Chapter 202 Holy Object
Zhang Yang really wanted to know what people with billions of dollars in assets would collect.

In his previous life, he had visited a museum collection donated by a wealthy overseas Chinese businessman. If it were sold on the market, it would be worth at least 400 million yuan.

In terms of wealth alone, that overseas Chinese is definitely not as rich as the richest man in Qingzhou City.

Zhang Yang felt that Mr. Li’s personal collection must be worth at least 1 billion, right?

But when he followed Professor Qin to Li Zi's father's private gallery and entered, he was greatly disappointed by the things on display in the lobby.

"How come Mr. Li is a Tibetan monk?"

Zhang Yang asked somewhat disappointedly:
"Shouldn't someone of his status collect Qi Baishi or Shoushan stone?"

"I once had the same question as you, but Lao Li told me that when he entered the field of collecting, this thing happened to be very popular..."

Professor Qin gave a brief explanation. It was the winter of 2010, and the first snow in Qingzhou came earlier than usual.

Apart from donating to the Red Cross, Boss Li has never done anything good in his life. Naturally, he felt guilty when he got old, so he thought of resorting to feudal superstition.

It just so happened that at that time, Jet Li spent 20 million to buy a nine-eyed Dzi bead, and the media reported extensively on the magical properties of the Dzi bead.

Although Mr. Li was not the richest man at that time, he had some money on hand, so he also wanted to follow the trend.

Comfort yourself and think of it as an investment.

As a result, once you enter the Tibetan Buddhism, it is like a deep ocean, and rationality becomes a thing of the past.

Later, although Tibetan antiques were not as valuable, because Mr. Li had developed the habit of collecting and his several wives had dampened his enthusiasm for other things, he insisted on buying.

Finally it became like this:

The three-story building in an old neighborhood in Qingzhou City was previously a supply and marketing cooperative, but has now been transformed into a private Tibetan museum.

Not only is every room filled, but even the basement is filled with Tibetan Buddhist antiques.

Considering I’ve only been collecting for thirteen years, that’s a lot of stuff.

The quality is a bit poor.

In Zhang Yang's opinion, Mr. Li's collection level is second only to the National Treasure Gang.

It's all about spending a lot of money to buy worthless garbage.

Of course, this was due to the limitations of the times. When Jet Li bought Dzi beads, Ma Weidu said they were worth 100 million yuan, which made Tibetan Buddhism popular for a while.

But in fact, stamps and snuff bottles were also very popular at that time.

Although they are now declining, the other two categories, at least their aesthetic tastes are still online.

As for these Tibetan antiques...

Zhang Yang looked at the Buddha statues in the display cabinets at the entrance. For many of them, even he couldn't tell what they were carved from.

But under the dim light, it looks eerie and scary.

"How is it? Does it look okay?" Professor Qin noticed that Zhang Yang's expression had changed a little and asked considerately.

"There's nothing much to say about this, but why don't you use white fluorescent lamps here? Why do you have to use these incandescent lamps from the last century?"

"To create an atmosphere?"

"Because Mr. Li once went to the meditation room of the Jokhang Temple, and it felt exactly like this at night."

"It is said that only in this situation," Professor Qin said, pointing to the Buddha statues under the light, "can these Buddha statues emit divine radiance."

"Don't you see? There is a soft light around the Buddha statue."

"Um, is it possible that you have astigmatism?" Zhang Yang asked back.

"This... this is not important."

"No, this is important."

Zhang Yang thought, this is a great antique gallery, but because of your eyesight problems, you guys have turned it into a hell.

It's a complete waste of things!

"Okay, let's skip these Buddha statues first."

Professor Qin also asked Zhang Yang to do something and did not dare to be stubborn.

"Boss Li and I invited you here today because we have something more important to tell you."

"Dzi beads?" Zhang Yang asked.

Of all the Tibetan cultural relics he could think of, Dzi beads were definitely more expensive than these Buddha statues.

