National Museum of Scotland
SACRED PERFORMANCE
Across the world, people bring spiritual thoughts and teachings to life through dance, costume, music and song. Sacred performances are meant to transform both the participant and the observer. Through performance, spiritual beliefs are made present and real.
In Tibetan Buddhism, ritual dances known as Cham are enacted by monks to bring blessings on the whole community. Long before the dance begins, the monks spend days meditating in the monastery, preparing their bodies and minds to perform ancient Buddhist stories and teachings.
By putting on the robes, retracing the steps, and chanting the words passed from generation to generation, the performers of sacred rituals create a space for the expression of faith.
•Left: Black Hat dancer
Mask with silk robes, collected in Darjeeing, c1919
Black Hat Cham
Tibetan Buddhism transmits different stories and teachings through ritual dances known as Cham.
Villagers gather from miles around to experience the blessings of a Cham performance.
The Black Hat Cham re-enacts the ancient story of a Buddhist monk who, disguised in a magician's black hat and robe, conquered an oppressive king through the power of dance. A tale of good conquering evil, the dance creates positive energy. balancing negative forces.
•Centre: Costume of Yamantaka, a Buddhist delty Mask with sit robes, colected in Darjeeing, c1919
Cham - a monk's perspective
‘A Cham dancer should be endowed with the view or understanding of the deity they are performing.
People in Tibet would come from a long way to attend this. They would come, out of faith, with a real feeling that the Cham has a power to bless them. The most important thing about the Cham is that people who are dancing have the correct view and meditation - the people who are watching are endowed with faith. If you have these two, then it's genuine Cham.’
—Drupon Rinpoche, Tibetan Buddhist monk, 2010
•Right: Skeleton costume
Mask with cotton clothing, collected in Darjeeling,c1919
Dancing skeletons
Death, decaying bodies - the human skeleton can seem ghastly and gruesome. However, Buddhism teaches that all beings die many times over, to be reborn to lives full of new possibilities. In Buddhist dance, the skeleton can express positive change and spiritual progress. Skeleton dances are a popular part of public Cham performances. These energetic dances are commonly performed by young monks - this skeleton costume was made to fit a young boy.
National Museum of Scotland
SACRED PERFORMANCE
Across the world, people bring spiritual thoughts and teachings to life through dance, costume, music and song. Sacred performances are meant to transform both the participant and the observer. Through performance, spiritual beliefs are made present and real.
In Tibetan Buddhism, ritual dances known as Cham are enacted by monks to bring blessings on the whole community. Long before the dance begins, the monks spend days meditating in the monastery, preparing their bodies and minds to perform ancient Buddhist stories and teachings.
By putting on the robes, retracing the steps, and chanting the words passed from generation to generation, the performers of sacred rituals create a space for the expression of faith.
•Left: Black Hat dancer
Mask with silk robes, collected in Darjeeing, c1919
Black Hat Cham
Tibetan Buddhism transmits different stories and teachings through ritual dances known as Cham.
Villagers gather from miles around to experience the blessings of a Cham performance.
The Black Hat Cham re-enacts the ancient story of a Buddhist monk who, disguised in a magician's black hat and robe, conquered an oppressive king through the power of dance. A tale of good conquering evil, the dance creates positive energy. balancing negative forces.
•Centre: Costume of Yamantaka, a Buddhist delty Mask with sit robes, colected in Darjeeing, c1919
Cham - a monk's perspective
‘A Cham dancer should be endowed with the view or understanding of the deity they are performing.
People in Tibet would come from a long way to attend this. They would come, out of faith, with a real feeling that the Cham has a power to bless them. The most important thing about the Cham is that people who are dancing have the correct view and meditation - the people who are watching are endowed with faith. If you have these two, then it's genuine Cham.’
—Drupon Rinpoche, Tibetan Buddhist monk, 2010
•Right: Skeleton costume
Mask with cotton clothing, collected in Darjeeling,c1919
Dancing skeletons
Death, decaying bodies - the human skeleton can seem ghastly and gruesome. However, Buddhism teaches that all beings die many times over, to be reborn to lives full of new possibilities. In Buddhist dance, the skeleton can express positive change and spiritual progress. Skeleton dances are a popular part of public Cham performances. These energetic dances are commonly performed by young monks - this skeleton costume was made to fit a young boy.