About Tibet
The aim of this new page on the OFT website is to present a variety of sources of information about Tibet, its geography, its culture and traditions, its people. Also included are the names of organizations, at home and abroad, whose mission is to promote cross-cultural understanding and friendships between the Tibetan community and other cultural groups.
For a comprehensive overview on Tibet, click on www.tibet.com,
which is the official site of the Tibetan government-in-exile. It
contains a wealth of information on the current status of Tibet, the
structure of the Tibetan government-in-exile, news articles, Tibetan
culture, food and music.
- GEOGRAPHY
- CLIMATE
- RELIGION
- CULTURE AND TRADITIONS
- FILMS AND VIDEOS ON TIBET
- TIBETAN ASSOCIATIONS IN CANADA AND ABROAD
GEOGRAPHY
The geography of Tibet is comprised of the high mountains, lakes
and rivers of central Asia. Tibet is often called "the roof of the
world", comprising table-lands averaging over 4,950 metres above the
sea with peaks at 6,000 to 7,500 m, including Mount Everest. It is
bounded on the north and east by China, on the west by the Kashmir
Region of India and on the south by Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan.
Most of Tibet sits atop a geological structure known as the Tibetan
Plateau which includes the Himalaya and many of the highest mountain
peaks in the world.
(Source: http://www.voyageatheme.com/)
Current
map of Tibet (source: Lonely Planet)
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Provinces
Tibet lies at the centre of Asia, with an area of 2.5 million square kilometers. The earth's highest mountains, a vast arid plateau and great river valleys make up the physical homeland of 6 million Tibetans. It has an average altitude of 13,000 feet above sea level.
Tibet is comprised of the three provinces of Amdo (now split by China into the provinces of Qinghai, Gansu & Sichuan), Kham (largely incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and Qinghai), and Ü-Tsang (which, together with western Kham, is today referred to by China as the Tibet Autonomous Region).
The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) comprises less than half of historic Tibet and was created by China in 1965 for administrative reasons. It is important to note that when Chinese officials and publications use the term "Tibet" they mean only the TAR. Tibetans use the term Tibet to mean the three provinces described above, i.e., the area traditionally known as Tibet before the 1949-50 invasion.
Map
of Tibet Provinces (Source: The Official Web Site of the Central Tibetan
Administration)
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Amdo
Amdo is one of the three former provinces of Tibet, the other two being Ü-Tsang and Kham; it is also the place from which Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, comes from. The Tibetan cultural sphere of Amdo is one of the most important and varied within the Tibetan Plateau. There are many dialects of the Amdo language due to the geographical isolation of many tribal groups. The (Tibetan) inhabitants therefore call themselves Amdowa (a mdo pa), and not Böpa (bod pa), as the Tibetan designation for (central) Tibetans suggests.
Amdo was and is the home of many important Tibetan Buddhist monk teachers or lamas who had a major influence on both the politics and religious development of Tibet, like the great reformer Tsongkhapa, the 14th Dalai Lama as well as the 10th Panchen Lama. It is, therefore, a region spotted with many Buddhist monasteries - with Kumbum Jampa Ling (Chin. Ta'er Si) near Xining, Qutan Si and Labrang Tashi Khyil south of Lanzhou being among the most famous and important within the Tibetan cultural realm.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amdo)
Labrang monastery in Amdo (Source: Wikipedia)
For more information, you can also visit:
http://www.pbase.com/mreichel/amdo
http://kekexili.typepad.com/photos/amdo/index.html
Ü-Tsang
Ü-Tsang is the cultural heartland of the Tibetan people. The present Tibet Autonomous Region corresponds approximately to what was ancient Ü-Tsang and western Kham.
For more information, you can visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lhasa
http://kekexili.typepad.com/photos/tsang/index.html
Kham
Kham comprises a total of 50 contemporary counties, distributed
between the Chinese provinces of Sichuan (16 counties), Yunnan (3
counties), and Qinghai (6 counties) as well as the eastern portion
of the Tibet Autonomous Region (25 counties). Kham has a rugged terrain
characterized by mountain ridges and gorges running from northwest
to southeast. Numerous rivers, including the Mekong, Yangtze, Yalong
Jiang, and the Salween flow through Kham.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khampa)
Young Kham girl, Tibet
To see photos taken in the Kham region, visit http://kekexili.typepad.com/photos/kham/index.html
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CLIMATE
Tibet's vast size means a variety of weather conditions. In the capital of Lhasa, temperatures reach into the low 30 Celsius during the summer months of June and July. December and January are the coldest months with temperatures hovering between ten degrees Celsius above zero and about ten degrees Celsius below zero. Winters are intensely cold and windy. The most rain falls between June and September, with little or none falling in the north and west of Tibet.
