Tibetan culture

Tibetan language belongs to the Tibetan-Burmese subfamily of the Sino-Tibetan language family . The number of speakers of Tibetan language is about 6 million people. The main area - the Tibet Autonomous Region and the adjacent provinces of China . This language is also spoken in India , Nepal , Bhutan, and Pakistan (the Balti and Purig dialects) ^[2] .

The Tibetan letter is used for recording, which in turn comes from the Brahmi script (according to some sources - Gupta ). The Tibetan alphabet was introduced in the first half of the 7th century by the decree of King Songtsen Gampo and designed by Thonmi Sambhota .

The Tibetan Grammar and Testament of King Songtsen Gampo are considered the first original works created by Tibetan writing. A significant part in Tibetan literature is the translation of Buddhist works from Sanskrit . The manuscripts of the 9th — 10th centuries from Dunhuang are scientifically proven and confidently dated original works in Tibetan.

An extensive collection of literary works has been preserved, written by Tibetan scholars and religious figures on various aspects of Buddhism. The Tibetan Buddhist Literary School is divided into several large schools: Nyingma , Sarma , Kagyu , Sakya and Gelug . There are also several small schools.

In addition to religion, Tibetan literature also covers secular topics: history , grammar , poetry , metric literature and dictionaries, logic , astrology , mathematics , medicine , geography , cosmology , law , politics , music and dance , theater and crafts ^[3] .

Modern secular literature of Tibet is represented by such famous authors as the poet Yedam Tsering , the prose writers Jampel Gyatso, Tashi Dawa and Dondru Wangboom ^[4] .

Buddhism has had a tremendous impact on the art of Tibet. Therefore, Tibetan painting developed under the influence of the Indian school. From there came the school of religious painting tank .

The painting of Tibet adheres to stereotypical forms: in the center of the work is a large depiction of a Thancacabudian deity surrounded by smaller deities. Later, Buddhist tanks began to depict llamas and scenes from their lives in the background.

Since the 15th century, Chinese influence has manifested itself in Tibetan painting, which is expressed in the freer approach of Chinese landscape painting . This allowed Tibetan artists to use the landscape more in religious paintings.

The art of the “ sand mandala ” stands apart, a pattern of complex geometric shape composed of colored sand. Buddhist monks painstakingly, for many days, create these paintings. Then, on a certain day, with a large gathering of people, the image is destroyed, and sand is distributed to believers ^[5] .

In addition to painting, Buddhism influences sculptures , coins , jewelry and household items .

Tibetan architecture was greatly influenced by Indian and Chinese architectural schools. Many significant Buddhist temples and monasteries in Tibet were built in Indian style.

The world-famous architectural structure of Tibet is the Potala Palace in Lhasa , the residence of the Dalai Lamas . In 1994, the Potala Palace is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

The architectural monuments are also the Kumbum temple, the monasteries of Sir , Samye and Tashilunpo .

Tibetan style is manifested in chortens , religious stupas dedicated to Buddha Shakyamuni . Later, the chortens began to be used as tombs for Buddhist lamas ^[6] .

Over time, Chinese temples began to be built in Tibet: the buildings had two or three levels, each upper level was smaller than the lower one, and the roofs had curved ends. It was this style from Tibet that first penetrated Mongolia and then into Buryatia .

The architecture of residential buildings is characterized by walls and flat roofs tilted to the inside. The houses are painted white and edged with dark paint around the perimeter. In rural areas, houses usually have a cozy little courtyard.

Temples and houses are built of stone, sun-dried bricks, less often of wood.

The lunar calendar first came to Tibet from China in the 7th century during the reign of King Songtsen Gampo when his wife, the Chinese princess Wenchen, brought astrological treatises with her.

The Tibetan calendar is lunar-solar. It has a 12-year cycle. Each year is named after an animal: Mouse, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, and Pig. Thus, each 12-year cycle opens with the Year of the Mouse. The dragon is the only mythical animal in this calendar.

Together with the name of animals in the Tibetan calendar, the definition of "four elements" is used: Tree, Fire, Earth and Water. And the name of the year might look like this: Year of the Fire Mouse or Year of the Wooden Horse.

