WANG HAIYUAN
1973
China
WIND FROM THE PLATEAU. 2011.
Fengma scripture flags, various materials, outside installation.
In Tibetan residential areas, there are all colours of cloth, which are scripture flags or Fengma flag.
Fengma, is “longda” in Tibetan – “long” means wind, and “da” means horse. So Fengma flag can be called Fengma scripture flag. The real meaning of “fengma” is that the wind is the tool that spreads abroad scriptures in the flag; and the wind is like a shapeless horse which transmits scriptures so the horse is the wind. The Tibetans think the eudemon that protects mountains and rivers in their places are zan god of heaven and nian god of earth. The two gods always ride on horseback through the snow-covered mountains, forests, prairie and canyon for patrolling and protecting their tribes from devils and monsters. This idea was illustrated and printed on the scripture flag by a walking horse with a ” Norbumoba”, spells, scriptures or pictures of vows. The Norbumoba is a cone fire figure which is the symbol of fortune, prosperity and longevity.
In the deepest sense, the ‘fengma’ refers to luck and fate, or particularly the Five Elements. In the holy mountains and lakes, people display the scripture flags which are printed with gods or eudemons for sending their wishes to the gods in the heaven.
The Tibetans always place their own or the departed’s bracelets, hats, hairs or the wool on the scripture flags, wishing they can be blessed and lucky. The scripture flag is the record of belief in the Tibetan’s heart as well as the dream of the future and the wish of destiny.
The procedure of making scripture flags:
The scripture flags are usually made of cloth, sometimes yarn of ramie, silk or raw paper. It is usually shaped to a square, a rhombus or a rectangular form, from 10 to 60 centimetres wide. Its length ranges from strips to a roll of cloth. People hang them on the pole or scatter them everywhere.
The whole scripture flag is the integration of sense and sensibility, which expressing good wishes and spirits of Tibetans. With the wind blew, Fengman flags are waving. The Tibetans believe that when the wind blows the flags, the scriptures on the flags will be read.
http://blog.artintern.net/wanghaiyuan