(Source: http://www.geocities.com/skygal_pink/index.html.
This site also has good information regarding Tibetan medicine, music,
language, literature, etc., as well as a hyperlink with http://tibet.org/tibet.org/
which created the internet network of the Tibetan government-in-exile
in Dharamsala, India.)
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RELIGION
Most Tibetans generally observe Tibetan Buddhism and a collection of native traditions known as Bön (also absorbed into mainstream Tibetan Buddhism).
The Tibetan Muslims are also known as the Kache.
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of religious Buddhist doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet, the Himalayan region (including northern Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Ladakh), Mongolia, Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia (Russia), and northeastern China (Manchuria: Heilongjiang, Jilin). It includes the teachings of the three vehicles (or yanas in Sanskrit) of Buddhism: Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana (also known as Tantrayana). The invasion and occupation of Tibet by China in 1959 (which has become known as the Tibetan Diaspora) eventually led to the spread of Tibetan Buddhism to many Western countries where the tradition has gained great popularity. In the past, Tibetan Buddhism was referred to by some as "Lamaism" (See Lama) but this is now considered by many to be based on a misunderstanding of the practice of guru devotion ('guru' is the Sanskrit equivalent of the Tibetan word 'lama' and means 'spiritual teacher') in Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhists generally find the term "lamaism" offensive.
Tibetan lamas, both Buddhist and Bön, play a major role in the lives of the Tibetan people, conducting religious ceremonies and taking care of the monasteries. Pilgrims plant their prayer flags onto the sacred grounds as a symbol of good luck.
The prayer wheel is a means of chanting the mantra by revolving the object several times in a clockwise direction. It is widely seen among Tibetan people. In order not to desecrate religious artifacts such as Stupas, mani stones, and Gompas, Tibetan Buddhists walk around them in a clockwise direction, although the reverse direction is true for Bön. Tibetan Buddhists chant the prayer "Om mani padme hum", while the practitioners of Bön chant "Om matri muye sale du".
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Buddhism)
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CULTURE AND TRADITIONS
The Tibetan Language
The Tibetan language is spoken primarily by the Tibetan people
who live across a wide area of eastern Central Asia bordering South
Asia, as well as by overseas Tibetan communities all over the world.
Several forms of Tibetan are also spoken by various peoples of northern
Pakistan and India in areas like Baltistan and Ladakh, which are
both in or around Kashmir. Its classical written form is a major
regional literary language; particularly its use in Buddhist literature.
Tibetan is typically classified as a Tibeto-Burman language which
in turn is, according to the most widely-accepted theory, a branch
of the Sino-Tibetan language family. Spoken Tibetan includes numerous
regional varieties which, in many cases, are not mutually intelligible.
Moreover, the boundaries between Tibetan and certain other Himalayan
languages are sometimes unclear. In general, the dialects of central
Tibet (including Lhasa), Kham, Amdo, and some smaller nearby areas
are considered Tibetan dialects, while other forms, particularly
Dzongkha, Sikkimese, Sherpa, and Ladakhi, are considered for political
reasons by their speakers to be separate languages. Ultimately,
taking into consideration this wider understanding of Tibetan dialects
and forms, what we might call "greater Tibetan" is spoken by approximately
6 million people across the Tibetan Plateau. Tibetan is also spoken
by approximately 150,000 exile speakers who have moved from modern-day
Tibet to India and other countries.
Although Classical Tibetan apparently was not a tonal language,
some dialects have developed tones. This is particularly true in
the Central and Kham dialects, while the Amdo dialect and some in
the west remain without tones. Tibetan morphology can generally
be described as agglutinative.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_language)
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Meaning of Tibetan Names
In Buddhism it is said that everything is imputed by name and thought
and nothing exists inherently. Names in Tibetan Buddhist culture
are given intentionally. Some examples of sources of names given
to children, are The Dalai Lama's name, common types of names, name
changes and the names of the four major Tibetan Buddhist sects.
Tibetans usually do not have or use family names. For instance
in the West, the Smith family would all have the last name of Smith.
