The Tibetan Culture

The Tibetan Culture

The Chinese History of Tibet 

Tibet has been part of China since the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). Centuries ago Mongol and Manchu Emperors ruled or influenced large parts of Asia. During the Tang period (618-907), the Tibetan King, Songsten Gampo, married Princess Wen Cheng. The Princess is thought to have had alot of influence in Tibet. During the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), Tibet was part of the Mongol Empire which was under Yuan rule. At this time, the Yuan Government implemented residence registration, levied taxes, and imposed corvee duties in Tibet. China's "White Paper" claims that the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) "replaced the Yuan dynasty in China and inherited the right to rule Tibet." During the Manchu rule (1644-1911), the Qing army on a number of occasions entered Tibet to protect it. Finally, in 1951, China and the Tibetan Local Government signed a 17-point agreement concerning the peaceful liberation of Tibet. During this time, The 14th Dalai Lama supported this liberation and acknowledged Tibet is one part of China.

Shoton Festival

Shoton Festival is one of the grandest transitional festivals in Tibet. In local language, Xue refers to yogurt and Dun means banquet and eating. Therefore, Shoton Festival is namely a feast day to have yogurt.

In truth, this 'yogurt festival' was originally an utterly religious event, starting in mid-11th century. At that time, people sacrifice yogurt to monasteries. Since late 17th century, it had become an important festival with Tibetan opera and thangka unfolding ceremony, backed up by entertainment and religion activities. Since it was hosted by Lhasa government, it has changed into a famous celebration combining tradition and modernization.

Although Shoton Festival is held in every late June or early July of Tibetan calendar, appointed Tibetan opera parties from different parts has get ready for the big day early one month ago. Around 15th June, they gather in Lhasa, riding or walking day and night, and then subject to inspection. The opening ceremony is going to be put on during 29th June to 1st July. Norbulingka in west outskirt of Lhasa is the central venue for the celebration, which used to be the summer palace of Dalai Lama. In these most energetic days, Lhasa's hustle and bustle are wholly moved the green forest around Norbulingka.

As the beginning of the festival, Buddha painting (thangka) unveiling ceremony in Drepung Monastery is the most remarkable. The 500-square-meter (598-square-yard) painting of Sakyamuni is gradually open on the hillside back of the monastery as the light in the very first morning strike on the large thangka at eight o'clock. The ceremony is called 'Buddha basking in the sun'.

Tibetan Opera

Tibetan Opera

Tibetan Opera is another big draw which is to be carried on since the second day of the festival from eleven o'clock in the morning until dark. Shows can be admired in Norbulingka and Longwangtan (Dragon King Pond) Park opposite the Potala Palace. The locals sit on mat with families and friends, drink butter tea and chang, taste dessert and watch the opera while waving the prayer wheel or finger the rosary in hand. During the period, different schools of Tibet opera will compete with each other, and teams from Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan will come to the holy Lhasa to improve their skills by exchanges.

During the 8th to 15th day of Tibetan July, those opera parties will perform in every corner of Lhasa city area. That is called Lhasa Shoton. After the 16th day, some opera teams can go outside of Lhasa downtown to perform. The last event is conducted in Sera Monastery, called Sera Shaton. In addition to the Sera Qiaxiu Festival of its own, Tibetan opera performance will last several days here. Yak racing, equitation, local songs and dances are performed alternately.

For 200 years, Drepung Shoton, Potala Shoton and Norbulingka Shoton successively appear and co-exist in Lhasa, and Lhasa Shoton has become a grand gathering for local people, a continuation of Tibetan culture.

Butter Lantern Festival

The Butter Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the first Tibetan month. It is the last high tide of celebrations of the Tibetan New Year. During the daytime, people go to pray in temples and monasteries while at night there is a lantern show. The butter lanterns they made prayer themselves. Various lanterns with butter sculptures shaped in the image of deities, animals, plants, and human figures are displayed, attracting people from the neighboring areas to appreciate them. Some of the lanterns are as high as two or three-storey buildings. Often, there is puppet show held as well and the event will last for several days. The Butter Lantern Festival is the happiest festival in Tibet. The busiest place during the butter lantern festival is the around the Barkhor Street and in front of Jokhang Temple, where many lanterns are displayed.

Butter Lantern Festival was named "meiduoqiejie" in Tibetan language. During the festival, monasteries will hold trance and other singing and dancing activities. People who join in trance will dress gown and mask, complained with Tibetan trumpet, so-na, drum and gong and drum to sing and dance, to show the happiness.Tibetan named it "Gandanangqu" which is a traditional religious festival.

The Traditional Tibetan art of Butter Sculpture

Ghost-Exorcising Festival

Sorcerer's Dances

Another ceremony comes after the special dinner, that is, ghost-dispelling. Every household in the village lit firecrackers and torch made of straw, and yell “come out, come out” while running out of their houses to an intersection of their village. They would throw the torch and remained gutu at the intersection, which means that they have dispelled all the devil in their house and a good new year is coming. 

Ghost-Exorcising Festival: To drive away evil spirits and to welcome the New Year, the Ghost-Exorcising Festival is held on the 29th day of the 12th month in the Potala palace, Lhasa. Such activities as sorcerer's dances in a trance are also held in monasteries in Tibet.

Dispelling evil spirits, is a Buddhist event in the Qambaling Monastery in Oamdo .
At the eve of Tibetan New Year, 29th of the twelfth month, religious dances are performed in monasteries for driving off of evil spirits of the past year. At night, in every household, traditional means of driving off evil spirits are carried out by burning bundles of straw and throwing rubbish in the crossroads. The Year¨CEnd Dumpling is served for supper.

At the end of the Tibetan year, religious dances to drive off evil spirits are help in monasteries all over Tibet. Every houshold burns bundles of straw and throws rubbish on the streets. The Year-End-Dumpling is served for supper.

The Traditional Foods

Gutu

Gutu is a special dinner Tibetan people have on December 29 on Tibetan calendar to dispel ghosts, hanker for happiness and welcome Tibetan New Year.

On December 29 of Tibetan lunar calendar, when it is dark, every family member is seated according to their seniority in the family tree and eats Tuba, which is a ceremony called "Gutu" to drive evil away and can be traced back to Tibetans' rituals. This is a very grand ceremony, and in Tibetan language, Gu means nine (for 29), and tu means Tuba.

Gutu

On this day, people prepare a very special dinner called "Gutu". For dinner people usually eat congee of barley or soup of Zanba. The special dinner "Gutu" consists of nine foodstuffs, barley flakes, peas, dough ball soup, radish and etc. To add to the festivity of the scene, people choose some symbolic things and stuff them into the wheat paste balls.

 What a family member eats predicts his/her luck of the coming year. All the family member sit together and discuss what they are eating and their luck and wish of the New Year. It is really a very happy and peaceful scene. If you are just travelling in Tibet around Tibetan New Year, just join local Tibetans' new year dinner. You will be welcomed.