But Professor Qin showed an ambiguous smile on his face and shook his head gently:
"No, it's Gabara."

"Made of bones of the same kind?"

Although Zhang Yang was ignorant before, he had heard of things like Kabara.

There are many people around the world who use bones of the same kind as ornaments, such as the Indians who have the tradition of using skulls as ornaments. But the way they string bones together and hold them in the hands is unique to Kabala, and even foreign perverts are ashamed of themselves when they see it.

Of course, that is their belief.

Not everyone is worthy of being made into a skull ritual instrument.

"Yes, it's the same kind of bones."

Professor Qin took Zhang Yang to the third floor:
"Things like Kabala used to be quite mysterious, but now there are too many fakes on the market, and it no longer has the same feeling as before."

"Indeed, I was scared when there were no fakes before, but now when I see them, I always feel that they are works of art."

Zhang Yang agreed with Professor Qin's statement.

At least he knew that the skulls sold in many temples were made of yak bones or pig bones, which were bitten with hydrochloric acid and then cut and injected with glue.

It looks almost like the real thing.

However, the Buddhist beads made in this way will turn black as they are rolled up. Those who don’t know may think it is a sign from the Buddha that they will die soon.

"But Mr. Li's collection is different." Professor Qin changed the subject: "What he collected is all real and can be tested for DNA."

“Have you really tested it?”

"of course."

"Awesome!" Zhang Yang gave a thumbs up.

He could probably guess what he would see next, and now he was curious about how he could help.

Zhang Yang asked directly, but Professor Qin did not give a direct answer. Instead, he told him not to worry.

Now that you're here, why not take a look at the things first?

The third floor here can only be accessed with the permission of Mr. Li. In the past, those who could go up to the third floor were either high monks or wealthy people in Qingzhou.

Zhang Yang was lucky to have found a bargain.

As you enter the door, you will see a thangka of Mahakala hanging in the display cabinet facing the door.

The pure black incarnation of Tathagata. If you convert to Buddhism, you should worship this. It is absolutely correct.

Zhang Yang could probably understand why Mr. Li wanted to hang this thing up.

It is said that Mahakala is the god of medicine who specializes in curing diseases and the god of wealth.

These are exactly what Mr. Li lacks the most.

However, this Mahakala statue from the Qing Dynasty is just an appetizer for the entire exhibition hall on the third floor, and the main attraction is yet to come.

In the first display case, there are four drums, all with similar shapes, like hourglasses.

There is a rope with a knot on the top tied around the waist of the drum. From a distance, it looks a bit like a wave drum.

But this "rattle" is very big, about the size of an adult's head...

In fact, it is a magical instrument made by gluing two skulls together.

"what--"

Zhang Yang saw the grayish-white color of the drum's bones and couldn't help but shiver.

Next to the skull drum is another musical instrument, or a ritual instrument used exclusively in Tantric Buddhism – the leg bone trumpet.

Made from calf bones.

It is inlaid with a large number of gold patterns and looks very valuable.

But it's still very dark.

In comparison, the skull bowl does not look that scary at all. After all, it is covered with patterns and the material cannot be seen clearly. It looks a bit like a ladle made of a gourd.

As for the other bone carvings, if Zhang Yang didn't delve into what they were made of, he wouldn't even think of Tantric Buddhism.

In the display case at the center of the entire third floor, are placed the things that Mr. Li once treasured most.

Two strings of Buddhist skull beads.

"To be precise, this string of 21 beads (the beads that are held in the hand and rolled up) is the real Kapalala beads."

"Because they are made from the brow bones of great monks, they contain the power of faith to attain enlightenment."

"And this string of 108 hanging beads can only be considered a rosary, made of finger bones, and has the effect of opening the door to wisdom."

"seriously?"

Zhang Yang asked subconsciously, and Professor Qin fell silent.

(End of this chapter)