The 12-year cycle enters a larger, 60-year cycle. New Year on the Tibetan lunar-solar calendar ( Losar ) begins (in different years) in the period from late January to early March .

In Tibetan Buddhism there are special llamas that make up the calendars for each year and conduct astrological forecasts ^[7] .

Traditional Tibetan music originates from the ancient culture of Bon and is associated with shaman rituals and tales of folk heroes.

Later, with the advent of Buddhism, the music of Tibet began to be based on religious chants in Tibetan and Sanskrit . Such chants are characterized by recitative singing.

The following musical instruments are used in religious rituals: rolmo (flat musical plates), nga (hanging drums), damaru (hand drums), drilbu (handbells), dungchen (long pipes), kangling (conical oboe) and dunkar (sink), etc. .

A ritual sacred dance is widely known - the mystery of tsam , which is performed by monks in special masks and robes. These masks symbolize this or that deity or demon. Every movement and gesture in the dance has its own meaning and meaning.

In Tibet, there is a more secular form of musical art: the Tibetan opera Lhamo , where dances are accompanied by loud chants. The creator of the Tibetan opera was a monk, a doctor and a poet Tangtong Gyalpo , who lived in the XIV century ^[6] .

Tibetan cuisine is very different from neighboring countries. Tibetans are a pastoral people, so meat and milk constitute an important part of their national cuisine.

One of the most favorite dishes for Tibetans are momo dumplings, which are made from ground beef with onions , garlic , coriander , salt , pepper and cumin , and then it all turns into dough and cooked in a pair.

In addition, if in India and China rice is the main agricultural crop, in Tibet it is barley . Milled barley is made into a national Tibetan dish Tsampa . Zampa is a staple food for Tibetans.

Tea is important in everyday life. Drinking tea in Tibet is a distinct culture from the Chinese tradition . Tibetans add butter and milk to tea.

In the kitchen of Tibetans a lot of space is meat and vegetables. Less spices and spices . Very few fish and seafood . A low-alcoholic wine made from rice is also made here ^[8] .

Tibetans wear gowns , shirts , leather boots with pointed toes. The dressing gown ( chuba ) for men is tied under the right hand and girdled with two woven belts. Shirts are also tied to the right side. Men's and women's clothing has no pockets and buttons.

Tibetan women also wear a forelock, with or without sleeves. Their clothes are more various and bright, with various elements, headdresses and ornaments. Married women differ from girls in bright striped aprons ^[9] .

In the north of Tibet, where the climate is colder, local shepherds wear fur coats. In the south, where the climate is warmer, the clothes are lighter and made from wool. Headdresses are felt or fur hats ^[10] .

Tibetan monks wear special clothing, different from the laity. Their clothes are characterized by extreme asceticism. Consists of antaravasac ("inner clothing"), which is a piece of cloth that wraps the abdomen and legs. The upper part of the body is wrapped in a larger piece of fabric, this part is called the uttara sanga - “outerwear”. To protect them from the cold, monks put sangati ("outer clothing") on top of the inner clothing.

Traditionally, the Mahayana monks should wear only yellow-orange or burgundy clothing. The monk's clothing set also includes hats, shoes, pants and shirts ^[11] .

A distinctive feature of marriage relations in Tibet is polyandry . In ancient and medieval Tibet, all kinds of marriage relations were present, including polygamy . Later, polyandry spread more widely throughout Tibet, with the exception of the province of Amdo , where monogamy is practiced.

Polyandry is the marriage of siblings to one girl. The wife performs her marital duties with each of the brothers in turn. The queue is strictly observed: one of the brothers exposes his shoes at the door of the bedroom, it is considered a sign for other brothers that he is now with his wife.

The choice of the future spouse makes only an older brother. All children born in such a marriage are considered his children. The elder brother also has the right to file for divorce, but the consent of the other brothers is already required.

There is also a kind of polyandry, when an outsider can join the brothers. This is done if a child has not been born in a family for a long time. In this way, the Tibetan family hopes to have an heir ^[12] .

Polyandry in Tibet got accustomed for economic reasons: it is easier for poor families to give money for one bride only, making her a wife for all sons at once and retaining the common parental shelter for them. This made it possible to preserve family property, the division of which could have ruined many Tibetans.