1900’s Antique Melong Astrology Protective Amulet (SOLD)

1900’s Antique Melong Astrology Protective Amulet

Antique Melong Astrology Protective Amulet from the 1900’s.

Dimensions: 1 3/4 ” or 44.45 mm diameter.

The astrology diagram is an ancient system of understand the patterns of universe dates back to mid – seventh century. Princess Wen Cheng (文成公主）is believed to have brought astrological system from China to Tibetet when she married the Buddhist king Songtsen Gampo (松贊干布).

The main diagram has four main components (from inner to outer):

1. In the center of the diagram, it is a ‘magical square’ also known as the ‘nine mewas’.  They are numbered from 1-9 in 3 x 3 matrix.  The number 5 is in the middle and sum of each row equals 15, as does the sum of each column and the sum of each of the two diagonals.  It is also known as the Lo Shu (洛書) Square, or the Nine Halls Diagram (九宮圖).  It comes from ancient Chinese mathematics and it relates to the flow of natural energy.  This is also a key element in Feng Shui and is sometimes connected to the Bagua.

2. The second circle is the ‘King Wen’ system combination of 8 possible trigrams formed from Yin (the broken dash) and Yang (continuous dash (阴阳八卦).

3. The outer circle depicts the 12 animals of Chinese Zodiac representing the cycle of 12 years.  In the Chinese system, the zodiac starts with the year of the rat (mouse) and is based on Chinese North-South axis – with the first animal at the 1 o’clock direction going clock wise.  However, in the Tibetan system, the 12 year cycle begins with the hare at the 9 o’clock direction and it is based on a West-East axis (possibly adapted from Indian mythology).  The main reason is because Tibetans began their cycle in 1027 AD, when the Chinese cycle was already three years into its progression.  Every 60 years it completes a full cycle with 5 mini cycles of 12 years within it.

4. Finally, everything from 1-3 above is enclosed by The Giant Golden Tortoise. Minute details might include weapons (artifacts) and flames carved around the outer most circle.  The flames symbolize a protective circle that immolates an

These are just the basics of astrological diagram and I will leave the rest for you to discover.