The family might consist of Bob Smith, Mary Smith, Joe Smith and
Susan Smith. In a Tibetan family, all of the first and last names
of all members might be different. The family might consist of Tenzin
Wangdu, Dicky Dolma, Dawa Paljor, and Karma Dorje.
In Tibet, a person who gives a name to a child, in accordance with
Buddhist tradition, always choose a name with an auspicious meaning
in order to create positive predisposition for the future of the
child. Many people in Tibet have names related to male or female
Buddhas or enlightened beings. Some names such as "Tenzin" or "Dawa"
can be both male or female although females often take the name
of a female Buddha or deity such as "Dolma" (Tara in Sanskrit )
which means the "one who liberates others from suffering. There
are also female names such as "Dicky Dolma" which means"one who
is healthy, happy and liberates other by leading them to Nirvana."
Some names such as "Dawa" have several different meanings. "Dawa"
means both" moon" and "Monday." "Dawa" can be given to a child who
is born on a Monday or it can convey the symbolic meaning of one
who "gives light and removes darkness" as moonlight does. Tibetans
names can come from important religious symbols such as the "dorje"
which symbolizes indestructibility, compassion, and skillful means.
People are also named after simple Buddhist terms such as "sherap"
which is a word meaning wisdom, or "sopa" which means patience.
For more information, visit
http://www.namgyal.org/articles/names.cfm.
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Tibetan Art
Sacred Artforms Tibetan artforms
are deeply religious in nature, a form of sacred art. From the
exquistely detailed statues found in Gompas to wooden carvings
to the intricate designs of the Thangka paintings, the over-riding
influence of Tibetan Buddhism on culture and art can be found
in almost every object and every aspect of daily life.
Most Tibetan Buddhist artforms are related to the practice of
Vajrayana or Buddhist tantra. Tibetan art includes thangkas and
mandalas, often including depictions of Buddhas and bodhisattvas.
Creation of Buddhist art is usually done as a meditation, as well
as creating an object as aid to meditation. An example of this
is the creation of a sand mandala by monks; before and after the
construction prayers are recited, and the form of the mandala
represents the pure surroundings (palace) of a Buddha on which
is meditated to train the mind. The work is rarely, if ever, signed
by the artist. Other Tibetan Buddhist art includes metal ritual
objects, such as the vajra and the phurba.
"Thangka", also known as "Tangka" or
"Thanka" is a painted or embroidered Buddhist banner which was
hung in a monastery or a family altar and carried by lamas in
ceremonial processions. In Tibetan the word 'than' means flat
and the suffix 'ka' stands for painting. The Thangka is thus a
kind of painting done on flat surface but which can be rolled
up when not required for display, sometimes called a scroll-painting.
The most common shape of a Thangka is the upright rectangular
form.
Thangda (Source:Wikipedia)
Mandalas The Tibetan mandala is
a tool for gaining wisdom and compassion and generally is depicted
as a tightly balanced, geometric composition wherein deities reside.
The principal deity is housed in the center. The mandala serves
as a tool for guiding individuals along the path to enlightenment.
Monks meditate upon the mandala, imagining it as a three-dimensional
palace. The deities who reside in the palace embody philosophical
views and serve as role models. The mandala's purpose is to help
transform ordinary minds into enlightened ones.
The Sand Mandala Mandalas constructed
from sand are unique to Tibetan Buddhism and are believed to effect
purification and healing. Typically, a great teacher chooses the
specific mandala to be created. Monks then begin construction
of the sand mandala by consecrating the site with sacred chants
and music. Next, they make a detailed drawing from memory. Over
a number of days, they fill in the design with millions of grains
of colored sand. At its completion, the mandala is consecrated.
The monks then enact the impermanent nature of existence by sweeping
up the colored grains and dispersing them in flowing water.
How Mandalas Heal According to
Buddhist scripture, sand mandalas transmit positive energies to
the environment and to the people who view them. While constructing
a mandala, Buddhist monks chant and meditate to invoke the divine
energies of the deities residing within the mandala. The monks
then ask for the deities' healing blessings. A mandala's healing
power extends to the whole world even before it is swept up and
dispersed into flowing
(Source:
http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online/mandala/mandala.htm)
Mandala (Source: http://www.mandalaproject.org/What/Main.html)
Malas or Prayer Beads "Mala" is
a Sanskrit word meaning rosary or prayer beads. It is used for
counting mantras and is one of the essential attributes of the
pilgrim and of many deities. Malas are made from exotic wood,
seeds, bone and/or horn. Each Mala has the traditional 108 beads.
