Arms and Armour in Ancient and Medieval Tibetan Literature

Abstract

This article presents Tibetan terms and expressions for arms and armour originating in Tibetan sources as per research conducted for the Wörterbuch der Tibetischen Schriftsprache, a dictionary database that includes sources ranging from the eight to the nineteenth centuries. This survey shows that Tibetan literature bears testimony to the existence of a broad variety of arms and armour in Tibet, which are mentioned in various contexts: Bon or Buddhist sources, historiographical or mythical accounts. By tracing these terms’ etymological origins and focusing on the actual use of weapons, we may gain a clearer understanding of the origin, use, and value of arms and armour in Tibetan culture.

Keywords

• Armour. Bow and arrow. Helmet. Iron hook. Lasso. Pike. Slingshot. Spear. Sword. Tibetan dictionary. Tibetan history. Weapon