Countries Archives: Tibet (China)

Tibet — Tingri Dancing

There are essentially two kinds of Tibetan traditional dancing: the CHAM dance, which is religious in nature, typically performed by Buddhist monks, and Tibetan folk dancing, which Tibetans share at community events and festivals. A favorite Tibetan folk dance sub-genre includes SGOR GZHAS (“Sgor” means circle, and “Gzhas” is a kind of dance). Our TINGRI DANCE is a circle dance that is popular in the Tingri region, which is at the foot of the Himalayas, a jumping-off point for Mount Everest. Tibetans in Tingri do dances other than Sgor Gzhas, but the steps we’re learning today will give us a great excuse to circle up.

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Tibetan Buddhist Chant

[Information about Tibetan Buddhist chanting coming soon.]

Tibet–The Dalai Lama

Since going into exile from Tibet in 1959 when he was just a teenager, Tenzin Gyato, the man we know as the Dalai Lama, has become an international celebrity and the highest of all high-profile supporters of Tibetan autonomy. A “Dalai Lama” is the leader of the “Gelug” school of Tibetan Buddhism. Each Dalai Lama is believed to be the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama. Tenzin Gyato is the 14th; there may or may not be a 15th.

If there is a 15th Dalai Lama, and if the Gelug Buddhists use the traditional method of finding his reincarnation, Buddhist monks led by the Panchen Lama will recite Buddhist scripture at Khamo Latso, the Oracle Lake, waiting for a vision that will direct them to a place where they should look. Once they have the vision they’ll go to that place, find babies born when the Dalai Lama passed away, and observe each to see if his particular characteristics that may indicate he is the Dalai Lama’s “soul boy.” For example, a monk will provide the potential young child with a variety of objects. The real “soul boy” will pick the former Dalai Lama’s objects and discard the rest. Once the Panchen Lama is pretty sure he’s found the right child he’ll bring him to the central government where other monks will test him again to confirm. If there are several potential soul boys and all pass the preliminary tests, the monks will conduct a “gold urn lottery.” Literally, they’ll write each of the boys’ names on a scrap of paper, put the scarps in the urn, shake it up, pick one, and…voila! We’ll have the next Dalai Lama.

For a fascinating in-depth look at this procedure, rent the documentary “Unmistaken Child: The Search for a Reincarnated Lama,” which follows a monk who is given the job of finding the reincarnation of his deceased teacher.

More information:
What is a Dalai Lama? | The 14th Dalai Lama’s official website | The 14th Dalai Lama’s Facebook Page — almost a million friends! How to find a reincarnated Lama | The kidnapping of the Panchen Lama| Even more amazingly interesting facts about the Dalai Lama

Tibet–Music

Most traditional Tibetan music is religious in nature, reflecting the deep influence Buddhism has on Tibet’s history, culture and daily life. There are chants, mantras, and a lot of low, resonant drums. (In music class, we do a little bit of Tibetan Buddhist chanting, sort of like this.) Of course, with so many Tibetans living in exile and with Tibet itself becoming more modern, global styles have begun to blend with, and even supplant, traditional music. Today Tibetans rock, rap and sing luscious pop music in front of aerobicizing dancers just like the rest of us. (Though, apparently this is a Tibetan rave.)

If you’re looking for modern Tibetan music, albeit with a traditional twist, you may also want to check out popular Tibetan musicians such as the one and only Sherten (short for Sherab Tendzin), who won “Best Male Singer” at the 2009 Tibetan Music Awards because of heartfelt songs like this one and the now-defunct Rangzen Shonu — “basically the best music band in the history of Tibet”. (If you invite musicians who love Rangzen Shonu over to your apartment, be ready for a party like this.)

More information:
Wikipedia on Tibetan music | MusicTibet which, on any given day, is as likely to promote a YouTube video called “Long Live Dalai Lama” as it is to feature an article in which international pop star Shakira quotes Gandhi | Description of traditional Tibetan musical styles, kindly provided by the China Tibet Information Center | Music from the Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1997, representing a unique sub-genre of Tibetan music — recordings by non-Tibetan musicians playing non-Tibetan music to support Tibet

Tibet–Language

Tibetan, as in so many countries, is not just a jumble of words one uses to get through the day, but an essential expression of one’s history, culture and personal will. Human rights groups accuse the Chinese of using language as a weapon by requiring Chinese to be the language of all official business in Tibet. Meanwhile, Tibetan independence activists struggle to keep their language alive in the Tibetan diaspora as Tibetans assimilatie into their host countries.