(Source: http://magiedubouddha.com/p_tib-malabois.php)
Bell and Dorje are handmade by Tibetans
and used for special rituals. This Bell is used to call the presence
of Buddha and the Deities and is balanced to 'sing' harmonically
at specific tones. It can also be made to sing by slowly rubbing
its rim with a wooden stick. The Dorje(lightning or thunderbolt)
embodies the concepts of enlightenment and the indestructible
nature of Truth. Both Bell and Dorje are used together for many
rituals. Traditionally the dorje is held in the right hand, and
symbolizes masculine yang power and the clear essence of reality
that is the basis of everything. The feminine yin bell is held
in the left hand as a representation of profound wisdom. When
unified in a ceremony of ritual prayer, they form a symbol of
incorruptible purity that no force can destroy...the victory of
wisdom over ignorance.
Bell and Dorje
(Source: www.luckycat.com)
For more information on the meaning of sacred objects, such as
beads, bells and vajras, visit http://www.tibet.com/Buddhism/3objects.html
Murals There are three types of
murals in Tibet: religious, historical and social. Most murals
focus primarily on religion. Although some early murals devoted
to Bon still exist, most of the contemporary murals depict various
aspects of Buddhism . The most popular murals are of religious
figures , such as Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Guardians of Buddhist
Doctrines, Taras in the sutras, or Buddhist masters. In these
paintings, there is always a head deity or human, who is usually
surrounded by some other deities or humans. If the central figure
is featured alone, his surroundings are extravagantly detailed.
Jokhang Temple and Tashilhunpo Monastery have built special courtyards
dedicated to this type of mural painting
(Source: http://www.tibettrip.com/arts-culture/tibetan-mural.htm)
(Source:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/picture/tibet/tibetan-fresco-sculpture/)
Prayer flags are colorful panels or rectangular
cloths often found strung along mountain ridges and peaks in the
Himalayas to bless the surrounding countryside. Unknown in other
branches of Buddhism, prayer flags are believed to have originated
with Bön, which predated Buddhism in Tibet. Traditionally they
are woodblock-printed with texts and images. There are two
kinds of prayer flags: horizontal ones, called lung ta (meaning
"wind horse") in Tibetan, and the vertical Darchor.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_prayer_flag)
Prayer flags are inscribed with auspicious symbols, invocations,
prayers, and mantras. Tibetan Buddhists for centuries have planted
these flags outside their homes and places of spiritual practice
for the wind to carry the beneficent vibrations across the countryside.
Prayer flags are said to bring happiness, long life and prosperity
to the flag planter and those in the vicinity.
Dharma prints bear traditional Buddhist symbols, protectors and
enlightened beings. As the Buddhist spiritual approach is non
theistic, the elements of Tantric iconography do not stand for
external beings, but represent aspects of enlightened mind i.e.
compassion, perfect action, fearlessness, etc. Displayed with
respect, Dharma prints impart a feeling of harmony and bring to
mind the precious teachings. (Source: http://www.prayerflags.com/)
The prayer wheel (called mani chos-'khor
or Mani wheel by the Tibetans) is a wheel on a spindle made from
metal, wood, leather, or even coarse cotton. On the wheel are
written or encapsulated prayers or mantras. According to the Tibetan
Buddhist belief, spinning such a wheel will have much the same
effect as orally reciting the prayers.
Rules surrounding the prayer wheels are very specific. The practitioner
must spin the wheel clockwise. This was determined because this
is the direction the mantras are written. Before and after the
practitioner turns the wheel, he or she must repeat the mantra,
or no merit will be incurred by the wheels use. The faster ones
spins the wheel the better because each revolution is considered
as meritous as reading the inscription aloud as many times as
it is written on the scroll. The practitioner should also repeat
the mantra as many times as possible during the turning of the
wheel, and keep a calm meditative mind.
For more information on prayer wheels, you can visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_wheel.
The stupa Stupa (Chorten in Tibetan)
is an important religious monument in Tibet. This unique religious
architectural form expresses significant religious symbolism and
presents Buddha's physical presence. It generally consists of
three parts; a whitewashed base, a whitewashed cylinder and a
crowning steeple or shaft.
Stupas always house items that Buddhists hold sacred. Sutra scripts,
Buddha statues, Tsa-Tsas, hair clippings, fingernails, relics
and cremation ashes of saints are usually enshrined in stupas
along with jewels, herbs and other objects. They are sometimes
used as tombs in which mummified bodies of high lamas are buried.
