Tibet Local Customs

 
by ozalp
 
  •   Local Customs
    by ozalp
  •   Local Customs
    by ozalp
  •   Local Customs
    by ozalp
  • Sakya Monastery - of the Sakyapa Order
      Sakya Monastery - of the Sakyapa Order
    by Maria81
  • Inside the Assembly Hall of Tashilhunpo
      Inside the Assembly Hall of Tashilhunpo
    by Maria81
 
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The High Lamas of Tibet

by Maria81

Dalai LamaTitled 'Ocean of Wisdom", the Dalai Lama is a high lama of the Gelugpa order (though not its official head!) and has historically been both the spiritual and the temporal, or secular, leader of Tibet. The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyantso, is the 14th to hold the title, though he has given up the temporal power over the Tibetan Government in Exile. The Dalai Lamas are thought to be incarnations of Avalokiteshvara, or the Bodhisattva of compassion. The seat of the Dalai Lamas (prior to exile in Dharamsala) has been the Potala Palace in Lhasa, as well as the summer palace of Norbulingka.Panchen LamaAfter the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama is the highest ranking lama of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Currently, the Panchen Lama lineage is at the 11th reincarnation (although the subject is controversial - two rival Panchen Lamas have been recognised by the Tibetans and the...

Tibetan Phrasebook

by Maria81

Hello - Tashi delekGood morning - Nga to delek (also used for good afternoon and good evening)Goodbye - Kha leh phe (if you are the one leaving) or Kha leh shu (if you are the one staying)Sorry - Gawn daThank you - Tujay chayDon't mention it - Shu goyak yaw maray (responding when someone has thanked you)Help! - Rog nang da!

Tibet History: Songtsen Gampo

by Maria81

King Songtsen Gampo is probably the most prominent figure in the Tibetan history, who is responsible, among other things, for the construction of the Potala Palace in the 7th century AD. The king has united Tibet and made Lhasa its capital (a move from Lalong). He is also believed to be an incarnation of Chenresing, or Avalokiteshvara (much as the Dalai Lamas). He ascended to the throne while still a boy after his father had been poisoned.The king's other achievements include the expedition to India to devise a script for the Tibetan language, more advanced laws and the court system, introduction of silk and other artifacts, the building of Jokhang temple. The most important, however, has been the introduction of Buddhism into Tibet.The legend most frequently told is that of his marriage. While relatively little is known of his Tibetan wife, his Nepalese wife - Princess Bhrikuti - and...

Monasteries and the Cultural Revolution

by Maria81

One of the things you constantly hear in Tibet is 'The monastery was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and subsequently restored' - this was the case for even the more famous temples and monasteries (like the Jokhang). In the 70s, when the Chinese government made an offer to the Dalai Lama to return, an investigative mission was set up to travel to Tibet and examine the conditions there. Its two trips have revealed, among other things, that over 6,200 monasteries, temples and shrines have been destroyed. It's often said that the only building to have survived intact was the Potala which was protected by the Chinese troops themselves on the explicit orders from the government of the day.The more famous monasteries have since been restored (including Sera, Tashilhunpo, Gyantse, and the Jokhang temple), but countless smaller ones remain in ruins. The index to the guidebook lists...

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Interior Photography in Tibetan Monasteries

by Maria81

While some Tibetan buildings prohibit interior photography (most notably, Potala, Norbulingka, and Jokhang), the others are quite happy to permit you to take pictures inside provided you pay the specified fee. The fees are usually per chapel and can range from 10RMB (some of the chapels in the Sakya monastery) to 150RMB (more famous chapels of the Tashilhunpo) per chapel. The best value is probably the 10RMB fee which allows you to take pictures in all the chapels of the Gyantse Kumbum. It will sting much more if you want to video your visit - a chapel visit can cost up to 1,800RMB. The monks generally enforce the rule quite strictly, although from what I've seen some of them may allow you to take a quick snap for free.

