Poetic self-name of Tibet. Tibetans: numbers and settlement, self-designation and name

According to the 1953 census, the Tibeto-Burmese peoples in China number about 8,400 thousand people. (28.06% total number national minorities of the People's Republic of China) and are the second largest group, after the Zhuang Tung peoples. The group includes: Tibetans, Itzu, Bai, Tujia, Hani, Lisu, Nasi, Lahu, Jingpo, Qiang, Pum Yi, Kutsun, Achan, Nu, Dulun, Lob A. These peoples are settled in the following provinces of the People's Republic of China: Qinghai, Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, in the Tibet Autonomous Region, in the Chamdo region, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. There are no actual Burmese peoples on the territory of the PRC; they all live in the Union of Burma.

Linguistically, the Tibeto-Burman peoples of the PRC are divided into three subgroups: Tibetan, Izu, Jingpo. The Tibetan linguistic subgroup includes peoples who speak the Tibetan language, as well as the Jiazhong, Xifan, Loba, Qiang, and Dulong languages. Some Chinese researchers identify the Nu and Dulun languages as an independent subgroup in the Tibeto-Burman group or classify them as language group itzu.

It is possible that the Dulun and Nu languages occupy an intermediate position between the linguistic subgroups of the Itzu and Tibetan, but it is not without interest to note that in terms of material culture the Dulun and Nu are close to the Lisu, and through them to other peoples of the Itzu subgroup. The Itzu language subgroup consists of the Itzu, Hani, Bai, Lisu, Nasi, Lahu, and Achan languages. Chinese linguists include the Tujia language in this same group. The specificity of this language is largely explained by long-term contacts with the Chinese.

A special subgroup is the Jingpo language, which retains features that bring it closer to the Burmese language.

Tibeto-Burman peoples are the ancient population of the western regions of the mainland East Asia. A number of common elements can be traced to their material and spiritual culture to this day. This closeness of the Tibeto-Burman peoples to each other is largely determined by their common origin and a single economic and cultural type in the past.

Probably, historically and genetically they are associated with that group of “Western barbarians”, who in the most ancient chronicles were called Zhup, and then Qiang and Sinangyi, and who inhabited the areas of the modern provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu (partially), Qinghai, Sichuan, northeastern Yunnan, eastern and southeastern Tibet.

The ancestors of these peoples were engaged in cattle breeding and partly hoe farming. The conquest of their territory by Qin troops back in the 4th century. BC e. forced some of these peoples to move to other areas, as a result of which the ancestors of the Tibeto-Burman peoples settled in the territory of the modern provinces of Guizhou (in its western part), Guangxi (in the northwest), in the northeast and north of Yunnan province. 1 To the 6th century. n. e. in these areas there were six Zhao - large ethnic associations, which later served as the core in the formation of the peoples of the Izu group. The advance of the ancestors of modern Tibeto-Burman peoples to the western regions (settlement of Tibet) began much earlier, and the most ancient branch that separated from this flow moved to the territory of Burma, where it formed the main core in the formation of the Burmese. Based on another, later branch, they developed ethnic groups, who became the ancestors of modern Jingpo.

Before 1949, the Tibeto-Burman peoples stood at different stages of socio-economic development. Dulun and Nu experienced the decomposition of the primitive communal system, the emergence and gradual development of feudal relations. The Izu people switched to feudalism, however, until 1956, elements of the slave system were still strong in their social system. The Lisu, Hani, and Lahu peoples apparently moved from the primitive communal system directly to the feudal one; by 1950, the social system of these peoples was feudal, but with significant primitive communal remnants. The Tibetans and Chyaps had developed feudalism. In Tibet, until 1959, serfdom dominated under a theocratic form of government. The pastoralist Tibetan peoples retain significant patriarchal remnants.

TIBETAN

Number and settlement

The total number of Tibetans was more than 2776 thousand people. In addition to Tibet, they live in the provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan, as well as in the Chamdo region. In Gansu, Tibetans settle southwest of Lanzhou; here they live in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Region (178,397 people), in the Tibetan Autonomous County of Tianzhu (20,077 people), in the Sunan Autonomous County of Yugu nationality (1,674 people), etc.

In Qinghai, Tibetans occupy about 70% of the entire province. Here they live in the following Tibetan autonomous regions: Haibei (24,489 people), Hainan (81,280 people), Huangnan (61,398 people), Yushu (125,309 people), Golo (100,102 people), and also in the Haisi Mongol-Tibetan Kazakh Autonomous District (8,744 people), in the Hualun Autonomous County of the Hui people (26,775 people), in the Huzhu Autonomous County of the Salar people (72,647 people), etc.

A small group of Tibetans (about 500 people) lives in the Evenk Autonomous Khoshun of the Hulun Buir Aimag of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

In Sichuan, Tibetans are settled in the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (450,314 people), in the Aba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (230,500 people), in the Mulis Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (24,393 people), etc.

In Yunnan, Tibetans live in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Region (64,611 people), in the Gongshan Autonomous County of the Dulong and Nu peoples (594 people), etc.

The Tibetan population of Tibet proper (together with the Chamdo region) is more than 1274 thousand people. Tibet is also home to Chinese (in cities), Hui and Mongolians.

The southeastern part of Tibet and the southern part of the Chamdo region are occupied by the Loba, a group of Tibetan-speaking peoples. Nomadic Uyghur herders (Taghlyks) from Xinjiang sometimes enter the northwestern regions of Tibet.

In the territory they occupy, Tibetans are distributed extremely unevenly. The bulk of the population is concentrated in river valleys and other places suitable for agriculture. There is almost no settled population in the north of Tibet. Settlements in Tibet are located no higher than 4.5-4.9 thousand meters above sea level.

