Tsaklis or Initiation Cards 19584b Four tsakli depicting wrathful protectors make up this set. Each wears a tiger skin around his waist, has a third eye and wild hair, and holds a sharp instrument in his right hand. Each cards measures 4-1/4 x 6-1/4 inches. The reverse side of each has six or seven lines in the Ume script. The cards appear quite old and the paper is very soft, not at all brittle. The fronts have not been glazed, so the paint, though worn and abraded in places, is still very vibrant. The card in the individual scan, both front and back, is the far right. 19584c These five tsakli all belonged to the same set, and we suspect that it might have been the same as the four above, though these look and feel quite different because these have been glazed and are quite hard and stiff. They are virtually identical dimensionally to the four above (4-1/4 x 6-1/4), the figures are on very similar lotus bases and the coloration is the same, though with these it is very darkened. Unlike the ones above, there is no inscription on the reverse sides of these. 19584d The twenty cards in this set each measure 4-3/8 x 5-1/4. They have all been slightly glazed - just enough to make taking a good group photograph very difficult. Click on the link to see the individual scan and you will get a much better feel for their appearance. A strip of cloth has been glued to the top and bottom of the reverse side of each card, and all have a line of writing in the u-chen script. The cards themselves are in good condition but they have all darkened with age; moreover they are all flecked with tiny dark spots, front and back. 19584f Measuring 3-3/4 x 5-1/2, these nine cards all show similar damage to the bottom margins, probably the result of dampness. Fortunately, the damage has been largely confined to the margin and the painting itself escaped much or any paint loss. The painting quality of these cards is very fine and delicate. They also have interesting calligraphy in the ume script on the reverse side . Though smaller than some, these would be particularly good cards for framing. 19584a A set of 31 tsakli. Each measures 3-7/8 x 4-3/8 inches. These cards are all in good condition like the example shown. Most but not all have considerable calligraphy on the reverse. This is is the Ume'script, a cursive form of Tibetan writing used for both personal and textual purposes. Click anywhere within the group photograph to see a photo of the individual card being used as a sample. (Use your Back button to return to the main page). Click here to see a photo of the reverse side of the same tsakli. The sample is the farthest card to the right in the third row from the bottom - a small image of Manjushree in front of a large vase. 19584g Miscellaneous group of thirteen tsakli. Individual cards like these are displayed on a separate page of individual tsakli. To be continued....