Stupas can also be objects made of copper or brass which are
used to keep relics.
Kata, the Traditional Tibetan Greeting/Farewell/Offering
Scarf The offering of a Kata is a well-known Tibetan
custom. Kata scarves are traditionally offered to a Lama for blessings,
then returned to you by placing the scarf around your bowed neck.
As a greeting, the kata symbolizes the very best intentions and
happiness of the giver. When given as a farewell, the Kata symbolizes
the wish for a safe journey and return. On some occasions the
kata is presented and not returned, such as birthdays and other
special events that are personal to the receiver.
(Source:
http://www.luckycat.com)
For more detailed information on Tibetan prayer flags, you can
visit:
http://buddhism.kalachakranet.org/symbols_tibet_buddhism.htm
Singing bowls have a magical aliveness,
and they interact in distinct ways with different people and environments
when played. Handcrafted by different makers, each bowl has a
unique voice. Comprised of the seven metals representing different
planetary influences:
Gold = the sun
Silver = the moon
Mercury = Mercury
Copper = Venus
Iron = Mars
Tin = Jupiter
Lead = Saturn
Together these metals produce a profound sound that can penetrate
deep within the body and mind creating a subtle healing, also
useful as an aid to meditation. The bowl is played by holding
it in the flat open palm of one hand, allowing the body of the
bowl to vibrate freely, while running a rounded wooden stick around
the outside rim of the bowl with the other hand. When the correct
combination of pressure, angulation, and velocity is reached,
the bowl will sing, much as a drinking glass will vibrate to a
certain frequency when you run your finger around the rim. 
The singing bowl is traditionally used as a special offering
bowl in a Buddhist altar containing barley, flower or rice, water,
and butter with a wick placed in the center to create a butter
lamp. Due to its amazing sonorous properties singing bowl has
become not just a musical instrument, but rather a practical tool
of letting go in the practice of meditation. Here is how it works:
Place the bowl in the open palm of one hand (Be sure to let go
of the rings) and hold the wooden stick vertically like a pen
in the other. Tap the bowl with a stick (you will feel the vibration)
and then run a stick around the outside rim with steady pressure
and speed A series of calming tones will begin to emerge. If not,
try it again and again until you notice that the steady tone comes
only when you relax, trying to hard simply sends the bowl to the
floor! So enjoy the process, remember you're an adult who is simply
playing with a cup and a stick. Those who have mindlessly entertained
themselves with running their finger over the rim of champagne
glass at a boring banquet and those advanced in the practice of
Buddhist meditation have the advantage.
(Source:
http://www.tibetinfor.com.cn/tibetzt-en/xzyq/doc/0101_02_01.htm)
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Tibetan Arts and Crafts
There is a rich tradition of arts and crafts in Tibet, from mud
stupa, scripture boards, murals, paper, wood carving (http://en.tibet.cn/newfeature/handcraft/news/t20050731_45318.htm)
To woven bags, braided slings, knitted scarves, felted decorations,
jewelry made of gold, silver copper, and stones like turquoise,
pendents and bracelets made of sandalwood or lotus seeds, rings
made of sterling silver, earrings made of yak bones, masks, wooden
and copper bowls.
For great pictures, visit: http://www.cyberyong.com/2007/04/arts-and-crafts-in-tibetans-life.html
Tibetan incense Tibetan Incense
comes from a centuries old tradition of combining special medicinal
and therapeutic substances derived from herbs, flowers and minerals
that when burned, deliver an aroma which can help to sooth and
calm a restless mind. Tibetans living in India hand roll our incense
sticks, in their home cottage industries, to make these wonderful
fragrances. They use sandalwood, rose petals, jasmine flowers,
cedar bark and numerous other ingredients to obtain these enjoyable
aromas. For a large collection of Tibetan incense, visit http://www.hitherandyononline.com/Incense/incense.htm
Tibetan Rugs Rug weaving is one
of Tibet's oldest arts, dating back to at least the 11th century.
It is an ancient art and craft in the tradition of Tibetan people.
These rugs are primarily made from the Tibetan highland sheep’s
virgin wool. The Tibetan uses rugs for almost any domestic use
from flooring to wall hanging to horse saddles. The process of
making tibetan rugs is unique in the sense that almost everything
is done by hand. But with the introduction of modern technology,
a few aspects of the rug making processes have been taken over
by machine primarily because of cost, disappearance of knowledge,
etc. However some new finishing touches are also made possible
by machine. (Source: Wikipedia)
For a comprehensive database of Himalayan and Tibetan art, visit
Himalayan Art Resources http://www.tibetart.com/introduction/.