Self-designation and title

The common self-name of Tibetans is Bodpa, which is colloquial speech sounds like shit. However, self-names based on habitat are more common. Thus, the inhabitants of Tsang (southwestern Tibet) have the self-name tsangba, the inhabitants of Nari (western Tibet) have the name nariba or duiba, and the inhabitants of all eastern Tibet have the name weiba. The area of the upper reaches of the river. Yellow River and south of it to the river. The Yangtze is known by the local name Amdo, and its population calls themselves Amdoba. The Tibetans of western Sichuan and Chamdo are united under the name Kamba (from Kam - the historical name of this area).

The population of a vast territory stretching from northwestern parts of Sichuan to the source of the river. Yellow River, united under common name goloki (holo). There are also names depending on the type of farming. Thus, nomadic pastoralists are known under the general name of dokba (pasture dwellers), and farmers are known as ronba (valley dwellers). The Mongols call the Tibetans tangit and tibot, the Chinese call them izan or izanizu.

Historicalintelligence

The ancestors of modern Tibetans were settled in the territory of the modern provinces of Gansu and Qinghai back in the late Neolithic era. Apparently, the Qiangs can be associated with them - one of ancient peoples on the territory of China.

The first mention of the Qiang is contained in inscriptions on oracle bones dating back to the 14th-11th centuries. BC e. At that time, the Qiang lived in the territory of the modern provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi (in the eastern and western parts, respectively). They were engaged in nomadic cattle breeding and hunting. According to Chinese chronicles (VI-IV centuries BC), among the Qiang, who lived in the neighborhood of the Chinese, agriculture was often the main occupation.

Since ancient times, the Qiang either expanded their territory, or retreated to the west under the pressure of the Chinese. At the beginning of the century e. The Qiang were finally driven out from the territory of modern Shaanxi to Gansu and further to the west and southwest. Around the 4th century. BC e. the Tanmao and Faqiang tribes separated from the bulk of the Qiang tribes (by this time there were about 150 of them, according to Chinese chronicles) and moved from the sources of the river. Yellow River to the territory of modern Tibet.

During the course of their history, the ancient Qiang tribes constantly collided and mixed throughout the vast territory of their settlement with contemporary peoples and tribes - the Xiongnu, Yuezhi, Rong, Di, ancient Chinese and a number of others. The Qiang were the main component not only in the ethnogenesis of the Tibetans themselves, but also had an known influence on the ethnogenesis of other Tibetan peoples of East Asia.

From the end of the 5th to the beginning of the 6th century. n. e. On the territory of Tibet, the process of unification of the Qiang tribes that inhabited it begins. The most powerful tribe by this time were the Tufani.

Gradually they subjugated other Qiang tribes, and by the 7th century. n. e under King Songtsangambo (Song-tsen-gam-po) the Tibetan power was formed. Its cradle was the river valley. Yarlunga.

The history of Tibet is connected with the history of its neighbors. In the 7th century political, economic and cultural ties between Tibet and China are becoming quite close. At this time, Chinese masters who arrived in Tibet passed on their knowledge of agriculture and various crafts to the Tibetans. The Tibetans created a calendar modeled on the Chinese and the first set of laws.

During the reign of Songzangambo, Buddhism began to spread in Tibet, penetrating here from China, India and Nepal.

Subsequently, the growing power of Tibet led to a clash with China. The long struggle ended in 822 with the signing of a peace treaty. In the 10th century The Tibetan state, due to internal strife, fell apart into many principalities and separate possessions. Part of the Tufan lands became part of the Tangut state of Xi Xia. Only in 1015 did the Tibetans unite again under the rule of the ruler Gosylo, but feudal unrest continued even after that. The state received former name Tufan. In 1131 it was conquered by the Jurchens. In 1253, the troops of Mongke Khan captured Tibet, which became part of the emerging Mongol Empire. In 1275, Emperor Kublai transferred secular and spiritual power in Tibet to Pakba Lama, which contributed to the further strengthening of Buddhism there. The Mongol authorities reorganized the administration of Tibet - they divided this part of their empire into provinces and districts, and created postal stations there. Close ties between Tibet and the Chinese Empire were maintained even after the overthrow of the Yuan dynasty.

At the end of the 16th century. The high Lamaist priest accepted the title of Dalai Lama, and soon after this the title of Panchen Lama appeared - the second person in the hierarchy of Tibet. In 1652, the V Dalai Lama, having arrived in Beijing, was recognized as the ruler of Tibet by the first emperor of the Manchu (Qing) dynasty of China. Thus, the Tibetan authorities recognized their dependence on imperial China. From now on political system Tibet began to adopt more clearly theocratic forms of government.

In 1791, Tibet was invaded by Gurkhas from Nepal. Tibetan troops, together with the Chinese, drove out the invaders. In 1792, the imperial government of China issued the “Regulations for the Regulation of Tibet.” External relations of Tibet began to be carried out only through Chinese representatives - ambans (their position in Tibet was established around 1725-1727), Tibet was closed to foreigners. The election of the new Dalai Lama began to be controlled by the Qing government.

WITH late XVIII V. Tibet became the object of expansion by England. In 1888, England carried out a direct armed invasion of Tibet. The massive resistance of the Tibetan people forced the British to refuse to expand their aggression. According to the agreement of 1893, England received the right to trade in Tibet and other benefits.

In an effort to strengthen its position in Tibet, the British government sent an armed expedition there in the second half of 1903. England imposed an agreement on Qing China, according to which it received the right to have trade missions in the main cities of Tibet, and demanded reimbursement of expenses in the amount of 500 thousand pounds sterling. related to sending troops to Tibet, etc. The success of England was greatly facilitated by the fact that the British colonialists were able to create their agents among the ruling elite of Tibet. The policy of oppression pursued by the government of Qing China towards the country's national minorities, in turn, also contributed to the severance of these ties.

After World War I, England, relying on the pro-English party, managed to establish control over the economy of Tibet and its army. Separatist circles in Tibet waged an armed struggle against China, which dragged on for a long time.

