Himalayan Art Resources

Ritual Object: Amulet Box (Ga'u) Main Page

Amulet Masterworks

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (Below)
- Outline Page
- Shapes:
--- Shrine
--- Square
--- Round
--- Miscellaneous
- Boxes with Letters
- Contents of an Amulet Box
- Amulet Boxes (Univ. of Michigan)
- Ritual Objects Main Page
- Confusions
- Others...

Video: Amulet Box

Key Topics:
- Size: small, medium, large
- Shape: shrine, square, round, miscellaneous
- Function: reliquary

Amulet Box (Tibetan: ga'u): portable shrines generally made from metal in a repousse style of construction. The purpose and function of an amulet box is for general protection and protection when traveling. Amulet boxes are also commonly used to store all manner of sacred materials such as small texts, blessing cords, consecrated medicine, relics, and the like.

The amulet can generally be found in three sizes. The smallest is usually worn around the neck containing precious and blessed objects. These amulets are often in miscellaneous shapes, round or oblong.

A medium sized amulet box generally has three parts: (1) the metal container of whatever shape, (2) a cloth outer covering with a buttoned fold for opening, and finally (3) the contents of the amulet box which can be an image made of metal, tsa-tsa, cloth, string, medicine, or anything that is deemed special or blessed. They often, but not always, have a small window on the front with a religious image inside. Typically the front is very ornate and decorated with the Eight Auspicious Symbols and other motifs. Objects such as this were generally carried when traveling some distance away from home, such as on pilgrimage, or for extended business trips.

The largest of amulet boxes is typically in the shrine shape and follows the basic design of the medium sized box. They are normally too large to carry and remain on a shrine in a home or temple.

Database Search: All Images

Jeff Watt 7-2008


Essay: PORTABLE SACRED ITEMS FOR PRAGMATIC AND TRANSCENDENT GOALS by James Gentry.

Arts of Asia, volume 31, number 1, May-June 2001. Ga'u, the Tibetan Amulet Box, John Clarke, pages 45-67.