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How to write the Tibetan script
Tibetan Calligraphy
Introduction Home ► Tibetan Script ► Calligraphy
Tibetan blockletter script (gzab ma), generally known as the headed, dbucan [pron: "uchen"] script, is traditionally
written using a handmade bamboo or reed pen cut at an angle. A broad steel nibbed italic calligraphy pen may be
used instead. Steel nibbed calligraphic pens designed for lefthanded writers of Roman italic script are slanted at a
suitable angle for a righthanded person to use when writing the Tibetan dbuchan script.
To produce the proper thickness of horizontal strokes, the width of the pen nib should be about 1/12th the height of the
letter ka.
The pen is held between the thumb and index fingers so that, as you write, the pen may be rotated to obtain the proper
tansition between thick and thin strokes. The other fingers are drawn up into a fist, though some people extend the
little finger to form a surface for the hand to rest on and provide greater stability. Horizontal strokes are written from left
to right and vertical strokes from the top down.
The top ("head") strokes of Tibetan letters should align with each other. This top or head (mgo) stroke is always drawn
first. It should either resemble a rope that has been cut diagonally at each end as in the examples below or be diagonal
at one end and bowshaped at the other.
Other strokes are executed proceeding from top to bottom and left to right.
Shoulder (dpung) strokes should descend at an angle, curving from left to right, starting thin and increasing in
thickness.
Abdominal (sbo) cross strokes should resemble the blade of a curved knife or a crescent moon, thick in the
middle and thin at both ends.
In complex "stacks" all elements of the stack are usually adjusted in size and shape. The shape and angle of
subscribed zhabs kyu (vowel sign "u") differs dependent on the letter or combination it occurs with.
There are several styles of dbucan script which vary slightly the design of the examples I've made for this page are
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based on one style used for writing religious texts. For combined letters only a few illustrative examples are given.
(See "Elements of the Tibetan Writing System" for tables of all standard letter combinations.)
Illustrations
The Thirty Consonants or "Tibetan Alphabet"
KA
KHA
GA
NGA
CA
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CHA
JA
NYA
TA
THA
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DA
NA
PA
PHA
BA
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MA
TSA
TSHA
DZA
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WA
ZHA
ZA
'A
YA
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RA
LA
SHA
SA
HA
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The four Vowel signs:
GIGU
ZHABS KYU
'GRENG BU
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NA RO
Subscribed letters ('dogs can)
Subscribed YA (ya btags)
Subscribed RA (ra btags)
Subscribed LA (la btags)
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Subscribed WA (wa zur)
Superscribed letters (mgo can)
Superscribed RA (ra mgo)
Superscribed LA (la mgo)
Superscribed SA (sa mgo)
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Punctuation
Additional Tibetan letters for writing Sanskrit
More...
A Free Tibetan Script Font: Jomolhari
Elements of the Tibetan Writing System
Dungkar’s Great Encyclopaedia: The Tibetan Script translated by by Sam van Schaik.
Copyright © 2000 to 2008 Christopher J. Fynn All Rights Reserved
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