During and especially after World War II, Tibet became the target of American expansion. The Anglo-American bloc, which assigned an important place to Tibet in its strategic plans, sought to tear it away from China. In 1949, the local government of Tibet, led by pro-imperialist individuals, declared the “independence” of Tibet.

At this time, patriotic representatives of the Tibetan people turned to the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China with a request to send an army to Tibet to liberate it. In October 1950, units of the People's Liberation Army of China began a liberation campaign in Tibet. The Central People's Government guaranteed the protection of life and property of the Tibetan population, freedom of religion, and the development of Tibet politically, economically and culturally.

May 23, 1951 in Beijing between Central by the people's government The PRC and the local government of Tibet signed the “Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet.” Under this agreement, the Tibetan people were provided with the necessary conditions for the creation national autonomy, for the development of economy and culture. The question of when to carry out social reforms in Tibet was entirely left to the discretion of the Tibetan people and their leaders. The agreement guaranteed the preservation of the political system that existed in Tibet, respect for customs and religious beliefs population; the status, functions and powers of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama were preserved.

According to the 1953 census, the Tibeto-Burmese peoples in China number about 8,400 thousand people. (28.06% of the total number of national minorities of the PRC) and are the second largest group, after the Zhuang Tung peoples. The group includes: Tibetans, Itzu, Bai, Tujia, Hani, Lisu, Nasi, Lahu, Jingpo, Qiang, Pum i, Kutsun, Achan, Nu, Dulun, Lob a. These peoples are settled in the following provinces of the People's Republic of China: Qinghai, Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, in the Tibet Autonomous Region, in the Chamdo region, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. There are no actual Burmese peoples on the territory of the PRC; they all live in the Union of Burma.

A special subgroup is the Jingpo language, which retains features that bring it closer to the Burmese language.

The Tibeto-Burman peoples are an ancient population of the western regions of mainland East Asia. A number of common elements can be traced to their material and spiritual culture to this day. This closeness of the Tibeto-Burman peoples to each other is largely determined by their common origin and a single economic and cultural type in the past.

The ancestors of these peoples were engaged in cattle breeding and partly hoe farming. The conquest of their territory by Qin troops back in the 4th century. BC e. forced some of these peoples to move to other areas, as a result of which the ancestors of the Tibeto-Burman peoples settled in the territory of the modern provinces of Guizhou (in its western part), Guangxi (in the northwest), in the northeast and north of Yunnan province.1 K VI V. n. e. in these areas there were six Zhao - large ethnic associations, which later served as the core in the formation of the peoples of the Izu group. The advance of the ancestors of modern Tibeto-Burman peoples to the western regions (settlement of Tibet) began much earlier, and the most ancient branch that separated from this flow moved to the territory of Burma, where it formed the main core in the formation of the Burmese. On the basis of another, later branch, ethnic groups emerged that became the ancestors of modern Jingpo.

Number and settlement

A small group of Tibetans (about 500 people) lives in the Evenk Autonomous Khoshun of the Hulun Buir Aimag of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

In Yunnan, Tibetans live in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Region (64,611 people), in the Gongshan Autonomous County of the Dulong and Nu peoples (594 people), etc.

The Tibetan population of Tibet proper (together with the Chamdo region) is more than 1274 thousand people. Tibet is also home to Chinese (in cities), Hui and Mongolians.

Self-designation and title

The common self-name of Tibetans is bodpa, which in colloquial speech sounds like pyoba. However, self-names based on habitat are more common. Thus, the inhabitants of Tsang (southwestern Tibet) have the self-name tsangba, the inhabitants of Nari (western Tibet) have the name nariba or duiba, and the inhabitants of all eastern Tibet have the name weiba. The area of the upper reaches of the river. Yellow River and south of it to the river. The Yangtze is known by the local name Amdo, and its population calls themselves Amdoba. The Tibetans of western Sichuan and Chamdo are united under the name Kamba (from Kam, the historical name of this area).

The population of a vast territory stretching from the northwestern part of Sichuan to the source of the river. Yellow River, united under the general name goloki (golo). There are also names depending on the type of farming. Thus, nomadic pastoralists are known under the general name of dokba (pasture dwellers), and farmers are known as ronba (valley dwellers). The Mongols call the Tibetans tangit and tibot, the Chinese call them izan or izanizu.

Historical information

The ancestors of modern Tibetans were settled in the territory of the modern provinces of Gansu and Qinghai back in the late Neolithic era. Apparently, the Qiang, one of the most ancient peoples in China, can be associated with them.

During the course of their history, the ancient Qiang tribes constantly collided and mixed throughout the vast territory of their settlement with contemporary peoples and tribes - the Xiongnu, Yuezhi, Rong, Di, ancient Chinese and a number of others. The Qiang were the main component not only in the ethnogenesis of the Tibetans themselves, but also had a certain influence on the ethnogenesis of other Tibetan peoples of East Asia.

Gradually they subjugated other Qiang tribes, and by the 7th century. n. e under King Songtsangambo (Song-tsen-gam-po) the Tibetan power was formed. Its cradle was the river valley. Yarlunga.

During the reign of Songzangambo, Buddhism began to spread in Tibet, penetrating here from China, India and Nepal.

Subsequently, the growing power of Tibet led to a clash with China. The long struggle ended in 822 with the signing of a peace treaty. In the 10th century The Tibetan state, due to internal strife, fell apart into many principalities and separate possessions. Part of the Tufan lands became part of the Tangut state of Xi Xia. Only in 1015 did the Tibetans unite again under the rule of the ruler Gosylo, but feudal unrest continued even after that. The state received its former name Tufan. In 1131 it was conquered by the Jurchens. In 1253, the troops of Mongke Khan captured Tibet, which became part of the emerging Mongol Empire. In 1275, Emperor Kublai transferred secular and spiritual power in Tibet to Pakba Lama, which contributed to the further strengthening of Buddhism there. The Mongol authorities reorganized the administration of Tibet - they divided this part of their empire into provinces and districts, and created postal stations there. Close ties between Tibet and the Chinese Empire were maintained even after the overthrow of the Yuan dynasty.

