Tigerbells 43 millimeters

Tigerbells are a very specific type of crotal- or pellet bell, with a widespread use in traditional shamanism all over (especially) Northeast Asia and the Himalayas. They originate approximately 1400 years ago in China, from where they found their way further with the (silk route) trading. A tigerbell gets its name from the depiction of the tiger’s head on it. Traditionally this depiction is very specific in its characteristics, one of which if for example the Chinese character “Wang” on the forehead of the tiger. ‘Wang’ can be translated as ‘royal’ or ‘prince’. In China, the (Amur)tiger is considered a royal animal and as such the Wang character is depicted on all kinds of images of the tiger; from statues and paintings to children’s toys and stuffed animals. Another important association for the tiger is that with the concept of protection. This is due to the phonetic similarity for the Chinese word for ‘tiger’ and that for ‘protection’; both of which sound like ‘hoo’. Because of this link, the depiction of the tiger appears on all kinds of protective amulets and attributes. From warrior shields, horse harnesses and large house amulets to smaller personal amulets; tigerbells. A well-known use all over Asia is for example in the traditional protective anklets for children, consisting of a small tigerbell on a braided red cotton cord. From the 11th century onwards, the tigerbell found its way in traditional shamanism in (at first) Northeast China and Siberia. It quickly became the bell of choice for the shamans, even up to such a huge extent, that from this time on the field of shamanism is considered to be the most extensive area of usage for the tigerbell. After being forbidden for a while in communist times (when everything associated with shamanism was considered dangerous and therefore illegal, hence also the tigerbell), it is now being mass-produced again in many different area’s, which of course sometimes has its effects on its traditional appearance. It is nowadays still considered the bell of choice in traditional shamanism, where it is used on ritual clothing, attributes, amulets and spirit dolls. Here at SeaWolf Shop we offer you tigerbells in many different sizes. The ones here on display are recently made brass ones with a diameter of 43 millimeters (measured the width). They are sold per piece.