Ancient Tibetan Buddhism Astrology: Traditional Methods of Fortune-Telling and Prophecy

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Astrology Methods of Tibetan Ancestors: Seeking Guidance Through Fortune-Telling

The astrology methods of Tibetan ancestors are typically named after the tools used in their practice. For example, astrology using yak hair strings (later replaced with colored threads) is called "string astrology"; astrology using arrows (originally used in warfare or hunting) is called "arrow astrology"; astrology using cattle or sheep shoulder blades (reportedly human shoulder blades were used earliest) is called "bone astrology"; later, astrology using the single-sided small drum, a Bon religious instrument, became known as "drum astrology"; and astrology using entertainment dice is called "dice astrology."

We know that astrology practices emerged during a specific historical stage in the development of spirit worship and primitive religion. As primitive religion evolved, people's concepts of spirits and deities also developed. During this time, not only was there nature worship, but also animism, ancestor worship, and soul worship. People felt entirely surrounded by spirits and deities, with their actions constrained by supernatural forces. All gains, losses, successes, and failures were attributed to the gifts or interference of spirits. Since people always hoped for satisfactory outcomes in their endeavors, and these "results" were believed to be closely tied to the attitudes of spirits, people felt a strong need to understand these spiritual attitudes, thus giving rise to astrology.

Astrology served as a guiding principle for many activities of ancient Tibetans. Whether it was productive labor, life arrangements, life ceremonies, warfare, travel, or social interactions – almost everything, big or small, required astrology. Some would practice astrology daily and for every matter, seeking to understand the expected outcomes of their actions to make affirmative or negative decisions. Without astrology, people felt hesitant to proceed with anything and might even feel lost and helpless. Thus, some consider astrology as a form of futurology for ancient Tibetans.

The astrology culture in the Labrang region also originated in primitive society, representing an early method for Tibetan ancestors to understand nature and predict the future. It is a cultural phenomenon closely connected with certain aspects of astrology, featuring numerous types and relatively complete forms.

Based on the author's collected materials and comprehensive analysis, among Labrang's various astrology methods, sheep shoulder blade bone astrology, bird astrology, grain astrology, drum astrology, and string astrology are more primitive and simple. These can be confirmed as popular astrology methods before Buddhism entered Labrang. Other methods, such as prayer bead astrology and Six-Syllable Mantra astrology, emerged after Buddhism's introduction to Labrang, continuously enriched with social development, becoming increasingly complete and forming a cultural trend.

Any cultural phenomenon shows strong continuity, mainly manifested in how certain cultural phenomena or concepts remain unchanged or barely change for a considerable time, even after the mode of production and lifestyle have already changed. As a cultural phenomenon, Labrang Tibetan astrology culture has permeated various aspects of Labrang people's social life from ancient times to the present, including life ceremonies, economic activities, illness and lost items, travel, marriage, and funeral customs. Labrang people call astrology "mo," and practitioners fall into two categories: religious professionals, such as Gelug monks and Nyingma tantric masters who master astrological astrology, and specialized civilian diviners called "mowa." The commonly used astrology methods in this region include:

Dice Astrology

Dice astrology is popular in the Labrang region, with dice typically made from black thorn wood due to its hardness. Diviners use three dice painted white, red, and blue (or all white), each with eleven points distributed across its faces. The top and bottom faces have one and five points respectively, while the four sides have two, three, four, and six points. With this distribution, the minimum sum of three dice is three, so astrology calculations begin from "three" and end at the maximum of eighteen points.

Dice diviners must regularly worship the Goddess of Fortune and maintain frequent connection and communication with her to receive her assistance during astrology. During astrology, the fortune-teller meditates on the Goddess of Fortune while chanting relevant mantras, effectively blessing the dice. After throwing the three dice, they determine fortune or misfortune by comparing the points rolled with those listed in the astrology text. Seventeen points indicate great fortune; five, seven, nine, eleven, thirteen, and fifteen are fortunate (all odd numbers); eight and eighteen tend toward fortune; three and ten are neutral; fourteen tends toward misfortune; four and six are unfortunate; twelve and sixteen indicate great misfortune (all even numbers). Dice astrology covers rich content, mainly including prospects in religious practice, victory or defeat, family fortune, friendship, wealth, affairs, illness, fate, medical treatment, travel, business, marriage, evil influences, property acquisition, and lost item recovery.