At the end of the 16th century. The high Lamaist priest accepted the title of Dalai Lama, and soon after this the title of Panchen Lama appeared - the second person in the hierarchy of Tibet. In 1652, the V Dalai Lama, having arrived in Beijing, was recognized as the ruler of Tibet by the first emperor of the Manchu (Qing) dynasty of China. Thus, the Tibetan authorities recognized their dependence on imperial China. From that time on, the political system in Tibet began to take on more clearly defined theocratic forms of government.

From the end of the 18th century. Tibet became the object of expansion by England. In 1888, England carried out a direct armed invasion of Tibet. The massive resistance of the Tibetan people forced the British to refuse to expand their aggression. Under the agreement of 1893, England received the right to trade in Tibet and other benefits.

On May 23, 1951, the “Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet” was signed in Beijing between the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China and the local government of Tibet. Under this agreement, the Tibetan people were provided with the necessary conditions for the creation of national autonomy, for the development of the economy and culture. The question of when to carry out social reforms in Tibet was entirely left to the discretion of the Tibetan people and their leaders. The agreement guaranteed the preservation of the political system that existed in Tibet, respect for the customs and religious beliefs of the population; the status, functions and powers of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama were preserved.

Hello, dear readers!

Today we will tell you about an amazing mountainous snow-covered country on the Tibetan plateau. Its neighbors are Burma, Bhutan, Nepal and India. And, of course, it is adjacent to the territories of China, of which Tibet has been an autonomous region since the last century.

Tibet itself is divided into 13 provinces. The largest city is Lhasa, which is also the capital. Let's take a closer look at how people live in Tibet and expand our knowledge about this amazing country.

Ancient Tibet

In ancient times, Tibet was a rather warlike and strong state and constantly waged wars with its neighbors for territory. TO 7th century its area became the largest in the entire history of its existence.

With the advent of Buddhism here, belligerence among the population decreased, and wars of conquest gradually ceased.

For three centuries, from mid-18th century century and until the middle of the last century, the size of the territory (more than one million sq. km) and the number of inhabitants of the country (about one and a half million) remained practically unchanged.

A bit of politics

By this time, Tibet had become a theocratic state, headed by the then still young. All internal matters were under the control of the higher clergy, and the number of monks was approximately 10% of the total population. There were more than 2,500 monasteries in the country.

The majority of the population was illiterate and depended on the monks both financially and spiritually. People did not have the slightest idea of what was happening in the outside world, since Tibet was very isolated from it.

Under these conditions, the leader of the Tibetan state signed an agreement with Mao Zedong. It determined what policy China would pursue in Tibet.

Seventeen points of the document described the transformations that were to take place there and the ways for the development of democracy in the country. But in reality, the monasteries began to lose their lands, and the clergy began to lose power.

This sparked an uprising that was crushed by the Chinese army. And the Dalai Lama, along with his associates who supported him, was forced to leave the country.

Now the Tibetan government in exile lives in India, in the city of Dharamsala.

Life of an ordinary Tibetan

Over the course of a year, the average city dweller earns approximately $1,500, while a rural resident earns only $400. Villagers make up four-fifths of the population.

Despite the striking poverty, they, of course, do not live in caves, but the houses are very, very different in quality. All more or less high-quality housing appeared as a result of the development of a program to help pastoralists.

Warm, reliable houses in the mountains are the number one problem. IN last years a significant part of the Tibetans moved into such dwellings.

Nomadic cattle breeding is gradually being replaced by livestock farms. Folk crafts are developing in many settlements:

production of woolen carpets, the raw material for which is yak wool;
production of painted carved furniture with a pronounced national flavor.

“New Tibetans”—entrepreneurs—are gradually appearing in Tibet.

Education

In earlier times, it was popular to receive education in monasteries. In almost every family, someone was a monk.

The 20th century brought secular education into the lives of Tibetans. At the time of the Chinese intervention in the life of the indigenous population of Tibet, there were about a hundred schools.

Currently, approximately half of Tibetans are familiar with literacy. IN primary school Teaching is conducted in Tibetan, then gradually switches to Chinese.

A new Tibetan elite is growing up to replace the lost one. Many young people study at Lhasa universities. The Faculty of Tibetan Language and Literature is very popular among applicants.

Russians also know how to get there—several St. Petersburg residents are his students.

Buddhism in everyday life

Tibetans are religious people. Has a great influence on their lives ancient religion bon, whimsically combined with the one that took root at a later time.

Accordingly, all customs, traditions, significant holidays and events in life are, in one way or another, connected with Buddhist teachings and Bon.

The Men-tsi-khang Institute, which deals with issues of astrology and Tibetan medicine, was created to preserve the culture of Tibet and publishes a special almanac.

It marks favorable and unfavorable days according to the Tibetan calendar, and publishes other astrological information.

All important decisions are made by Tibetans based on all kinds of predictions:

astrological calculations,
fortune telling,
prophecies of mediums,
reconciliation with the corresponding days of the almanac,
throwing dice,
actions with rosary beads,
omens,
results of geomancy.

In accordance with them, the date of the wedding, trip, start of construction, sowing of barley, its harvesting and much more is chosen.

Wedding

Polygamy was once common in Tibet. The reason for polygamy is simple: fertile plots of land, and indeed own plots of land in Tibet, are a luxury. Therefore, the Tibetans, trying to preserve an already small plot of land while dividing the inheritance, married their sons to the same woman. So the land remained in family ownership.

Now this tradition is actively becoming a thing of the past, and Tibetans are creating monogamous unions.