More information:
Overview of Tibetan language and links to Tibetan language resources online | The Dharma Dictionary | “Tibetan Language at Risk Under Chinese Rule” (or, “Tibetan education thriving in Tibet“)

Tibet–When you go there

Should you, a thoughtful traveler, visit Tibet? Will your presence there serve a purpose, reminding Tibetans that people all over the world are still interested in their land and culture? Or will your tourist dollars boost the Chinese government and strengthen its argument that Tibet should stay exactly as is? The Dalai Lama suggests you go, if only to witness the situation there first-hand so you can spread the word when you get back.

LonelyPlanet.com’s Tibet page describes Tibet as “a uniquely spiritual place” and says, “Those moments of peace, fleeting and precious, when everything seems to be in its proper place, seem to come more frequently in Tibet….” On the other hand, Lonely Planet does caution travelers to put a false cover on their Lonely Planet guidebooks because border guards may confiscate them, presumably because they don’t include Taiwan on the map of China and they also freely reference the Dalai Lama.

Tibet–Overview

The first important thing to know about Tibet is that not everyone agrees what “Tibet” is. When the Chinese talk about Tibet they refer to the “Tibet Autonomous Region,” which is a province in the southwestern part of the nation. Tibetans define their land as “The Three Provinces,” a much larger chunk of what is now Chinese territory that covers the Tibet Autonomous Region as well as parts of several other Chinese provinces.

The second is that Tibet unified as an independent, Buddhist empire about 1400 years ago, and only became part of China in the 18th century when the Qing Dynasty conquered it, though the Chinese generally left Tibetans alone. Only when the British started to express interest in Tibet did China actually assert control. When the Qing Dynasty fell in 1912, the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, called the Dalai Lama (more about what a “Dalai Lama” is will come below) essentially declared Tibet’s independence by saying that the relationship between China and Tibet was “that of patron and priest and had not been based on the subordination of one to the other.” He went on to state, “We are a small, religious, and independent nation.” Unfortunately for Tibet, China never recognized Tibet as independent.

In 1950 Chinese troops entered Tibet and in 1959, after a failed Tibetan revolt, the Dalai Lama (who is the man we now know as “the Dalai Lama” — more about him below too) and about 80,000 Tibetans went into exile in Dharmasala, India. A hundred years later, Tibetans are still declaring themselves independent and the Chinese still aren’t buying it. China has tightened its grip on the Tibet Autonomous Region, especially by encouraging the immigration of millions of Han Chinese people into the region, which has changed the ethnic and linguistic makeup of the population.

Today, the Dalai Lama is the head of the Tibetan “government in exile,” the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). The CTA espouses non-violence and officially says it doesn’t want independence, just true autonomy within China. Most foreign supporters of Tibet, including high profile celebrities who have hobnob with the Dalai Lama, have demanded that the Chinese grant Tibet its freedom.

More information :
“FACTBOX: Who are Tibetans, what is Tibet?” | “The King of Tibet” is a teenager with a video camera | Not Everyone is a fan of Shangri-La | Buddhism vs. Bon? (a long article, but a fascinating look at a conflict between Tibetan Buddhism and a pre-Buddhist/shamanistic Tibetan Buddhist religion called Bon)

Lesson 9: Tibet

This week we hold music class in a place known as the “Roof of the World”: Tibet. This disputed region is at the same time one of the most politically unsettled places on earth and, if you ask most anyone who has visited, one of the most peaceful.

START HERE:

— OVERVIEW: The first important thing to know about Tibet is that not everyone agrees what “Tibet” is . . .

— MUSIC: Most traditional Tibetan music is religious in nature, reflecting the deep influence Buddhism has on Tibet’s history, culture and daily life . . .

— LANGUAGE: Language in Tibet, as in so many countries, is not just a jumble of words one uses to get through the day, but an essential expression of one’s history, culture and personal will . . .

— WHEN YO GO THERE: Should you, a thoughtful traveler, visit Tibet . . . ?

— THE DALAI LAMA: Since going into exile from Tibet in 1959 when he was just a teenager, Tenzin Gyato, the man we know as the Dalai Lama, has become an international celebrity and the highest of all high-profile supporters of Tibetan autonomy . . .