What are Tingshas? (Tibetan Hand Cymbals)
Awaken your spirit and summon peacefulness with the vibration of
tingsha
chimes.
Strike the hand cymbals together and a beautiful, clear, high note will rise
from them to hang in the air and create an extraordinary stillness. The
scintillating tone of the ting-sha instantly strikes a resonance within the
human heart.
Their purpose is to summon, and they call us to awareness, to remember who we
are, and to recognize our priorities in this often turbulent and illusive world.
The distinguishing feature of ting-sha is that they are cast from bell metal, an
amalgam of three to twelve metals, which produce the enduring and harmonic
resonance.
When they are suspended horizontally and struck together, a delightful,
oscillating wave of sound seems to pass between them as they reverberate at a
high frequency, creating an impressive symphony of haunting sounds.
Tingshas
have long been used for ritual purposes by Buddhist monks, nuns, yogis and
yoginis. Today they are used by these and lay people alike. They are used in
meditation, cleansing, healing and alignment.
When the two cymbal-shaped metal disks are struck together each produces a
ringing sound of very slightly differing pitch. The combined effect gives rise
to the unique 'shimmering' quality to the sound. Outside Tibetan Buddhism,
shamanic use of tingshas also includes clearing space of negative energies and
healing or balancing auric fields or to make an offering. They are also used to
define the beginning and the end of a period of meditation.
The Tingshas
that Zanzibar Trading Co. sells are hand cast by master bell makers for pure
tone and long resonance. We source our Tingshas from several sources, including
Nepal, Tibet and northern India (the Tibetan communities of Darmasala /
Lingtsang).
Many of our tingshas are cast by Tibetan refugees, are fairly traded and a
portion of their sale goes to help these artisans.
We assure FAIR TRADE guidelines are used when procuring our tingshas and we also
pride ourselves in making sure that the artisans are working in safe working
conditions. That face masks, protective eye wear, gloves and other safety items
are used as well as sufficient ventilation is a requirement for our producers:
mostly small family run (perhaps with extended family and an employee or two)
foundries, often run out of the artisan's home or compound.
Our highest quality tingshas are produced in Lingtsang, a Tibetan refuge colony
in northern India. A portion of each purchase price of our tingshas goes to
training programs and a range of humanitarian programs managed by the Tibetan
Government-in-exile.
Many of our tingshas are also produced in Nepal by both Tibetan refuges and
Newari craftsmen.
A Tibetan master craftsman by the name of Soga oversees this process. Soga is
from Kham, the eastern province of traditional Tibet. This region was known for
its metal craft traditions, including producing the highest quality bells and
tingsha.
Each tingsha is individually sand cast of a variety of metals, typically from a
minimum of three (3) to a superior special seven (7) or more (up to 12) metal
bell alloy that produces a powerful harmonic resonance when played.
The casting may include decoration of the upper surfaces - usually depicting
dragons, the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" or the eight auspicious symbols (see
section Aspects of Tibetan Buddhism). The undersurfaces will often be imprinted
with Tibetan characters for "Om Ah Hung" which represents enlightened body,
speech and mind.
Each cymbal is hand tuned and has a unique sonic “voiceprint”. Most are
embellished with symbolic motifs, such as mantras , auspicious symbols or
dragons. We personally find that plain (unadorned) tingshas tend to produce a
better quality, purer and longer lasting tone.
When played as an instrument, tingshas form a part of a traditional Buddhas
monastic orchestra but can also be used as a chime or "bell".
Tingshas are small hand cymbals that are struck edge to edge at right angles to
produce a very penetrating sound. The Tingsha is sounded at the beginning and
end of meditation sessions. At the beginning you let go of everything except the
clean moment of here and now; at the end you awaken physically and spiritually
in the here and now of material reality.
How are Tingshas played? To produce a clear, harmonic sound, grasp each cymbal
by the cord, at the point where it enters the hole on tingsha. Hold firmly, and
strike the edges together. This is most easily accomplished by angling one
cymbal about 90 degrees to the other, rather than parallel. Allow the tingsha to
ring until silent. Tingshas may be used as a sound marker to begin and end
meditation and other activities.
Some believe that the pure, ringing vibration creates an opening in reality.
They can direct or push energy, and can be used to diagnose. They have an
attribute which is to 'fill' emptiness. They are also used in the 'Ceremony of
the Hungry Ghosts', and to signal that a Buddhist Teaching is about to take
place.
The sound of bells on anklets were worn by Buddhist monks to warn the bugs to
get out of the way. These prayer chimes are traditionally used to focus and
clear the mind before and after a teaching or meditation.
Some say the use of Tingshas is like a summons. It brings us to the here and
now. Tingshas are also used for clearing negative energies and are used in Feng
Shui to clear the energy present in a room and "open" it by sounding the
tingshas in the four corners of a room. A great way to clear energy when
smudging is not appropriate!
They have also been used as a summons to call "hungry ghosts", those beings
characterized by small mouths and huge bellies, and in a perpetual state of
wanting. By calling them and making an offering (be it food, incense or a
prayer), their suffering is diminished. In the Boddhisattva tradition, only when
all suffering is eliminated, can Enlightenment be achieved.
Today, especially in the west, some holistic practitioners use Tingshas to clear
the chakras.
How are Tingshas made?.
Click to the left if you'd like to read an article on how tingshas are made, how
to determine quality and a bit about pricing.
Zanzibar Trading Company offers one of the largest
selections of Tinghas online. To view our inventory,
click here