Previously, they determined whether the bride and groom were suitable for each other. The wedding ceremony usually took place in the groom's house; there was no need to go to the temple.

Tibetan wedding

Nowadays, young people, having met, ask their parents for permission to get married. The ceremony still takes place at the groom's home.

And after the official marriage, the bride’s relatives hang prayer flags on the roof of the house to protect the couple from evil and bless them for a happy life together.

Prayer flags

The tradition of hanging prayer flags to symbolize good luck and other blessings exists everywhere, and not just for weddings.

They are stretched from one mountain peak to another, they decorate the roofs of houses, temples, and monasteries. Located above the patient’s body, they, according to local beliefs, help him recover.

Last way

If a death does occur in the family, the relatives of the deceased make donations to the monks in the hope that he will achieve a better reincarnation.

When an important cleric is taken by death, his body may be buried in a stupa. But, according to tradition, the deceased can simply be left in the mountains to birds of prey.

This practice is called sky burial, and this custom is very common in the mountains.

The fact is that hard rocks do not allow burial in the ground as we are accustomed to, and cremation requires firewood, for which poor mountaineers often do not have the means.

In some areas, water burial is also practiced, when the body of the deceased is released downstream of the river. All funeral practices are described in the Bardo Thodol - the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

Other customs

Among other distinctive features of Tibet, there is an interesting tradition of the white scarf -. It symbolizes purity and is usually given at a meeting, offered at the altar, and given at weddings, funerals and other occasions.

A characteristic feature of these places is the presence of scrolls of prayers inside. Its rotation replaces the believer’s oral reading of all the mantras contained in it.

The drums can be driven by a handle or by a stream of water, in the latter case their rotation becomes continuous. Mantras on prayer flags are activated in the same way, only with the help of wind, not water.

What do they eat here?

Food of the majority local residents unpretentious. They don't bake bread here. Instead, barley grains are roasted and made into flour.

This dish is called tsampa. It is also added to drinks for satiety.

Meats in use include lamb, pork and yak meat. Dairy products include homemade cheese and fermented milk, butter.

Eggs and fish are also present on the Tibetan table, and their favorite vegetable is radish.

Conclusion

Friends, today you learned about what kind of people inhabit Tibet. With this we say goodbye to you.

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“Tibetans” is a generalized name for several ethnic groups of different origins. The high-mountainous Tibetan plateau was by no means isolated: on the contrary, it has long served as a crossing point for the migrations of many peoples. Mongoloids and Caucasians, nomads and farmers - from them the Sherpas, Tamangs, Gurungs, and Rai were formed. In the west of Tibet lived the Indo-European Hephthalite tribes, similar to gypsies.

Tibetan family: from polygamy to polyandry

The Hephthalite people adopted polyandry: several brothers took one woman as their wife. This system protected the offspring from poverty in the event of the death of the breadwinner. The wife wore a headdress with horns: as many husbands, as many horns. Currently, this people lives in Nepal, in the region of Mount Manaslu, and preserves ancient customs.

Polygamy was common among nomads. The wives obeyed their husbands, but led an active lifestyle. In the 13th century, the ruler of San Gye Gya Tso lost his wife to a Mongol warlord in a game of chess. Later, relations with the Mongols deteriorated, and the Tibetan ruler twice sent assassins to his former chess partner. The Mongols raided the capital of Tibet, Lhasa, and the first to break into the palace was a detachment led by the former wife of the regent. She killed San-Gye-Gya-Tso and thus took revenge for her humiliation and attempts on the life of her new husband.

Tibetan sex practices

The meaning of traditional Tibetan sexual techniques is prolonged sexual intercourse with delayed ejaculation. It is considered especially prestigious to have sex for several hours without spilling a drop of sperm. Tibetans believe that this method helps maintain men's health for many years.

People without surnames and age

The peoples of the Tibetan group do not have surnames. Instead, the nickname and nationality are used: Nooleng Tamang, Mingma Gyurmey Sherpa. There is a generic name, but it is Everyday life not used so as not to attract evil forces to the family. A nickname can change throughout life. One of the two first climbers of Everest was named Namgyal Wangdi at birth, but he became famous as Tenzing Norgay, which means “Happy Rich Religious.” This name was assigned to him on the advice of the lama, and it justified itself. Tenzing Norgay did not know his date of birth and exact age, relying only on his mother’s words and a logical connection with agricultural work - it is believed that May 2014.

Birth data began to be recorded everywhere only in the 50s of the last century.

National food of Tibetans: chasuima and tsampa

The traditional food of the peoples of Tibet is tea with a set of spices, to which butter and salt are added, it is called “chasuima”. A stew called “tsampa” is prepared on its basis; barley flour is added. The result is a high-calorie energy drink that helps quickly restore strength and helps cleanse the body.

Blood sacrifices and Buddhism

In ancient times, Tibetans worshiped ancestral spirits, elemental spirits and female deities. Then the Bon religion came from the west. This is the harsh faith of warriors and hunters; blood sacrifices, including people, were in the order of things. This tradition was only abolished at the beginning of the 20th century, when the victims were replaced by “torma” figurines. These figures consist of various symbolic elements depending on the purpose of the person, and they always include the color red as a symbol of blood. The torma is placed in the temple, then destroyed, and the sacrifice is considered to have been made.

About 800 years ago Buddhism entered Tibet. It did not take root in the original peaceful version. But the Tibetans really liked the hybrid version with the preservation of ancient deities and the addition of mystical dances in the shamanic style. This type of Buddhism is called “Tibetan Lamaism”. Currently, all these religions have merged together, although the monasteries have different names.

It is believed that lamas and abbots of monasteries are necessarily reborn in a new appearance. After the death of the old lama, on his instructions, he was sought the right child and was brought up in a monastery.

Musical instruments made from human bones

Tibet has strong traditions of dance, poetry and music. For sacred celebrations, bowls and gongs made of a complex alloy of metals are used, giving melodic ringing of different tones. Various stringed musical instruments, several types of drums and flutes are used, including those made from human bone.

