Tibetan is one of the minorities in China. The total population of Tibetans in China is about 6.3 million. They do not only inhabit Tibet, but also neighbouring provinces, such as Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu, and Yunnan. Qinghai-Tibet High Plateau is the main habitation of Tibetans. It is the highest land in the world, covering Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province and the west part of Sichuan Province. The high plateau attracts tourists with its amazingly gorgeous landscape and mysterious Tibetan culture. Lhasa is the holy city of Tibetans. Both Jiuzhaigou Valley and Shangri-La are world famous tourist destinations.
Four Branches of Tibetan Group and Tibetan Language
The four branches of Tibetan Group are U-tsang, Khampa, Amdo and Gyarong. Tibetans speak their native language which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family of languages. It can be classified into four varieties. The varieties of the language spoken by Tibetans who are from different regions are mutually unintelligible. They can also be written, except for the one spoken by Gyarong Tibetans. The creation of Tibetan written system resulted from the spread of Buddhism. In the seventh century, Thon-mi Sambhota, a Tibetan scholar, was sent to the ancient India for learning Sanskrit and creating the written system of Tibetan language.
The History of Tibet
Tibetans’ ancestors originally lived in the middle reach of the Yaluzangbu(Brahmaputra) River. Historians believe that Tibetans are the descents of the ancient Qiang people. In the 6th century, a tribal alliance was formed. The chieftain of Yalung became the leader of the alliance and established the Po Kingdom. The title of king was Zanpu in Tibetan language. In the early 7th century, a powerful regime was founded by Songtsen Gampo, the grandson of Zanpu. It was called Tupo Kingdom by the Han people. Songtsen Gampo moved his capital to Lhasa. He married Princess Wencheng of the Tang Empire. Princes Wencheng was one of Emperor Taizong’s nieces. Songtsen Gampo was granted by the emperor with a title --- the Prince of West China Sea. The marriage brought a great impact on the development of Tibet. Buddhism spread to Tibet during the Tang Dynasty(618-907). In the Yuan Dynasty(1271-1368), Phags-pa Lama of the Sakya Buddhism was conferred by Emperor Kublai with a title --- the Chief Master of the Empire. Since then, Tibet has become a part of China. In 1965, Tibet was designated as an autonomous region by the central government of PRC.
The Food of Tibetans
The barley is the main crop grown by Tibetans. The steamed or roasted dough made from barley flour is called tsampa. It is the staple food of Tibetan people. The yak beef and mutton are the main meat Tibetans have in their daily life. The dried beef is their favorite food. They also stew fresh meat with potato and spices. Tibetan people drink butter tea every day. They usually boil the tea leaves with salt and butter. The barley wine(or qingke wine) is a kind of alcohol which is quite popular among Tibetans. It tastes a little sweet and sour.
Tibetan Architecture
Tibetan architecture features the castle-like house. The houses and lamaseries are usually built on elevated and sunny sites. The front doors of the houses are facing south. The houses are constructed with rocks, wood and earth. Flat roof are built to conserve heat due to the lack of fuel in Tibetan areas. Sloped walls are white-washed on the outside and exquisitely decorated inside. The Potala Palace is considered as the most typical example of Tibetan architecture. The building is 117 metres (384 ft) in height and 360 metres (1,180 ft) in width. It used to be the former residence of Dalai Lamas.
The Traditional Costume of Tibetans
Tibetan people usually wear their hair long. In the rural areas, the women braid their hair into many tiny plait. In the urban areas, they enjoy a variety of hairstyles, such as pony-tail, braids, buns and some others. Tibetans are often dressed in their traditional ways, a white or yellow shirt with a loose robe. In sunny days, they slip off the right sleeve of the robe to show the inner garment.
Tibetan Folk Customs
Hada is a long and thin scarf made of white yarn or silk. In Tibetan areas, a host usually present the Hada to their guests to show his pure and friendly heart.
Tibetans are good at singing and dancing. Their dance is called Guozhuang in Chinese. People dance together on the grass for celebrating harvest.
Tibetan people often string colorful panels or rectangular cloths at mountain passes and peaks for blessing the nearby villages or for other purposes. Those panels are called prayer flags(or Jingfan in Chinese). Some prayers are written on the panels.
Most Tibetans practice Tibetan Buddhism and Bön religion. The former is known as Lamaism, and the latter is the native religion of Tibetans which has been introduced into Tibetan Buddhism. Only a minority of Tibetans are Christians and Muslims.
Festivals of Tibetans
The Tibetan New Year is the grandest occasion that Tibetan people celebrate. Similar with Chinese Spring Festival, the celebration for Tibetan New Year lasts from the first day to the fifteenth day according to Tibetan calendar. Tibetans usually go purchasing, white-wash and decorate their houses half a month before the new year. When the new year comes, they ware new clothes and celebrate together.
The Shoton Festival can be dated back to the 11th century. It used to be a religious observance. Shoton means yogurt in English. According to Buddhist discipline, Lamas are not allowed to go out from the mid of the sixth month to the end of the seventh month. They have to stay in their lamaseries for practicing and meditating. A long time ago, when the last day of the period came, they walked to the nearby towns and villages. People usually offered them a cup of yogurt. Year in, year out, the Shoton Festival originated. After the Great 5th Dalai Lama(1617-1682) introduced Tibetan opera into the celebration, it became a grand gala of all Tibetan people. The festival showcases the authentic Tibetan culture and tradition. It mainly comprises three parts, namely the Great Buddha Display, Tibetan Opera Show, Horsemanship and Yak Race Show.
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Author: Tina Luo
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