Ms. Trudeau  Humanities 2002-2003 
 
Eastern Thought
: participation projects -- make a prayer flag 

Prayer flags in Tibet are a form of -- prayer.  The sacred windhorse, usually pictured in the center, carries off into the wind the prayers of good wishes -- for compassion, wisdom, peace and good fortune.  You will choose  color(s) for your flag(s) (you may do more than one) This is the order, left to right, in which they will hang

  • Blue (sky, air, wind)
  • White (clouds)
  • Red (Fire)
  • Green (water)
  • yellow (earth)
You will then use one of the classroom Buddhist symbols dictionaries (or online sources) to seek other symbols that might appeal to you -- you can express one of the above concepts in a varity of ways which do or do not relate to your own life.

You will be provided with a (sort of) block to impress your work on, ink and a brayer, and then print the flag. 

You will also produce a typed "Museum Card" to post when we hang the flags outside the school. This should include both the contents of the flag and why you chose the symbols you did. 
 
 
 

Download the flag template from the following site 
http://cres.anu.edu.au/~mccomos/prayerflag.html

use the following basic sound alphabet to assist you in your design. (TO BE SCANNED IN AT HOME) 
 

 
 
This site was created by Matthew Foglia and Ms. Trudeau of Moultonborough Academy at the NEH Summer Institute "Cultures and Religions of the Himalayan Region," held at the College of the Holy Cross.