HISTORY

The craft of making Black Pottery in Tibet Dege Dzongsar can be dated back to Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), which is more than 700 years ago. The uniqueness of this pottery is that it is made of Sédo (Tibetan: གསེར་རྡོ་) and the black clay used for making this pottery is considered sacred by Tibetans as it was discovered and blessed as “Terma” by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo who is the first incarnation of Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche.

Terma (Tibetan: གཏེར་མ་)“hidden treasure” are various forms of hidden teachings that are key to Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana) and Bön religion. These teachings were esoterically hidden by various adepts such as Padmasambhava and Dakinis during the 8th century, for future discovery at auspicious times by other adepts, who are known as Tertöns. Tradition holds that Terma may be a physical object such as a text or ritual implement that is buried in the earth, hidden in a rock or crystal, secreted in an herb or a tree, hidden in the sky (or space).

The Black Pottery of Tibet has not only religious background but also medicinal one. According to Sowa Rigpa (traditional Tibetan medicine) the earth used in this pottery making is beneficial to our overall health.

PRESENT

The small pottery workshop is located in Dege Dzongsar. Dege is in the eastern Tibet, traditionally known as Kham, now administratively in the northwestern part of Sichuan Province near the border of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The town of Dege, is famous as the location of the Dege Parkhang, a historic Tibetan printing house and temple listed under UNESCO. 

Jamyang Gelek is the head artisan in this workshop. His father taught him the art of making black pottery when he was 16 of age. He himself has eighteen apprentices working and learning the craft skill with him.

The pottery workshop in Dzongsar is an excellent example of community-based cultural preservation. While the tradition is ancient, by 1997 mainly due to cultural revolution, there remained only one elderly potter Tashi Namgyal who had the traditional craft skills. With the encouragement from Dr. Lodoe Phuntsok to preserve this ancient craft. Tashi Namgyal officially established this workshop in 2003. His son, Jamyang Gelek, took on the teaching duties since 2010. Today there are about 30 potters skilled in this pottery tradition, and active classes are held at the workshop. Students are both local and from as far away as the Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province. 

Now with less people using black pottery for daily use, stainless steel has taken place instead of handmade pottery. Resulting in low sales for the Black Pottery, even facing the danger of losing this art of making black pottery as this craft skill is incapable of bringing the artisans a sustainable income for their livelihood. 

So, Kadhak is determined to protect this ancient craft of pottery making through promoting their art piece in bigger markets, bringing in sustainable income for the artisans while preserving the ancient craft. Kadhak’s help in outreach and promotion, network-building and establishing an online presence, artisans gain access to the marketplace and new income opportunities.

Today’s artisans hold the keys to Tibetan culture. Our goal is to support their livelihood and relevance, ensuring a new generation of apprentices will carry on the crafts.