bum pa

1 vase [vessel w kha gyer ba ??? and widened belly]; 2) chu 'khor dang lag mchig gi 'bru blug khung, ??? bottle, flask, vase, jug, pot, bulge (of a stupa [IW]

bottle, flask, vase, jug, pot, bulge [of a stupa]; See also 'chi med tse bum [RY]

vase [RB]

dome [RY]

holy water vessel, sacred bowl, vase (as treasury of all desires), bottle, ritual vessel, pot-belly stomach, water-bottle, flask, bottle-shaped ornaments in architecture, pot, urn, earthen jar, vessel for water, (1 of khyim bcu gnyis), ceremonial vase, ceremonial vase [JV]

Discussion

A vase is commonly used as an example of a material thing in many different logics. It is used because it is a neutral object. The characteristics given in traditional literature are bulging-bellied, narrow-footed, water-carrying, able to perform a function. The only English word could apply to such a thing is "vase." Yet some people insist on translating bumpa as "pot," despite the fact that bulging-bellied and narrow-footed are not characteristics of pots: many pots have quite straight sides. Bud vases which have straight sides are not characteristic vases but calling them such is a 'dra ba rgyu mtshan du byed pa'i btags ming. The wit might argue that vases should be called pots because they are pot-bellied, but that argument can't carry water. It also has the unfortunate implication that many middle-aged men would therefore be vases. DKC