Above: Detail from a Tibetan Thangka displaying a man holding a coral branch.
The Tibetan Medical system was introdcued in the 8th Century CE by the accomplished master, Yutog Gonpo the Elder. It is thought that these early medical texts were influenced by the Ayurvedic medical systems of India, and also Chinese and Persian medicine. In the previous century, the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo (617-698) had already invited great scholars and doctors from China, India and Persia. This also helped to establish the Tibetan writing system. These early texts did not become well known until Yutog Gonpo the Younger (1126-1212) merged these texts with his own medical treatise known as the 'Four Tantras'. They were completed in the 12th Century.
The first 'illustrated' Tibetan medical texts were probably the Blue Beryl treatise of Sangye Gyamtso (1653-1705) and this clearly shows that coral was an important and prized ingredient in many medical treatments. There also many Thangka paintings from as early as the 14th century, that show red coral branches as precious offerings. The fact that coral was valued as a medicinal ingredient in the Four Medical Tantras (12th Century), shows us that it was already deeply rooted in Tibetan culture at this time.
The first 'illustrated' Tibetan medical texts were probably the Blue Beryl treatise of Sangye Gyamtso (1653-1705) and this clearly shows that coral was an important and prized ingredient in many medical treatments. There also many Thangka paintings from as early as the 14th century, that show red coral branches as precious offerings. The fact that coral was valued as a medicinal ingredient in the Four Medical Tantras (12th Century), shows us that it was already deeply rooted in Tibetan culture at this time.
Above: Antique mediterranean coral sourced in Nepal.
In Tibetan Medicine there is a precious healing pill that includes coral as a main ingredient. It is said that this pill was formulated in ancient times and called the 'Rinchen Byur-dmar 25' also known as RINCHEN JUMAR-25 (Precious Coral-25 ) "It is prescribed for headaches, fainting, brain afflictions, fever that has been caused by poisonous substances, neuritis and chronic diseases. It is also believed to counteract stiffness and paralysis originating in the nervous system". There is also a pill said to originate from the 13th Century called the Rinchen Ratna bsam-pel (Precious Wish Fulfilling Jewel). It contains detoxified mercury, dZi, coral, turquoise and many other semi-precious stones.
Tibetans were not just using this material for medicine but more widely for personal adornment. We can also find a large number of early Tibetan statues and tantric ritual implements that have been inlaid with coral and various semi-precious stones. From the 1700s onwards there certainly seems to be an increase in mediterranean coral available to Tibet and the Himalayan regions. Many artifacts from this period show that coral was a popular material, because it is visible in all forms of Tibetan art and jewellery.
It is possible that the carnelian beads known as Pema Raka were once the most common and desirable of all the 'red' beads. When the mediterranean coral trade increased, the Pema Raka probably became less desirable, with Tibetans favouring the more exotic imported ocean coral. In today's marketplace, coral is by far the most expensive of all the orange/red Himalayan beads. It is also scarce due to mediterranean coral trade bans and has therefore become even more sought after. We also see many imitation coral beads in the marketplace to satisfy this demand. Pema Raka beads are sometimes referred to as 'poor man's coral', but I do not feel these beautiful beads were ever a substitute for red coral. Pema Raka (carnelian) may have been introduced long before coral became popular in Tibet.
Tibetans were not just using this material for medicine but more widely for personal adornment. We can also find a large number of early Tibetan statues and tantric ritual implements that have been inlaid with coral and various semi-precious stones. From the 1700s onwards there certainly seems to be an increase in mediterranean coral available to Tibet and the Himalayan regions. Many artifacts from this period show that coral was a popular material, because it is visible in all forms of Tibetan art and jewellery.
It is possible that the carnelian beads known as Pema Raka were once the most common and desirable of all the 'red' beads. When the mediterranean coral trade increased, the Pema Raka probably became less desirable, with Tibetans favouring the more exotic imported ocean coral. In today's marketplace, coral is by far the most expensive of all the orange/red Himalayan beads. It is also scarce due to mediterranean coral trade bans and has therefore become even more sought after. We also see many imitation coral beads in the marketplace to satisfy this demand. Pema Raka beads are sometimes referred to as 'poor man's coral', but I do not feel these beautiful beads were ever a substitute for red coral. Pema Raka (carnelian) may have been introduced long before coral became popular in Tibet.
Above: Antique Pema Raka Bead
The vivid carnelian used in creating Pema Raka may have come from China. However, it has been suggested that the earliest Pema Raka may have been traded from Afghanistan. The red glass beads known as 'Sherpa Coral', which first appeared in the Himalayas towards the end of the 19th Century, were clearly designed to imitate red coral. They were affordable and their striking red colour made them an attractive alternative to coral and carnelian.
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