TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE PRODUCTION OF TIBETAN SINGING BOWLS

The article is the second one in a series of works united by one common idea - scientifi c interdisciplinary study of Buddhist cult bronze. The article is devoted to the study of the Asian type of bells - Tibetan singing bowls. The purpose of the study is to determine the features of the manufacture and use of the Asian type of bronze bell - the Tibetan singing bowl. The research materials are divided into several parts refl ecting various aspects of the problem under consideration. The study is based on reviewing periodicals, analyzing domestic and foreign literature, studying private collections, and independent observations of the authors. The study is novel in that it reviews and systematically analyzes information concerning Tibetan singing bowls for the fi rst time in the scientifi c literature. The geographical regions of production of Tibetan singing bowls are designated. The authors have compiled a map of the regions of traditional bowl production and are considered several technologies for bowl production. The work describes overall dimensions and shapes of the bowls and analyzes the composition of the alloys of the products. The authors have identifi ed the problem of manufacturing defects and raised the issues of branding of objects and decorating products. All graphic images presented in the article belong to the authors. Realistic and technical drawings of the bowls are based on their own descriptions of objects from private collections. In addition, the article contains a variety of folklore and ethnographic material collected by the authors, brought from travels to the regions of the spread of Buddhism. The materials of the article systematize and supplement the existing knowledge about the eastern variety of bells - Tibetan singing bowls. The article may be useful for students, graduate students and teachers when conducting lectures and practical classes in historical, archaeological, psychological and related disciplines of universities, as well as a wide range of readers interested in the cultures of the peoples of the world.