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Schools of Tibetan Buddhism - Overview

by Maria81

There are 4 main schools of Tibetan Buddhism: - Nyingma: the oldest of the four schools, based on the Buddhist scriptures translated from Sanscrit into Tibetan (the process which has also led to the creation of the Tibetan script)- Karma Kagyu: headed by the Karmapas, who over the centuries have been the spiritual advisors to the Chinese emperors. The Karmapa is also known as the 'Black Hat' Lama- Sakya: the Sakya monastery abbot is the head of the order. Unlike the Dalai and the Panchen Lamas, the Sakya abbot title is hereditary.- Gelugpa: with the abbot of Drepung as the titular head. However, it is the Dalai Lama, also of the Gelugpa order, who wields the strongest influence over the order and Tibetan Buddhism in general. The Panchen Lama is also of the Gelugpa order.Since the 20th century the traditional religion of Tibet, Bön, has been adopted as the fifth school of Tibetan...

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Attitudes to Dalai Lama

by Maria81

Westerners are typically recommended not to carry pictures or books by Dalai Lama - any display of these is illegal in Tibet and will not be looked upon kindly by the Chinese authorities. The same applies to pictures of the original 11th Panchen Lama. In line with the prohibition, you will not see any of their pictures on the walls. For example, the Tibetan family house we visited had only the photo of a previous, 10th Panchen Lama, and the 13th Dalai Lama. Along with a poster of Mao...It's inevitable, however, if you travel with a local Tibetan guide, that you will be asked about Dalai Lama - whether you can show a picture, whether you heard him speak, read any books (especially if your guide is of a younger generation, as I noticed - older generation in their 50s is more careful). I found it was fine to answer questions at this point - especially if you trust the guide. For them it's...

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Mining in Tibet

by ozalp

Tibet’s lands have precious mines but as they believe that the soil has a soul and mining disturbs it. So, Tibetan people don’t do mining and now lots of foreign companies have mines in Tibet. You’ll see women with huge turquoises (I mean HUGE!) on their hair, gem decorated statues… I think they are all found on the ground, taken by waters etc.Tibetan people don’t like the mountaineers for the same reason. They don’t want to disturb the nature.

Door curtains

by ozalp

What is the exact definition of this stuff? Tibetan architecture has colorful decorations. Generally the wooden parts around the doors and windows were painted in black and decorated with all the colors of nature. Bright and powerful sun, strong winds and dust can give severe damage to decorations. I think this is why they use curtain-like fabrics over the doors and windows. The ordinary curtains inside the houses exist but also they use these exterior curtains. Their most common decoration is Shrivatsa, the endless knot. I have one with the same design.

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Geomantic Temples of Tibet

by ozalp

Geomancy is an occult art, a method of divination. I cannot relate it to geomantic temples after reading all, but they are somehow related. The story goes until the arrival of princess Wen Cheng. Her country, China was divided into 4 zones and described as a supine turtle. Tibet was described as a supine ogress, Sinmo. Sinmo is a rock ogress and the mother of Tibetan race. She tempted a monkey and their children become progenitors of 6 Tibet clans. The geomantic temples are on the focal points on the body of ogress: Tradruk (left shoulder), Katsel (right shoulder), Yeru Tsangdram (right hip), Rulak Drompagyang (left hip), Khomting (left elbow), Buchu (right elbow), Jang Traduntse (right knee), Mon Bumtang (left knee), Jang Tsangpa Lungnon (left hand), Den Langtang Dronma (right hand), Mangyul Jamtrin (right foot) and Paro Kyerchu (left foot).

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Local traditions and culture in Tibet

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Reviews and photos of Tibet attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Tibet sightseeing.

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Local Customs: Cities in Tibet
  1. Lhasa Local Customs
  2. Gyangze Local Customs
  3. Xigaze Local Customs
  4. Samyai Local Customs
  5. Zhigung Local Customs
  6. Lhaze Local Customs

More Cities in Tibet

 

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Q:  I am planning a trip of a life time and have two years to do so… so first I want to get some ideas from seasoned travelers and... 

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A: If you want to hike or bike, Tibet (which is stunning, by the way) is probably not going to work out. The Chinese government will only issue permits for people to enter... 

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