Life in rarefied air and the main secret of climbers

The highest mountain people in the world are the Sherpas. They moved from the Tibetan plateau to the territory of modern Nepal 600 years ago. There's more in their blood high level hemoglobin than other peoples of the world. This feature allows you to live in rarefied air conditions: at an altitude of 5000 meters, the oxygen content in the atmosphere is less than half of sea surface level. With the development of tourism, Sherpas began to work as mountain guides. Without them, few Himalayan climbers would have reached their goal. Sherpas lay ladders through huge cracks in glaciers, hang fixed ropes, and carry food, tents and equipment for their tourists. They also cook food. A guide named Apa Sherpa has been to the top of Everest 21 times!

Yak is an amazing and dangerous animal

The basis of the Tibetan economy historically are yaks - a highland variety of domesticated wild bulls. They have long, soft wool, which is used to knit wonderful warm clothes. Yaks produce delicious milk from which cheese is made. Yaks carry cargo along mountain trails; they are not afraid of heights. But these are quite dangerous animals. A grazing bull is capable of suddenly attacking a person passing by and inflicting severe injuries or even killing him.

Unusual funeral tradition

On the Tibetan Plateau, due to the high altitude, there are few trees and it is impossible to dig a grave in the bedrock. Therefore, a peculiar tradition has developed: the corpse is laid out on a special platform so that birds of prey can eat it. The body used to be delivered on yaks, now it can be a motorcycle or a car: after all, the Chinese are laying good roads. First, the meat is cut and then the bones are chopped. A special specialist deals with this: rogyapa. He reads special prayers, playing along with himself on instruments from human bones. The vultures there are fat, well-fed, and crowd around the rogyapa like chickens. When they take the body away, it counts good sign: This means that the person’s soul has ascended safely and will soon be reborn again. The Chinese government tried to ban this tradition, but due to “numerous requests from workers,” it was allowed again.

Ritual around Mount Kailash

In Tibet there is the sacred Mount Kailash (Tibetans call Kang Rinpoche). This is a fairly regular tetrahedral pyramid, whose sides are close to the cardinal points. The height is not precisely established: from 6638 to 6690 m, but esotericists claim that it is exactly 6666 meters. Pilgrimages are made to this mountain: a ritual walk around the mountain is called “kora”. Particularly pious Tibetans perform kora, prostrating themselves every few steps. Each movement is strictly regulated: first, the palms are folded in front of the chest, then raised up, the person kneels and lies prone, arms extended forward. Even a dozen such bows is a heavy load, and Tibetans do hundreds and thousands of them. The only indulgence they allow themselves is to take as many steps as possible.

Dalai Lama - agent of the Mongols

When China was occupied by the Mongols in the 13th century, they tried to subjugate Tibet as much as possible. For this purpose, they established the title of Dalai Lama, and the first was assigned the number III, for the effect of traditionalism. The Dalai Lama is elected through reincarnation in early childhood.

The most beloved among the people was the VI Dalai Lama. He wore long hair, loved archery, wrote beautiful love poems and was proud of his sexual technique. His biography was compiled by the Italian Tibetologist Erberto Lo Bue in his work “Vita e canti del VI Dalai lama”.

Norwegian Tibetans

In December 1951, the Chinese army invaded Tibet. Resistance was brutally suppressed. Most Tibetans migrated to Nepal, India, Bhutan and... Norway, due to similar climatic conditions. Many lamas moved there and made money by translating ancient texts into European languages. There is now a large Tibetan diaspora living in Norway, which maintains close contacts with relatives in the Himalayas. In Norwegian markets, characteristic knitted hats made of yak wool, but with “Bergen”, “Norge” embroidery, are sold everywhere.

The Tibetan Plateau, located in the center of Asia, is one of the largest and highest in the world. Its area is 2 million 200 thousand square meters. km. A significant part is located at altitudes of 3 - 4 thousand m above sea level, the height of the mountains reaches 5–7 thousand m. The peaks of the high mountains are covered with glaciers and snow. Therefore, Tibet is often called the Land of Snowy Mountains. Here, on the border of Tibet and Nepal, is the highest mountain in the world - Chomolungma (Everest), whose height is 8848 m. On the border of Tibet, Nepal and the Indian state of Sikkim there is another high mountain - Kanchenjunga - 8598 m. Tibet is surrounded like a necklace by many high mountains: Kailash, Tsari, Yarlha Shambo, Chomo Kenreg, Kankar Shame, Nyanchen Tangla, Machen Pomra (Amne Machen). Glaciers cover a huge area - 105 thousand square meters. km.

The greatest rivers of Asia originate from Tibet: the Indus, Brahmaputra, Mekong, Sutlej, Salween, Yangtze, Yellow River. The total area of river basins originating in Tibet reaches 5,477,700 square meters. km, and in China alone 30% fresh water falls on the rivers flowing from here. Tibet is surrounded by the high-mountain systems of the Karakoram and Kunlun from the west, Nanshan from the north, the Himalayas from the south, the Bayan-Khara-ula ridges and the so-called Sichuan Alps. In the latitudinal direction, the plateau is crossed by Mount Kailash and Nyenchen-Tanglha. Approximately 2/3 of the Tibetan Plateau is made up of the Changtang Plateau, located mainly at an altitude of 5 thousand m. It is predominantly a rocky desert with a harsh climate. The Qinghai Plateau is adjacent to it from the northeast. Together they form the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The north of Tibet is covered with mountain meadows. There are good pastures, many rivers and lakes. The climate is continental and harsh. In the south the climate is temperate with more rainfall. Dense forests grow here, fertile fields are cultivated, and fruit trees are grown.

