Thangka of Medical Instruments

Description

Medical Thangka – Medical Instruments depicts “A doctor without medical tools is like a warrior without armor or weapons,” the Blue Beryl declares. The size of this thangka is  74*90 cm.

Here are a few examples of such “weapons”: Probes (top row) are used to investigate cranial fractures and treat hemorrhoids, among other things. The third row exhibits a variety of lancets and blades, while the big instruments (sixth row) are used to inhale medicinal vapors and are formed like pot-bellied stoves with projecting pipes.

Medicine Spoon: The medicine spoon or measure seen in this painting is similar in design to the medicine spoon in the case below from the twentieth century. In contrast to the harsh minimalism of current Western medical tools, many Tibetan medical implements, both historical and modern, are lavishly decorated. (7th tier)