The website exhibits images of art from museum, university and
private collections around the world. It also catalogs all Himalayan
art objects that are known through past or present collections
or publications.
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Tibetan Medicine
Tibetan medicine is a centuries-old traditional medical system
that employs a complex approach to diagnosis, incorporating
techniques such as pulse analysis and urinalysis, and utilizes
behavior and dietary modification, medicines composed of natural
materials (e.g., herbs and minerals) and physical therapies
(e.g. Tibetan acupuncture, moxabustion, etc.) to treat illness.
Tibetan medicine is one of the oldest forms in the world. It
utilizes up to two thousand types of plants, forty animal species,
and fifty minerals. One of the key figures in its development
was the renowned eighth century physician Yutok Yonten Gonpo,
who produced the Four Medical Tantras integrating material from
the medical traditions of Persia, India and China. The tantras
contained a total of 156 chapters in the form of Thangkas, which
tell about the archaic Tibetan medicine and the essences of
medicines in other places.
(Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_people
and http://www.padma.ch/fr/medecinetibetaine/diagnostic.shtml)
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Music and Dance
The music of Tibet reflects the cultural heritage of the trans-Himalayan
region, centered in Tibet but also known wherever ethnic Tibetan
groups are found in India, Bhutan, Nepal and further abroad.
First and foremost Tibetan music is religious music, reflecting
the profound influence of Tibetan Buddhism on the culture.
With each area having their own distinctive styles, there is
a huge variety of traditional songs and dances throughout Tibetan
areas. The most ancient songs are sung without any accompaniment
and one can imagine them being sung high in the mountains as
shepherds took care of the animals.
Dances performed by lay-people follow very different traditions
from those performed at religious establishments. Depicting
aspects of Buddhist philosophy, they can be amazingly spectacular,
involving the use of masks, colourful costumes, and the playing
of horns, cymbals, and other traditional Tibetan instruments.
The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts in Dharamsala, India
(http://www.tibetanarts.org/home.html)
was the first of several institutions established in exile by
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, following the Chinese occupation
of Tibet in 1959. Since then, its primary mission has been to
preserve the cultural identity of Tibetans by keeping alive
Tibetan artistic traditions and by sharing them with the world.
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Traditional Tibetan Festivals
Tibetan festivals are an intrinsic part of Tibetan culture.
They are held according to the Tibetan lunar calendar, which
usually lags at least a month behind our Gregorian calendar.
Losar Festival Tibetan New Year
is the most important festival in Tibet. Known as Losar, the
festival starts from 1st to 3rd of the 1st Tibetan month. Specially
made offerings are made to family shrine deities; doors are
painted with religious symbols; other painstaking jobs are done
to prepare for the event.
Sho-Dun Festival is the opera festival.
In ancient times, pious folks went into mountain hermitages
where they ate yogurt and listened to folk songs and dances.
Presently, opera contests and distribution of prizes are held
for seven days.
Jeykundo
Horse Festival, in Kham, East Tibet - Home to the Khampa
warriors, Kham is a remote, rugged and seldom visited region
in Eastern Tibet, characterized by high mountains, deep alpine
gorges and spectacular fortress homes. For three days in August
the Khampas erect hundreds of tents on the grassy plains above
Litang and fill the air with jangling horse-bells, thundering
hooves and whooping cries of riders showing off their equine
skills. Almost unknown by the outside world, this is a festival
that has remained unchanged for centuries. (Source : http://www.responsibletravel.com/Trip/Trip900794.htm)
Litang Horse Festival Every year in
August for more than 400 years, monks and herdsmen have saddled
up for a horse racing festival on the Litang plain in Tibet.
The Nakchu Horse Race Festival is the
most important folk festival in Tibet. Thousands of herdsman
throng to Nakchu riding fine horses and carrying the local products.
They form a city of tents south of Nakchu town. There is thrilling
horse race, archery and demonstrations of horsemanship, and
song and dance troupes from all parts of Tibet add to the fun.
For a full description of the various festivals, visit http://www.tibet.ca/en/wtnarchive/2002/11/1_3.html
from The Canada Tibet Committee and http://zt.tibet.cn/tibetzt-en/festival/fes06/fes_06_02.htm.
