| The longda, also called the "fortune horse" or
the "paper horse," is a woodblock-printed horse on paper. This comes
from the traditional Tibetan "Sacred Horse" worship. Its size is about
two inches wide and four inches long. On auspicious days, such as a wedding
or a festival, many Tibetans would bring the "longda" with them
to a sacred or high-peaked mountain and throw the Longda into the air,
letting the wind blow them high and far, like horses running swiftly and
serenely. The longda brings human's wishes to the gods. Humans are
then blessed.
It is common to see a "flying flag" on a Tibetan roof. This is a symbol that means good fortune, in much the same way a Westerner will say, "The wind is blowing my way." It is also an auspicious sign to dream of a running horse-- Soon, good things will come to you. |
