Tibetan Earrings: Ear Ornaments Worn by Tibetan People

Tibetan earrings, as one of the Tibetan jewelry, are a general term for ear ornaments worn by Tibetan people, including earrings, ear drops, and ear nails. Tibetan earrings are usually huge and are inlaid with stones. Many Tibetan earrings use a rope or chain to cover the ears or hang the hair to reduce weight. Many people who have worn earrings for years have ear piercings to the level of small ear width, and they can wear ultra-thick ear pins. Tibetan ear drops are relatively heavy. Tibetan men often use a rope to hang the drops on their ears. The small stud earrings are also secured with a rope. Prevent it firmly, and also save the trouble of picking often.

Materials of Tibetan Earring

The materials of Tibetan earrings are generally gold, silver, copper, and various gemstones, mostly inlaid with jadeite, agate, coral, turquoise, jade, and other types of jewelry. Some Tibetan earrings are in the shape of a twist. Most Tibetan ear nails are in the shape of flowers, in the middle of which is a semi-precious stone. Tibetan ear drops are mainly made of agate, turquoise, or coral embedded in a metal base.

Tibetan Men and Women's Earrings

In Tibet, both men and women wear ear earrings. Tibetan men usually wear earrings on their left ear. The most common earrings for Tibetan men are called "Aron". Tibetan belief was that without pierced ears one risked being reborn as a donkey. This led men who normally wore one earring in the left ear also to wear a small stud of turquoise in the right. Tibetan women wear earrings on both sides and enjoy more texture and shape than men. In addition, the woman's earrings also hang a flower pendant strung with coral beads and gold and silver chains at the lower end.

Tibetan Noble and Farmers Earring

The traditional noble earrings in Lhasa were introduced by the Mongolians. The earrings of these nobles are a large pendant on the left and a small turquoise and coral pendant on the right. In the old days, Tibetan officials wore eardrops in the shape of Dorje Phurba (daggers) as symbols of their authority. The earrings have very high requirements for the ear holes, which can fit a disposable chopstick. In addition, the noble earrings will have a rope on the ear. The rope has two purposes. The first is to prevent the earrings from being too heavy and the ear holes from cracking after being left in for a long time. The second is to prevent them from being hooked by foreign objects, which will directly pull the earrings off.

Tibetan farmers have ear holes on both sides of their earrings, with turquoise outside the ear holes and turquoise behind them. After hanging down, it feels like there is a red coral earring, and then the rope will be put on the ear to make a loop.

In conclusion

Tibetan earrings are a unique culture and living custom formed by the Tibetan people in the long-term development process. They are one of the unique decorative arts of Tibet, with a strong artistic atmosphere. In addition, Tibetan earrings have unique aesthetic significance and are becoming more and more diversified in the process of development.