Singing Bowls of Tibet

Archive for the ‘Antique singing bowls’ Category

It is thought that singing bowls (also known as singing bells) originated in India and were spread around the Himalayan area along with Buddhism. They can be found in Tibet, India, Bhutan, Korea, Japan, Bhutan, and China.  They were originally made from an alloy of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc and iron, although other elements such as cobalt, cadmium, arsenic, antimony and tin had also been added to some bowls. Modern singing bowls are generally made from an alloy containing bronze iron and zinc. The majority of bowls imported into the west are made in India and Nepal although high-quality singing bowls are also made in Japan and Korea. Himalayan singing bowls have traditionally been used for Bon and Tantric ritual as well as meditation.  In modern times they are used for relaxation, healing, meditation and balancing the chakras.  The complex harmonic overtones created by singing bowls seems to have a profound relaxing and healing effect upon the body and mind.