Tibetan

Tibetan Nationality in Sichuan is mostly scattered in Ganzi and Aba Autonomous Prefectures as Muli County of Liangshan Yi Nationality Autonomous Prefecture. The total population is 1,087 million. Formulated in the 7^th century, the Tibetan language is an alphabetic writing, which belongs to the family of Tibetan-Burmese languages.

The two autonomous prefectures, isolated by high mountains, are the more exotic places to visit because of their extraordinary remoteness, serenity, unique culture, and scenery. No pollution mars the magnificent, jagged mountain peaks or darkens the deep, clear rivers and lakes. There winters are fiercely cold, but strong sunlight warms the thin air the hottest temperature is 27℃ in July and August.

 Sichuan Tibetan areas have a mystical charm. Local Tibetan people believe in Lamaism, an ancient strain of Tantric Indian Buddhism, coupled was introduced into Tibet and the Tibetan areas in Sichuan, the mythical nature-gods still remained in the memory of the superstitious tribes of Tibet and rituals concerned. They were intertwined with Mahayana Buddhism, and thus a completely new religion was produced afterwards, which could be properly described as “Lamaism”. It was carried to Tibet by scholars and monks from India who crossed the Himalayas through Nepal during the reign of Songzan Gapu in the 7^th to 9^th centuries.

By the end of the 14^th century, the Tibetan Buddhism had had a variety of sects, which had permeated the Tibetan society. The first of the sects was called the Red Religion a second sect by the name of the Flower Religion was founded in the 11^th century. The third sect was called the White Religion, which was also established in the 11^th century. During the 15^th century, a fourth sect was born as the Yellow Religion that gradually perfect the Tibetan Buddhism and greatly promoted the evolution of the mergence of government administration with religion in the Tibetan areas. Lamaism believes strongly in reincarnation, which is reflected in its arts. Lama means ”teacher” or  “superior being”. A lama must be a monks can become lamas.

The Tibetan people have their own traditional clothes. They love shirts in white, bright red, azure, pink, and tangerine colors. Man usually appears in a loose woolen garment with the right arm slipped out of the sleeve to show the white undergarment or woolen sweaters inside. His hat is brocade knit, four-flab hat with golden and silvery threads. He wears long boots and has a broad silk sash around his waist. Women’s clothes are almost similar to men’s, but their dressed are even more colorful. The material used is even better than the men’s. the loose garment from the collar down is open on a slant to show the silk blouse inside. Each woman enjoys having a beautiful shawl over her shoulders and a colorful apron around her waist. Both men and women wear earrings.

The diet in the Tibetan areas is based primarily on toasted barley flour, wheat flour as well mutton and beef. They drink wine made of barley. Tea and salt is their daily necessities.

In the Tibetan agricultural areas, a Tibetan family usually lives in a flat-roofed house in timber-earth or stone-timber structure with two or three floors. The flat-roof is used as a sunning place to dry their crops. The top floor is a meditation hall where the whole family prays to Buddha and recites Buddhist scriptures. Rooms on the second floor are used as a living room and bedrooms.. the family always has their house windows and doors painted.

The Tibetan New Year is one of the most important holidays. Long ago, the Tibetan people had their won astronomical calendar. The calendar is a combination of the solar and lunar calendars. The Tibetan year is divided into 12 months with 30 days for a big month and 29 days for a small month. The Tibetans are about to celebrate their won new year shortly after the Han people celebrate their Spring Festival.

Before the New Year Day, every family has a thorough cleanup inside his house and draws up designs symbolizing good luck. On the eve of the New Year the whole family stays up all night at home. They begin making butter and ilk cakes, preparing meat, sausages and milk food for the New Year Day is rich and plentiful: congee, meat broth, steamed buns, beef and mutton. Everyone puts on his or her holiday best. On the Near Year Day, people generally stay home to celebrate the occasion with their own families. Younger family members, after washing their faces and brushing their teeth, pay respect to their grandmother who is in charge of household affairs. For a full day the whole family drinks the wine made from barley and tar the Tibetan food.

On the second day, people go out to visit other families and exchange greetings. Hosts offer wine other families and exchange greetings. Hosts offer wine. In the evening people hold recreational activities, which last at least three to five days in some places, a grand meeting is held, in which a sorcerers’ dance is performed. People in colorful dresses wear weird masks when they sing and dance. Tibetans are good singers and excellent dancers. Songs are melodious and words are in thyme. During the holiday people also exchange greetings with hada.. hada is a specially made  long silk scarf in different colors. Mostly it is white in color, semi-transparent and extremely light. To offer someone a hada means offering him a pure, friendly heart.

Other recreations during the holiday include horseracing, archery and yak race contests.

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