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Traditional Tibetan Dress
Tibetan dress reflects the history, culture, beliefs, character
and wealth of the local people. Tibet's isolated environment
has allowed Tibetan clothing to evolve into a variety of distinctive
and characteristic styles. There are marked variances in the
clothing of different localities, influenced by the different
strands of their religion.
Tibetan clothing consists mainly of a Tibetan robe and shirt.
The Tibetan robe is broad, and appears longer on the left than
on the right, as it is often fastened under the right armpit.
Robes are also secured with two cloth belts in red, blue, or
green.
In most areas the traditional dress for both men and women
consists of the chuba, a long wrap-around cloth tied at the
waist, with men tending to wear a shorter chuba with pantaloons.
There are many distinctive variations in how the chuba is worn,
each indicating the wearer's area or a particular symbolic significance.
(Source: http://www.rokpauk.org/tibcultureheritage.html)
The apron is one of the favorite items of clothing for Tibetan
women. According to Tibetan custom, they are the privileged
garments for married women only; single girls do not generally
wear them. Gonggar County in the Jiedexiu area of Shannan Prefecture
is synonymous with aprons, having produced them for 500 or 600
years. (Source: http://zt.tibet.cn/english/zt/xz_arts/200402004520160541.htm)
The Kham region
The traditional robe in the Kham region is made of yack skin
lined with fur. Men and women wear black velvet and leather
boots. Women wear a conical fur hat lined with fur and sawn
with red silk thread, while men wear wear a hat made of wolf
skin.
Throughout Kham, numerous women wear gold and turquoise head
pieces atop long braids woven around their heads. Along with
this Tibetan head wear, older women often sport traditional
Tibetan robes. Younger girls, however, wear such robes only
on special occasions. (Source: http://www.pacificvillage.org/villagevoices/tibetchinaopen05/archives/000972.html)
The traditional robe in the Kham region
(Source: http://tibet.solidarites.info/habillement.php)
The Ü-Tsang region
Ü-tsang men wear a high collar shirt under a tunic that go
below the knees. They wear round hats and shoes made of yak
skin. Women wear a long shirt under a long sleeveless dress
and multicoloured shoes. They also wear a head scarf embroidered
with pearls, turquoise, and coral and turquoise earrings.
The traditional dress in the Ü-Tsang
region (Source: http://tibet.solidarites.info/habillement.php)
The Amdo Region
In the Amdo region, both men and women wear a long tunic
with sleeves lined with leopard skin. They wear boots made
of yak skin, black for men and white for women. Both gender
wear turquoise necklaces and earrings.
Amdo men wear this ceremonial dress during festival days
such as Losar -- the Tibetan New Year -- or on special occasions
such as Sagadawa--the celebration of the Buddha's enlightenment.
The traditional robe in the Amdo region
(Source:http://tibet.solidarites.info/habillement.php)
The Dropka region
The weather in northern Tibet, where herdsmen lead a nomadic
life in natural mountain pastures, is bitterly cold. As there
is a huge disparity between day and night time temperatures,
local herdsmen wear a furred robe all year round, which doubles
as a quilt at night. In daytime, people wear their left sleeve
only, or sometimes wear neither, and tying the two sleeves
at the waist. Today, the fashion of wearing only the left
sleeve, while exposing the right shoulder, is immediately
recognizable as Tibetan dress style. ( Source: http://tibet.solidarites.info/habillement.php)
The traditional dress in the Dropka
region (Source:http://tibet.solidarites.info/habillement.php)
For an overview of Tibetan traditional dress, visit:
http://www.tanc.org/tibetan_dress/dress_small.html
or http://chinayak.com/tibet/Html/200651151118-1.Html
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Traditional Tibetan Food and Drinks
The cuisine of Tibet is quite distinct from that of its neighbours,
since only a few crops (not including rice) grow at such high
altitude. The most important crop is barley. Dough made from
barley flour, called tsampa, is the staple food of Tibet.
This is either rolled into noodles or made into steamed dumplings
called momos. Meat dishes are likely to be yak, goat, or mutton,
often dried, or cooked into a spicy stew with potatoes. Mustard
seed is cultivated in Tibet, and therefore features heavily
in its cuisine. Yak yoghurt, butter and cheese are frequently
eaten, and well-prepared yoghurt is considered something of
a prestige item. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org)
For more information on the topic and recipes, visit: http://www.tanc.org/new_food/.
