Chuangfan 幢幡 [banners hanging on a pole] and baogai 寶蓋 [jeweled parasol] indicate that the situation is religious and ceremonial.
In Buddhism, fan 幡 (Sanskrit: Dhvaja; Tibetan: རྒྱལ་མཚན་, THL: gyeltsen) is also one of the “Eight Auspicious Signs” or Ashtamangala. It was a military standard of ancient Indian warfare. The symbol represents the Buddha’s victory over the four māras, or hindrances in the path of enlightenment. These hindrances are pride, desire, disturbing emotions, and the fear of death. Within the Tibetan tradition, a list of eleven different forms of the victory banner is given to represent eleven specific methods for overcoming defilement. Many variations of the dhvaja’s design can be seen on the roofs of Tibetan monasteries to symbolize the Buddha’s victory over four māras. Banners are placed at the four corners of monastery and temple roofs. The cylindrical banners placed on monastery roofs are often made of beaten copper.
Chuangfan 幢幡 (Dhvaja on a pole)
Tibetan Buddhist style chuangfan
Japanese Buddhist style chuangfan
Gai 蓋 [Chatra, Sanskrit: छत्र, meaning “umbrella”] is another one of the “Eight Auspicious Signs” in Vajrayana Buddhism. Baogai, the jeweled parasol (Sanskrit: chatraratna; Tibetan: རིན་ཆེན་གདུགས་, THL: rinchenduk), which is similar in ritual function to the baldachin or canopy: represents the protection of beings from harmful forces and illness. It represents the canopy or firmament of the sky and therefore the expansiveness and unfolding of space and the element æther. It represents the expansiveness, unfolding and protective quality of the sahasrara: all take refuge in the dharma under the auspiciousness of the parasol.
Baogai 寶蓋 (Jeweled parasol)
Baogai above Buddha
The English translation for “宝盖” is “jeweled parasol”, is it better to replace “parasol” with “canopy”? just for your information.
Thank you! My understanding is that “parasol” would be supported by a pole while canopy does not necessarily need to? Since here baogai is after the word chuangfan , they may also have attached to poles? Definitely need to research more.