Mention Tibet and most people think
of extreme cold and terrifying winds atop menacing peaks.
In fact snow falls in Tibet only once or twice a year. The
rest of the time, the land is bathed in bright sunshine which
warms the day even in the coldest of winters! Meteorologists
report over 3,000 hours of sunlight a year.
Hence, Tibet's ancient name which
means "land of snow" may seem a misnomer, until
we realise that the world's greatest mountain ranges in Ima,
the Tisi, are indeed snow-clad and sparsely inhabited, their
white peaks strung across the country like strings of giant
pearly beads.
Tibetan history traces back thousands
of years. Ancient folklore relates how the early Tibetans
are descendants of a male Monkey and a female Rock-demon.
This may have something to do with the Tibetan custom of covering
or painting their faces to protect themselves from harsh weather.
Recorded history, however, reveals that Songtsan Gampo, the
33rd Tibetan king in the 7th Century, sent his minister Sambhota
to India to study Sanskrit. On his return, the minister invented
the present Tibetan script based on Sanskrit.
Tibet's population of 1,890,000 is
spread so sparsely across the land that there are fewer than
2 persons for every square kilometre. Nine out of 10 of them
are involved in farming and husbandry.
The farmers
live in the valleys of Tsangpo River (Brahmapotra) and its
major tributaries Kyichu and Nuuang-chu, producing barley,
wheat, peas and rape-seed. It forms a great northern grassland
occupying a good half of Tibet. Some farmers are nomads with
no fixed abodes, roaming throughout the fine pastures with
all their belongings, tents and livestock.
The remaining 10% of the population
live in towns earning their living mainly through business
and handicraft, or as factory workers and government officials.
Most Tibetans are Buddhist, for whom,
their religion is the core of their identity. Buddhism arrived
in Tibet during the era of Dar-ma when some Tibetans went
to India to study Buddhism and came back to preach. At the
same time, some famous Indian monks, such as Dipamkarashrijinana
(Atisa), were invited to Tibet to give lectures. In time,
Tibetan Buddhism became an independent branch of Buddhism.
Today, the Dalai Lama is the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism.
Traditionally, Tibetans are a peace-loving
people, reflected in their gentle and hospitable nature. Visitors,
however, should pay heed to some ground rules when in Tibet:
- Do not photograph them without their permission.
- Avoid discussion sensitive issues such as the political
situation and religious matters.
