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      Prayer Flags

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>       The tradition of flying prayer flags can be traced back to Bön, the original religion
of ancient Tibet. All the three sects of Bön, namely Dol Bön, Cher Bön, and Ger Bön
revered the sun, moon and stars and the five natural elements (earth, water, fire, air and
space or solidity, fluidity, heat, motility and space) in addition to the teachings of
Shenrab Miwoche. Early Tibetans paid respect to the sun, moon and stars and natural
elements by depicting symbols of them on banners. When wars were waged between
different clans and regions, these banners were bound to weapons in the belief that their
invincible power would help those who wielded them to triumph over their enemies.
This is how they became popular battle flags.
>       When Buddhism began to be assimilated in Tibet from the 7th century onwards,
the content of the battle flags changed accordingly. Although text derived from the
Buddhist scriptures began to be employed on the flags, there was no change in their
colours representing the five elements with blue/space, white/water, red/fire, green/air
and yellow/earth.
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>       Flying prayer flags is one of those Tibetan customs that can be regarded as part of
folk tradition or as part of Tibetan Buddhism depending on how and when it is done.
When prayer flags are flown on the Buddhist holy days such as those commemorating
Buddha's Enlightenment, the Turning of the Wheel of Dharma or World Purification
Day it is regarded as a Buddhist ritual. When new flags are hung simply to replace old
ones or they are hung as part of the Tibetan New Year celebrations or to appease
favourable worldly gods, accompanied by generous offerings of incense, it is regarded
as folk tradition. Prayer flags can be hung up on any day and at any time, but most
Tibetans choose to do it on the abovementioned auspicious days or on the 11th day of
the second month and the 13th day of the fifth month of the Tibetan calendar.
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>       Flags bearing prayers and sutras are normally hung in front of village temple gates
and monastery gates on tall poles. They can also be seen flying from rooftops, from
cairns and from hilltops here and there. The tradition of hanging up prayer flags began
in the Bön era, was fully assimilated into Buddhist culture and can still be seen across
Tibet from Ngari to Dartsedo.
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