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FILMS AND VIDEOS ON TIBET
For a good resource list of films and videos on Tibet,
make sure you visit http://www1.esc.edu/personalfac/tgrunfeld.
Each entry states the name of the film and of the director,
and gives a short summary.
TIBETAN ASSOCIATIONS IN CANADA AND ABROAD
There are many associations dealing with Tibet issues.
These are just a few. We will post new ones regularly.
The Tibetan Community in North America
Web Site: http://www.tibet.com/Address/americas.html
This site is maintained and updated by The Office of Tibet,
the official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in London.
Tibet House - Cultural Centre of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama
Tibet House was established in Delhi in 1965 by His Holiness
the Dalai Lama for the purpose of preserving the unique
cultural heritage of Tibet at a time when it faced extinction
in its homeland, as well as for providing a centre for Tibetan
and Buddhist studies.
The U.S. Tibet House was founded in 1987 by Columbia University
professor Robert Thurman, actor Richard Gere and modern
composer Philip Glass (among others) at the behest of His
Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. It was initially
organized in New York City, USA, and the Tibet House U.S.
is still based there. (Source: Wikipedia)
Tibet House offices are found in many countries (India,
U.K., U.S. Australia, Mexico, Russia, etc.).
Web Site: http://www.tibet.net/tibethouse/eng/
The Tibetan Women Association (TWA)
In exile, TWA places great priority on the contributions
of Tibetan women towards the preservation and promotion
of the distinct religion, culture and identity of the Tibetan
people. TWA serves the Tibetan community as a whole with
activities addressing religious and cultural issues, educational
needs, social welfare, the environment and the political
participation and social empowerment of women. Web Site:
http://www.tibetanwomen.org/
The Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario
The Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario (www.ctao.org)
is a non profit organization incorporated in 1980 with the
purpose of preserving Tibet's rich culture and traditions
in Canada. The goal of the CTAO is to promote cross-cultural
understanding and friendships between the Tibetan community
and other cultural groups in Canada, through education and
awareness projects, networking, events and festivals, and
participation with other ethnic groups in recreation and
sporting activities. As a learning centre (Tibetan language
classes are provided) and a place to share common interests,
the CTAO will not only help Tibetan immigrants adjust to
the culture, heritage, and lifestyle in Canada, but we will
also promote and nurture Tibetan culture and arts within
the Tibetan community and with other. Web Site: http://www.ctao.org/.
Canada Tibet Committee
The Canada Tibet Committee (www.tibet.ca) was formed in
1987 to act as a unified voice for Tibetans and Canadians
to increase awareness of Tibet within Canada and the world
and to advocate for peaceful resolution to the conflict.
It currently has nine offices across the country and is
funded entirely by private donations, special events, and
membership fees. The CTC is a member of the International
Tibet Support Network (ITSN) and sits on its steering committee.
The ITSN is a collective of over 100 Tibet related non-governmental
organizations from Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa.
The ITSN consolidates international Tibet advocacy and activism
around issues of social justice, human rights and the environment
through a democratic and collaborative process. Web Site:
http://www.tibet.ca.
Tibetan Childrens’ Village
The Tibetan Children's Villages (www.tcv.org.in) was founded
in 1961 as a charitable organisation dedicated to the welfare
and education of Tibetan children in exile. Its mission
is to ensure that all Tibetan children under its care receive
a sound education, a firm cultural identity and become self-reliant
and contributing members of the Tibetan community and the
world at large. It has established Children's Villages and
branch Schools, Youth Hostels, Vocational Training Centres,
Day Schools and Day Care Centres in India extending from
Ladakh in the North to Bylakuppe in the South, with over
16, 178 children under its care. It is funded by donations
around the world, especially the SOS Kinderdorf International,
the backbone of its financial support. Web Site: http://www.tcv.org.in/.
Khawa Karpo-Tibet Culture Centre
This is a nonprofit organization in Dharamsala was founded
in 2003 by a group of Tibetans. The primary aim of KTC is
to join and intensify the ongoing struggle of Tibetans in
exile and enable them to practice and protect their culture.
Members of the KTC belong to a younger generation brought
up under the leadership of His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama.
Tibetans within Tibet have great hope that Tibetans in exile
will continue to uphold Tibetan cultural traditions, which
those within Tibet cannot practice freely under China 's
governance. Through the activities of KTC, its members want
to build a strong Tibetan society and gain both internal
(from within Tibet) and international support for its cause.
Web Site: http://www.khawakarpo.org/.
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