Historically, Tibet is divided into several regions. Its central part - Bod (Tib.: bod, which is pronounced "Pyo") stretches from the river. Tisza and lake Manasarovar near Mount Kailash along the river. Tsangpo (Brahmaputra). Tibetans call their country Bod and themselves Bodpa. The origin and time of appearance of these names are unknown. Some suggest that "Bod" means "homeland" or "place of origin." The name “Tibet” (“Tëbet”) first appears in the ancient Turkic Orkhon inscriptions in Mongolia. Apparently, from the ancient peoples who inhabited Mongolia, it came into other languages: Thai - “Tibet”, Arabic - “Tubbat”, etc. In modern Mongolian it will be “Tөvd”. A possible source of this name is the Tufa clan, from which one of the kings of the Yarlung dynasty came (see below). The old Chinese name "Tufa" is associated with this clan. The Tibetan language itself belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language language family(or, as they now write in the PRC, Han-Tibetan). In it, it is grouped with the languages of some peoples of Northern India and Southeast Asia, while the Chinese language forms a separate branch. Different Tibetan tribes speak different dialects. After the introduction of writing, the written language became common for all Tibetan tribes and played an important integrating role.

Mountains near Lhasa (photo: S.L. Kuzmin).

The geographical area of Bod is divided into two parts: U and Tsang. Tibetans often combine them into one region - Wu-Tsang. It extends from Ngari Korsum in the west to Sogla Kiao. Tsang occupies the western part. Here are located big cities Shigatse and Gyantse. U is located in the east. Lhasa is located here. She stands on the river. Kiichu, a tributary of the Tsangpo. The climate here is relatively mild, conducive to agriculture and cattle breeding. The favorite agricultural plant of the Tibetans is barley, which produces good yields even at high altitudes (up to 4 thousand m), where it is difficult to grow other crops. It contains a lot of iron, which prevents anemia, edema, and lung problems. All this is important in high altitude conditions, where there is little oxygen and the food is monotonous. The traditional Tibetan dish tsampa is prepared from barley - fried flour mixed with butter. hot water or milk. In the mountains, yaks are bred for meat, milk and wool. They are very hardy, undemanding to feed, tolerate mountain conditions well, winter frosts. They are also used as beasts of burden.

So, historical Tibet is not only high mountains and lifeless plateaus. Its total area is much larger than the area of the Tibetan Plateau - 3 million 800 thousand square meters. km. Tibetans say that the best religion is in U-Tsang, the best people- in Kama, the best horses are in Amdo. This is because the people of U-Tsang are very religious, the Kama are good warriors, and Amdo are good entrepreneurs. The three historical regions: U-Tsang (including Ngari), Kam and Amdo are also called the Three Regions by Tibetans (Tib.: Cholka Sum). Otherwise, this territory is called Greater Tibet. It is all included in the PRC. Currently, the PRC has the following administrative division of Tibetan territories. Wu-Tsang was transformed mainly into the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), Kam is divided between the TAR, the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and Qinghai, Amdo - between the provinces of Qinghai and Gansu. The Chinese provinces have the following Tibetan autonomous units. Qinghai Province: Mongol-Tibetan district of Haixi (Tib: Tsonub), Tibetan districts of Yushu, Hainan (Tib.: Tsolkho), Haibei (Tsozhang), Huanan (Malho) and Golo (Golok); Gansu Province: Tibetan Tianzhu County (Pari) and Gannan County (Kanglho); Sichuan Province: Tibetan-Qiang Aba (Ngaba) District, Tibetan Ganzi (Kardze) District and Muli (Mili) County; Yunnan Province: Daqing (Dechen) Tibetan District.

Tibetan legends about their origin are heterogeneous. Like most peoples, they trace their origins to an ancestor, which is understood in different ways. In the historical texts of the ancient Tibetan Bon religion, there is a widespread narrative about the appearance of the ancient container world and the creatures located in it from the egg-space of existence. Cosmogony is described as the formation of the primordial elements from which the “primordial eggs” were formed that gave rise to the world and living beings. According to ancient Tibetan ideas, the world is divided into heaven (Nam), earth (Bar), or “middle [world]” (Sa), and “lower,” underworld (Og). These spheres correspond to the deities Lha, Lu and Tseng (or Nyen).

According to the detailed ideas recognized in the Bon religion, people originated from the Nyen clan. According to one of the ancient Bon treatises, eighteen large regions of space and the creatures inhabiting them arose from eighteen egg cartilages, and from one egg-shell arose the great progenitor of the people of the countries of Shangshung and Tibet - Menpei Miwo Lumlum. The country of Zhangzhung was located in Western and Northern Tibet. Its center is believed to be located near Mount Tise (Kailas) and lake. Mapam (Manasarovar). After the progenitor there were many generations of people, which were replaced by four great clans - Don, Dra, Dru and Ga (or five with the Go clan), as well as two clans Val and Da. These are all known as the six (or seven) human clans. These clans are the ancestors of all Tibetan clans. The descendants of the Don clan and the Sen clan, gradually mixing with each other, formed the Shangshungo-Tibetan ethnic group.
Another legend traces the origin of the Tibetans to the monkey, evoking the theory of Charles Darwin. According to this legend, in ancient times only demons and demonesses lived in Tibet. In order to populate the country with people and make it a stronghold of the Buddha’s teachings, the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (according to another version, his disciple) took the form of a monkey and became the husband of one of these demonesses. The Tibetans came from this marriage. All this took place near Tsetang, in the center of the U-Tsang region. Perhaps this legend is a Buddhist adaptation of an earlier legend. There is also a legend about their king Nyati Tsenpo - that he descended from the sky.

