Molded plaque (tsha tsha)

Molded plaques (tsha tshas) are small sacred images, flat or three-dimensional, shaped out of clay in metal molds. The images are usually unbaked, and sometimes seeds, paper, or human ashes were mixed with the clay. Making tsha tshas is a meritorious act, and monasteries give them away to pilgrims. Some Tibetans carry tsha tshas inside the amulet boxes they wear or stuff them into larger images as part of the consecration of those images. In Bhutan tsha tshas are found in mani walls (a wall of stones carved with prayers) or piled up in caves.The practice of making such plaques began in India, and from there it spread to other countries in Asia with the introduction of Buddhism.

Authentic tsha tshas are cast from clay. Modern examples , such as those made for the tourist trade in Tibet, are made of plaster and cast from ancient (1100-1200) molds and hand colored to give them the appearance of age.