel to solar igniter . Lower Rhine Museum for Folklore and Cultural History Kevelaer e. V., Goch, 2002.
  • Rockhill, William Woodville: The Land of the Lamas . Emphasis. Asian Education Services, New Delhi, Madras, 1983 (first publication: Longmans, Green, and Co., London 1891).
  • Weihreter, Hans: jewelry from the Himalayas . Academic printing and Publishing house, Graz, 1988. ISBN 3-201-01388-9 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Alexander Csoma de Koros assisted by Sangs-Rgyas Phun-Tshogs: A Dictionary of Tibetan and English. First published in 1832. Reprint: Cosmo Publications, New Delhi, 1978, p. 274.