Six-Syllable Mantra Astrology

The "Six-Syllable Mantra" astrology is widely practiced among both monks and laypeople in Labrang. Given its special status as one of Avalokiteshvara's heart mantras, people believe this astrology method has certain predictive abilities and various magical effects. It is considered highly effective when performed with sincere prayer and astrology.

The astrology tool used in "Six-Syllable Mantra" astrology is a single die with six faces inscribed with Om, Ma, Ni, Pad, Me, and Hum respectively. During astrology, the die is cast, and the upper-facing syllable is interpreted according to corresponding astrology verses. According to Professor Cairang's book "Tibetan Buddhist Faith and Folk Customs," there are six astrology verses corresponding to the Six-Syllable Mantra. Taking "Om" as an example, each verse follows a ten-syllable metric pattern for easy memorization. The content covers: residence (including overall situation of the building site, which zodiac signs it benefits, which prayer flags should be hung above doors, which sutras should be recited, etc.), affairs (indicating success in major matters, delays in minor ones), illness (stating whether life is in danger, fortune for tiger and rabbit zodiac signs, misfortune for rat and pig signs, methods for curing illness), enemies (fortune regarding enemies, thieves, and pursuers), as well as matters concerning guests, business, and lost items. A unique aspect is the inclusion of afterlife matters, predicting conditions in the next life.

The "Six-Syllable Mantra" astrology requires specific procedures or rituals. Before astrology, relevant mantras must be chanted seven times, followed by prayers to the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), the Three Roots (Yidam, Guru, Dakini), Avalokiteshvara, White Tara, Dharma protectors, local deities, and mountain gods, requesting their guidance for this astrology. Afterward, the Six-Syllable Mantra must be chanted multiple times. Through this communication with buddhas and deities, the diviner transfers their power to the die, and finally casts it with sincere concentration. Only by following this procedure can the astrology results be considered reliable.

Prayer Bead Astrology

Prayer beads are essential devotional items for both monks and laypeople in Labrang, especially for elderly people and monks who each possess their own string of beads.

Using them for astrology is one of their special applications. This astrology method was transmitted from India to the vast Tibetan regions around the 1st century CE.

The famous high lama Lobsang Chökyi Nyima authored "The Mirror Revealing the Hidden Aspects of Prayer Bead astrology," which is widely circulated throughout the Labrang region. astrology requires extensive preparation: chanting and visualizing Hayagriva practice and root mantras; invoking and making offerings to dakinis; placing Vajra Dakini, Ratna Dakini, Padma Dakini, and Karma Dakini in the east, south, west, and north respectively; and reciting relevant mantras. The power of these dakinis and dharma protectors ensures accurate astrology. Afterward, the prayer beads are placed between both palms, and the questioner randomly grasps a section of beads between the hands. Counting begins from both ends of the beads, and the result depends on the number of remaining beads. The relationship between numbers and fortune is: one and three are fortunate; two and five are neutral; four is unfortunate; six is greatly unfortunate.

Bone Astrology

This is a relatively primitive and ancient astrology method that was prevalent before Buddhism entered Tibet.

In Labrang, this astrology method is used by Bon shamans or Nyingma monks.

During astrology, a cleaned sheep shoulder blade is placed in fire, and fortune or misfortune is determined based on factors such as the length, straightness, depth, direction, and pattern of the cracks, as well as the clarity and pitch of the cracking sounds.

In ancient times, under certain circumstances, Bon shamans would use human shoulder blades instead of sheep shoulder blades for astrology, as human bones were said to possess strong spiritual power and provide more accurate results.

Based on the author's research, this astrology method is more popular in Labrang's pastoral areas. In the past, bone astrology was mainly used by bandits and thieves to predict whether their actions would be successful or smooth.