These legends, combined with traditional Tibetan beliefs that their country is the center of the world, indicate that Tibetans perceive themselves as the indigenous, rather than alien, people of the Tibetan Plateau. Scientific evidence confirms this. According to genetic data, the ancestors of Tibetans are of North Asian and Siberian origin; There is information about traces of human presence on the Tibetan plateau as early as 18–22 thousand years ago. Human sites of the New Stone Age - Neolithic era number in the dozens. More ancient sites from Paleolithic times have also been discovered. Some sites were found in the highlands, above 4 thousand meters above sea level. Three to five thousand years ago, in the areas of the modern cities of Chamdo and Lhasa, there were highly developed Neolithic cultures, the level of which is comparable to the level of some Neolithic cultures of China. At the turn of our era, the ancient inhabitants of Tibet entered the Bronze Age. And in the 1st century. AD they have already learned to smelt iron. Representatives of these cultures are apparently the ancestors of the Tibetan people, who arose and developed on the Tibetan Plateau.

Eastern part of Tibet - historical region Kam (Tib.: kham), northeast - Amdo region. Kam extends from Sogla Kyao to the turn of the river. Machu (upper reaches of the Yellow River). From this turn to the White Stupa (Tib.: Choyten Karpo) is the Amdo region. This is the northeastern border of Tibet. Both areas abound in pastures, agriculture is developed in the valleys, and the mountain slopes are covered with forests. In the southwest is Ladakh (Little Tibet). Much of it is covered with small mountains and forests.

Tibet (from http://perso.wanadoo.fr/tibetmap/tibet21.jpg, with modifications).
1 – historical border;
2 – border between 1914 and 1950;
3 – modern administrative boundary.
Italics indicate modern provinces of the People's Republic of China.

Modern administrative-territorial division of Tibet.

Some Tibetan scholars believe that their people have Indian roots. According to them, a certain king or military leader named Rupati participated in famous war Pandavas with Kauravas, described in the Indian epic "Mahabharata". He fought on the side of the Kauravas and after their defeat, he and his followers fled to Tibet. Others suggest that Tibetans are descended from Iranians. Anthropological evidence refutes this. Tibetans belong to the East Asian type Mongoloid race together with the Mongols, Japanese, Koreans, Hans, etc. The divergence (separation) of the Tibetans and Hans from their common ancestors, according to some sources, occurred a very long time ago, 5–6 thousand years ago. Some researchers believe that the Tibetans share a common genetic basis with the Mongols, although it is clear that there were other strong influences. Possibly including Indian ones.

The very ancient divergence (separation) of the Han Chinese and Tibetans is also evidenced by the latter’s unique adaptations to high mountain conditions, where low oxygen concentrations in unadapted people lead to altitude sickness. These adaptations give the Tibetans an advantage over the Han in settling the highlands. Tibetans have higher blood oxygen saturation than, for example, Han Chinese, this is genetically determined. Tibetans also avoid altitude sickness because they breathe more frequently and have wider arteries and capillaries through which oxygen is delivered to their organs. They have increased concentrations of nitric oxide in their exhaled air. This is due to increased enzymatic synthesis of this substance in the body. The benefits of this at high altitudes are dilation of pulmonary blood vessels, increased blood flow in the lungs, decreased pulmonary hypertension, and increased hemoglobin oxidability. All this helps to enrich the body with oxygen and improve lung function.

The body of Tibetans tolerates high altitudes better than the body of the Han Chinese who acclimatized there. Thus, in the highlands of Tibet, the incidence of ECG abnormalities is higher among Han migrants (even those who migrated there at a young age) than among Tibetans. With increasing altitude, Han men have a greater increase in hemoglobin concentration than Han women, but Tibetans do not.

Han Chinese newborns are much more susceptible to altitude sickness than Tibetans. Accordingly, mortality varies. In terms of respiratory characteristics associated with high altitude, the offspring of Han Chinese men from Tibetan women occupies an intermediate position between pure Han Chinese and Tibetans. Consequently, it is better adapted to these conditions than the Han Chinese, but worse than the Tibetans. However, mixed marriages between Han Chinese and Tibetans are very rare.

These features are one of the reasons why the Han people cannot successfully colonize the highlands of Tibet, while they successfully colonize the Tibetan areas at low altitudes.

Lake Yamdrok-tso (photo: S.L. Kuzmin).

All this does not mean that Tibetans have been living in complete isolation. According to archaeological data, the ancient newcomers to Tibet from the northeast were the Qiang, a people of the Tibeto-Burman group. Other possible ancestors of Tibetans are the Mons, as well as the tribes Indo-European origin. Mongoloid tribes, which could also belong to the Qiang, could also have a certain influence. The Mons were assimilated by both the Tibetans and the Chinese. The Qiang have been known since at least the second millennium BC. as neighbors of the ancient Chinese state of Shang-Yin. The Qiang maintained trade contacts with the Yin, became related, fought, etc. The Qiang paid tribute to the Yin. The latter sacrificed the Qiang (along with others); there were many Qiang slaves in Shang-Yin. On the other hand, the nobility of both nations became related to each other, and one of the noble families Ancient China- Jiang was of Qiang origin.

The genetic connection of the Qiang with the Tibetans has not been clarified. Some consider them the ancestors of the Tibetans, others - vice versa. One way or another, it was at that time that Chinese written history began to include information about the first contacts of the ancestors of the Tibeto-Burmese peoples with the ancestors of the Chinese. It is believed that the Qiang domesticated the yak about 5 thousand years ago; the yak was their totem animal; a number of legends and beliefs are associated with it.

In the first centuries of our era, the Qiang came under the rule of the Xianbi - nomadic tribes, the probable ancestors of the Mongols, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe lake. Kukunor (modern Mong.: Khokh nuur - Blue Lake; Tib.: Tso Ngonpo; Chinese: Qinghai hu). These were some of the most early contacts ancestors of the Tibetans and Mongols, who later formed a common civilization.

Thus, ethnically, the Tibetans and the Chinese separated a long time ago. Whatever their original relationship, further development they took place in different conditions, and the cultural ecology was different. Since then, Tibet and China have developed as two different civilizations, and neither has become part of the other.

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