佛塔代表佛的“意”并存有他的灵骨。在象征意义上，佛塔有一整套的肖像意义，每个组成部分都代表通往圆满之路的某个具体方面。佛陀释迦牟尼涅槃（梵文：Nirvana）后不久，各地徒众分别兴建佛塔，共有八座，分别是：善逝塔、菩提塔、法轮塔、神变塔、天降塔、和好塔、尊胜塔和涅槃塔。除了八大佛塔外，流行于噶当派寺院的噶当塔是元代比较典型的艺术造型。

Stupas are representatives of Buddha’s mind and used to keep his holy relics. Symbolically, Stupas contain a whole set of iconographical meanings. Each component represents a certain aspect to the enlightened path. After his peaceful detachment (Skt. Nirvana), his disciples from all sides separately set up eight great Stupas,including Enlightenment Stupa, Bodhi Stupa, Dharma-wheel Stupa, Miraculous Stupa, Descent Stupa, Harmonious Stupa, Victorious Stupa and Nirvana Stupa. In addition, bKav-gdams Stupas prevalent in monasteries of bKav-gdams-pa Sect are a typical modeling of the Yuan Dynasty.

供养亦称“供施”，供养人亦称“施主”。“供”指的是以财宝、衣物、花香对佛、法、僧三宝进行心、物两方面的供奉。因僧侣在修行时需要摈弃一切外缘，因此无法自谋生活必需品，而需要信众的布施。僧人接受别人的供养后，不要忘记替施主回向。供养人指的是通过提供资金、物品或劳力来制作圣像、开凿石窟、修造宗教场所来弘扬佛教教义的虔诚信徒。

“Offering sacrifices” and “benefactors” are respectively known as “making offerings” and “donators”. “Offering sacrifices” means to provide money and valuables, costumes, flowers and joss sticks in mental and physical worship of Three Jewels. Monks need to break off all external connections in meditations, so it is hard for them to look for necessaries of life for themselves. As a result, they need donations from religious adherents. However, after receiving donations from others, they should remember to transfer merits to others. Benefactors refer to some pious religious adherents, who donate money and provide goods or labor forces to make holy sculptures, dig caves and set up religious sites so as to disseminate Buddhist teachings.

涅槃（梵文：Nirvana）亦称“寂灭”或“圆寂”，是死亡的美称，有“不生不灭”之意。涅槃是佛教修证的最高境界。通过修道彻底地断灭烦恼，广积功德，超越生死轮回，才能达到这种“不生不灭”的涅槃状态。

Nirvana, also known as “still quiescence” or “in a detachment state”, is a laudatory title of “death” with a meaning of “neither arising nor ceasing”. Nirvana is a supreme level in Buddhist meditations and enlightenment. Only by thoroughly cutting off troubles through meditations on Dharma, greatly accumulating merits and transcending the cycle of birth and death, could people reach a “neither arising nor ceasing” Nirvana state.

行脚僧亦称“游方僧”或“云水僧”。“云水”之名源自禅宗参禅学道的云水意境。行脚僧指的是或为自我修持，或为教化他人，或为寻访名师高僧而居无定所、四处云游的僧人，可独行或多人同行。

Roaming monks are called “Walking Monks” or “Yunshui Monks”. The Chinese term “Yunshui” (cloud and water) originated from the poetic imagery in meditations on Zen Sect’s doctrines. Roaming monks refer to a group of monks without definite residences who wander here and there for the purpose of conducting self-meditation, enlightening others or searching for great masters and eminent monks. Either a single monk or a group of monks can wander in this way.

因果报应（梵文：Karma）亦称“果报”，指的是事物的起因和结果。它起源于佛教的宿命论，认为种的什么因，就会结什么果报，这也是佛教关于善恶报应的基本学说。因果报应分为现报、生报和速报三类。现报指的是现作善恶之因，现受苦乐之报，生报指的是前生作业今生报或今生作业来生报，速报就是眼前作业眼下受报。

Retribution for sins (Skt. Karma) is also known as “this Karma”. It refers to cause and result of things. It originated from Buddhist fatalism, which believes that a certain cause surely brings a certain result. It is also a basic Buddhist theory on retribution for good or evil deeds. Retribution for sins can be classified into retribution before our eyes, retribution for this or future deeds and quick retribution. The first retribution means that good or evil deeds will bring retribution of suffering and pleasure. The second one refers to the fact that one’s deeds in his previous life will bring retribution in this life or one’s deeds in this life will bring retribution in his future life. The third one reveals the fact that one’s deeds in his present life will bring retribution at once.

慧眼（梵文：Urna）亦称“天目”或“第三只眼”，源于印度教湿婆神的巨大慧眼。佛教有肉眼、天眼、慧眼、法眼和佛眼五眼之说，它们是可以观察不同对象的五种眼力。慧眼泛指能照见实相的智慧，洞察凡间的一切。在佛像（如千手千眼观音像的掌心上）、佛塔或佛教建筑上常可看到形态各异的慧眼。

Wisdom eye (Skt. Urna), known as “divine eye” or “the third eye”, originated from Hindus Shiva’s huge eyes. In Buddhism, eyes can be classified into bodily vision, divine vision, wisdom vision, Dharma vision and Buddha vision, representative of five visions used to observe different objects. Wisdom eye generally refers to the wisdom to realize the real truth and see through everything on earth. Wisdom eyes in different shapes can be seen on Buddha statues (for example, on One Thousand-handed and One Thousand-eyed Avalokiteshvara’s palms), pagodas or Buddhist architectures.

