The Jug of Jokhang 7th-8th C. CE
"At present, a silver jug stands in a wooden frame in one of the chapels of the Lhasa Jokhang, traditionally regarded as the oldest temple in Tibet (see figs 1-7). This jug is approximately 80 cm in height. It was hammered from silver sheets, cut and assembled in four parts, two hemi- spherical sections joined at the diameter of the circle, a long thin neck, surmounted by an animal head with round mouth from which liquid can be poured. It weighs some 35 kg when full of liquid, and monks fill it daily with offerings of chang, Tibetan barley beer. The gilded designs on the upper bowl of the jug are raised scrolling in heart shaped medallions, while on the lower bowl, there are three scenes representing Central Asian people, two lively solo dancers and three men in drunken revelry". (taken from AsianArt by Amy Heller).
Dance was a skill that Sogdians learned at a young age, and continued to use as they got older:
"The Iranian from Tashkent [Chach] appears young
He dances to the music before the wine goblet, as rapid as a bird
He wears a cloth cap of foreign make, empty and pointed at the top
His Iranian robe of fine felt his tight sleeves"
(Shafer 1963, 55 in Lerner 2001, 254)
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| The Jug of Jokhang, refilled with barley beer every day for Buddhist rituals at Jokhang Monastery. Made of silver with gilded Central Asian (probably Sogdian) dancers holding instruments. 80cm high. Lhasa, Tibet, 7th-8th C. CE |
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