Bell necklace from Tibetan Shaman's costume
Bell necklace, from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Tibetan Shaman's costume, consisting of coat, hat, scarf, belt, parchment crown, hand bell, ceremonial thunderbolt, rhino horn container, thigh bone trumpet, two bone necklaces, two seed and nut necklaces, two bell necklaces, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Part of a Tibetan shaman’s costume, including hat, bone necklace, medicine horn and handbell, which were collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, in 1986. Tibetan medicine is over two thousand years old and coexists in Nepal with other medical traditions such as biomedicine and Sherpa medical practices.
Bell necklace, from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Rhino horn for medicines, from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
This rhino horn held medicines. It was part of a Tibetan shaman’s costume. It attached to a belt or scarf around the waist. Shamans are believed to hold the power to cure disease by contacting the spirit world. They often enter a trance-like state to discover why a person has fallen ill, and how they might cure it. Their costume marks them as an important person in the community. Their physical appearance also impresses or intimidates spirits.
A shaman ritual is just one medical tradition used in Tibet and Nepal. Others include biomedicine and Sherpa traditions. This costume was collected by a private collector while travelling through Kathmandu valley in Nepal. The collector literally bought the costume off the man’s back and donated it to the Science Museum. The costume was bought from shaman who had travelled weeks to attend the Tibetan festival of Bodhnath. This takes place at the Great Buddhist Stupa (monument) in Kathmandu.
Bone necklace, from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
This bone necklace was part of a Tibetan shaman’s costume. Shamans are believed to hold the power to cure disease by contacting the spirit world. They often enter a trance-like state to discover why a person has fallen ill, and how they might cure it. Their physical appearance also impresses or intimidates spirits. Their costume marks them as an important person in the community.
A shaman ritual is just one medical tradition used in Tibet and Nepal. Others include biomedicine and Sherpa traditions. This costume was collected by a private collector while travelling through Kathmandu valley in Nepal. The collector literally bought the costume off the man’s back and donated it to the Science Museum. The costume was bought from shaman who had travelled weeks to attend the Tibetan festival of Bodhnath. This takes place at the Great Buddhist Stupa (monument) in Kathmandu.
Fur-lined hat, from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
A Tibetan shaman wore this fur-lined hat as part of his costume. It was worn underneath a paper crown. Shamans are believed to hold the power to cure disease by contacting the spirit world. They often enter a trance-like state to discover why a person has fallen ill, and how they might cure it. Their physical appearance also impresses or intimidates spirits. Their costume marks them as an important person in the community.
A shaman ritual is just one medical tradition used in Tibet and Nepal. Others include biomedicine and Sherpa traditions. This costume was collected by a private collector while travelling through Kathmandu valley in Nepal. The collector literally bought the costume off the man’s back and donated it to the Science Museum. The costume was bought from shaman who had travelled weeks to attend the Tibetan festival of Bodhnath. This takes place at the Great Buddhist Stupa (monument) in Kathmandu.
Metal bell, from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Coat from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Part of a Tibetan shaman’s costume, including hat, bone necklace, medicine horn and handbell, which were collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, in 1986. Tibetan medicine is over two thousand years old and coexists in Nepal with other medical traditions such as biomedicine and Sherpa medical practices.
Scarf from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Belt from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Part of a Tibetan shaman’s costume, including hat, bone necklace, medicine horn and handbell, which were collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, in 1986. Tibetan medicine is over two thousand years old and coexists in Nepal with other medical traditions such as biomedicine and Sherpa medical practices.
Parchment crown from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Part of a Tibetan shaman’s costume, including hat, bone necklace, medicine horn and handbell, which were collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, in 1986. Tibetan medicine is over two thousand years old and coexists in Nepal with other medical traditions such as biomedicine and Sherpa medical practices.
Ceremonial thunderbolt from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Part of a Tibetan shaman’s costume, including hat, bone necklace, medicine horn and handbell, which were collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, in 1986. Tibetan medicine is over two thousand years old and coexists in Nepal with other medical traditions such as biomedicine and Sherpa medical practices.
Thigh bone trumpet from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Part of a Tibetan shaman’s costume, including hat, bone necklace, medicine horn and handbell, which were collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, in 1986. Tibetan medicine is over two thousand years old and coexists in Nepal with other medical traditions such as biomedicine and Sherpa medical practices.
Bone necklace from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Part of a Tibetan shaman’s costume, including hat, bone necklace, medicine horn and handbell, which were collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, in 1986. Tibetan medicine is over two thousand years old and coexists in Nepal with other medical traditions such as biomedicine and Sherpa medical practices.
one (of two) seed and nut necklace from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Part of a Tibetan shaman’s costume, including hat, bone necklace, medicine horn and handbell, which were collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, in 1986. Tibetan medicine is over two thousand years old and coexists in Nepal with other medical traditions such as biomedicine and Sherpa medical practices.
one (of two) seed and nut necklace from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Part of a Tibetan shaman’s costume, including hat, bone necklace, medicine horn and handbell, which were collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, in 1986. Tibetan medicine is over two thousand years old and coexists in Nepal with other medical traditions such as biomedicine and Sherpa medical practices.
one (of two) bell necklace from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Part of a Tibetan shaman’s costume, including hat, bone necklace, medicine horn and handbell, which were collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, in 1986. Tibetan medicine is over two thousand years old and coexists in Nepal with other medical traditions such as biomedicine and Sherpa medical practices.