Commoners and Nobles: Hereditary Divisions in TibetThis study explores how Tibetans manoeuvre within two contradictory value systems - those of old Tibet and the new People's Republic of China - balancing between ideals and pragmatism. More specifically, it asks how it is that the social categories of pre-communist Lhasa persist and are relevant in daily life despite decades of Chinese rule and the comprehensive restructuring of Tibetan society. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Overview of Lhasa the city in Lhasa valley | 15 |
Social Categories | 22 |
Expressions of Rank in Daily Life | 47 |
Two silver cups | 49 |
Marriage | 71 |
Keepers of Cultural Knowledge | 95 |
Butter lamps | 102 |
Offerings of butter lamps and food | 108 |
The Value of Inherited Knowledge | 117 |
Prayer flags on the mountain | 140 |
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Common terms and phrases
13th Dalai Lama argue Barkhor Buddhist Carrasco Chapter China Chinese authorities claim commoners and nobles contemporary Lhasa context crucial cultural knowledge Cultural Revolution Dalai Lama Dawa Tsering defined depön discussed Dorje Drolma elite endogamy estates family background family history father focus former Tibetan gerpa Gombo History of Tibet hukou humble important informants inter-kyesa marriages Kawaguchi kudrak families kyesa land Lhalu Lhasa today Lobsang Dargye losar marriage marriage practices marry menrig menrig families monasteries moral Ngawang nobility noble background noble families non-nobles Norbu Panchen Lama parents period person position pre-Communist rank relevant religion religious role seen Shakya social categories social relations Songtsen Gampo Tashi Tashi Tsering Thupten Tibet Autonomous Region Tibetan Buddhist Tibetan culture Tibetan history Tibetan language Tibetan social system Tibetan society Tibetans in Lhasa trelpa Tsewang Tsomo unit Wangchuk Wangdu yabshi Yangzom yarab chözang young Tibetans Yuthok zhesa