浴佛节亦称“浴佛诞”，始于东汉，盛行于唐宋，传延至今。据传，释迦牟尼降生时，一手指天，一手指地，口说：“天上天下，唯吾独尊”。于是大地震动，九条巨龙吐水为其沐浴。自此，各地佛教徒均以浴佛的方式纪念佛祖的诞辰。每逢此日，僧尼都会供奉香花灯烛，并将铜佛置于水中，进行清理洗浴。届时，普通信众会争舍财钱、放生、求子，祈求佛祖的保佑。

Buddha Bathing Festival, also known as “Buddha’s Birth Festival”, originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty and prevailed in the Tang and Song Dynasties. It is still popular up to today. Tradition has it that Sakyamuni pointed at the sky and the earth with both his hands after his birth, saying:“Me, myself and I rule the world.” As a result, the ground shook and nine giant dragons spat out water to bathe him. From then on, Buddhist adherents from all directions would wash Buddha statues in commemoration of his birthday. On that day, monks and nuns would offer joss sticks, flowers, lamps and candles and place copper Buddha statues into water to wash and clean them. On these occasions, common people would try to be the first to give donations, free captured animals, seek for babies and pray for Buddha’s blessings.

敦煌石窟坐落在甘肃河西走廊的西端，是我国和世界珍贵的历史文化遗产。它始建于东晋十六国的前秦时期，经历代的扩建，形成巨大的规模。敦煌石窟南北长1680米，高50米，洞窟错落有致地分布在鸣沙山多达五层的断崖上。敦煌石窟以精美绝伦的壁画和栩栩如生的塑像闻名遐迩。敦煌石窟共有洞窟735个，壁画面积达4.5万平方米，泥质彩塑共有2415尊。1987年甘肃敦煌莫高窟被列为世界文化遗产名录，成为世界上现存的规模最大、内容最为丰富的佛教艺术宝库。

Dunhuang Grotto is situated in the western end of Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province. As a valuable historical and cultural heritage in China and in the whole world, it was built in the Pre-Qin period (351-394) among sixteen kingdoms of Eastern Jin. After expansions in several dynasties, it formed such a large scale. Dunhuang Grotto is 1, 680 meters long from south to north, and 50 meters high. Caves are distributed well-proportionally on five-layer bluffs of the Singing Sand Mountain. Dunhuang Grotto is famous far and wide for its exquisite murals and lifelike sculptures. It has 735 caves, a mural area forty-five thousand square meters and 2,415 clay painted sculptures. In 1987, Gansu Dunhuang Mogao Grotto was listed on the World Cultural Heritage Directory, becoming the largest extant Buddhist treasure with luxuriant content in the whole world.

蒙人驭虎图经常绘制在寺院和民宅门廊的墙壁上，寓意祛灾消难、招纳吉祥。图中有一位蒙古勇士，手持铁链牵着一只斑斓猛虎。据称，蒙古勇士、铁链和猛虎分别象征着佛教密宗部三怙主观音菩萨、文殊菩萨和金刚手菩萨。此图是藏传佛教艺术壁画题材和藏族传统吉祥图案之一，有着极为深刻的寓意。人们希望它能带来三怙主的庇护，祛邪引福。民间认为，此图可以防瘟疫，带来吉祥。

Picture Depicting a Mongol Driving a Tiger is always painted on walls of monasteries or porches of private residences. The moral of this picture is “eliminating disasters and bringing good luck”. In this picture, a Mongol warrior holds an iron chain which ties down a bright-colored tiger. Purportedly, Mongol warrior, iron chain and tiger respectively symbolize Tantric Buddhist Three Masters (Avalokiteshvara, Manjusri and Vajrapani Bodhisattvas). As one of the mural themes in Tibetan Buddhism and one of the traditional Tibetan auspicious patterns, it contains a profound moral. It is hoped that it could bring Three Masters’ protection and blessings and to eliminate disasters. This picture is believed to prevent pestilences and bring good luck.

印章用于文件上以表示鉴定或签署。在西藏历史上有许多重要的印章值得一提。如：白兰王印、敕封班臣额尔德尼之印、灌顶国师之印、西天大善自在佛所领天下释教普通瓦赤喇怛喇达赖喇嘛之印等。

Seals are used on documents to show identifications or signatures. In the history of Tibet, many important seals are worth mentioning, such as Seal of Prince of Pave-lan,  Imperial Seal to Panchen Erdeni, Seal of State Initiation Tutor, Seal of Dalai Lama, Buddha of Great Compassion in the West, Leader of the Buddhist Faith beneath the Sky, Holder of the Vajra, etc.