Overview of Tibet's Lhoba People
Introduction to the Lhoba People
Can you imagine a whole community of people going around barefooted daily, in this day in age? Or try to imagine men carrying a sword around at all times, and women expertly weaving clothes, each for her own family. How about a culture that bases its calendar on its women's monthly cycle? Far from an ancient, lost culture, the Lhoba people of Tibet continue their unique and time-honored culture even to this day!
'Lhoba' is an obscure term to many, but actually, the Lhoba are one of China's 56 ethnic groups and the term loosely identifies parts of the southeastern Tibetan Autonomous Region where the Lhoba people reside. Most of the 2,300 people of the Lhoba minority live in Mainling, Medog, Lhunze, and Nangxian counties of southeastern Tibet, while a few live in Luoyu, a small area of Tibet on the border with India.
Among these two geographic segments of Lhoba tribespeople living in Tibet, three distinct dialects are spoken among them: Idu Mishmi, Bokar (Adi), and Na (Bengni). The different Lhoba clans have differing customs, while all Lhoba people also share unique traits and customs that have come to define the Lhoba.
Household Structure and Social Customs
Lhoba houses are divided into several rooms for common use by the family members of the household and a fireplace occupies the center of the main room, around which the married family members sleep at night, while unmarried girls and boys sleep in separate rooms. One unique cultural taboo is that the wooden pillow belonging to the head of the house is not allowed to be used as a seat by anyone, and guests are not allowed to enter the room which the master of the house uses to store his things.
In addition to these customs, the Lhoba household is a hive of daily activities and cultural practices. The women, often regarded as the backbone of the household, are usually engaged in various domestic chores from dawn to dusk. They are responsible for preparing meals, weaving, and taking care of the children. The art of weaving is not just a necessary skill but also a cultural heritage passed down through generations, with each pattern and design telling a story of the family's lineage or the region's mythology.
Furthermore, the Lhoba place a significant emphasis on respect and hierarchy within the family structure. Elders are highly revered and are often consulted on important decisions. This respect is not confined to the immediate family but extends to the entire community, reflecting their deep-rooted values of unity and mutual respect.
The fireplace, which is central to the main room, is not merely a source of warmth in the cold Tibetan climate but also serves as a communal gathering spot. Here, stories are exchanged, wisdom is passed down, and bonds are strengthened. It's not uncommon to see the family huddled around the fire, sharing tales of ancestors and discussing the events of the day, making the fireplace a symbol of family unity and cultural preservation.
In this way, the Lhoba household is much more than just a living space. It is a microcosm of their broader cultural identity, encapsulating their traditions, beliefs, and social norms. Every aspect of their household structure and customs is a testament to their rich heritage and their unwavering commitment to preserving their unique way of life amidst a rapidly changing world.
Traditional Clothing and Accessories
The Lhoba men in Luoyu wear knee-length black robes without sleeves and buttons made out of sheep's wool, and they wear helmet-like hats made from either bearskin or woven bamboo strips laced with bearskin. They also wear ornamental earrings, necklaces made of beads, and bamboo plugs inserted into the ear lobe.
Lhoba men usually carry a sword or dagger and shields made of buffalo hide and wear waterproof cane helmets on top of a braided knot of hair. Their weaponry includes straight Tibetan swords, daggers, and even bows and poisoned arrows.
Luoyu Lhoba Tibetan women wear narrow-sleeved blouses and earth-tone skirts of sheep's wool. They also wear colorful adornments and a load of jewelry and metal trinkets. The weighty ornamentation worn by the women is a symbol of their wealth and can include shells, silver coins, iron chains or bells, and silver or brass earrings. The women of these Lhoba tribes are expert weavers and make excellent coats and blouses.
Despite all the ornate jewelry, accessories, and decoration, both sexes usually go barefoot.
Culinary Practices and Social Habits
Daily Life
Lhoba cuisine varies across the regions they reside in, but some of the more common staple foods are dumplings made of maize or millet flour, rice, and buckwheat. In places near other Tibetan communities, the Lhoba have learned to eat tsampa, potatoes, buttered tea, and spicier foods.
Many Lhoba are also smokers and heavy drinkers, such that Lhoba celebrations, like the celebration of bountiful harvests or seeking good luck for the upcoming planting season, are usually smoky, rowdy affairs with much wine and singing. Though the Lhoba are mostly farmers, they will barter and trade with neighboring Tibetans - trading goods like animal hides, musk, bear paws, dyes, and trapped game for farm tools, salt, wool, clothing items, grains, and tea from Tibetan traders.
Cultural Integration and Religious Beliefs
As a result of constant trading with other Tibetan peoples, they have been increasingly influenced by Tibetans in their style of dress, and indeed, many Lhoba have even converted to the dominant Tibetan Buddhism of the region. In recent years, there has even been increased trading with Buddhist monasteries, causing even more mixing of their indigenous animist beliefs, which elevated the status of the tiger, with the prevalent Buddhist beliefs. Apart from these Buddhist similarities and observances, the Lhoba also have their own unique festivals, such as Reh, when they seek to appease deities who were believed can control the peace and prosperity of the people.
Conclusion: The Lhoba in Tibet's Ethnic Mosaic
The Lhoba people of Tibet are a small yet noteworthy part of Tibet's ethnic landscape, living around and among the more well-known Tibetan majority. When trekking on your next overland Tibetan adventure, look for the barefoot Lhoba along the way!
You can visit Lhoba People when you go on some of our Tibet tours.
Thank you for reading. If you have follow-up questions or comments, please email info@windhorsetour.com.
Consider the following tours through areas where the Lhoba live today:
Comments
I'm from arunachal belong to Taging tribe. I like this page because approximately 95% of written points are similar to our culture.
The looks, dress in the photo are quite similar to the Adi of Arunachal pradesh. i wonder they are our brothers in china.
Hi, T.L. Thanks for reading our post. In the post, Lhoba means an ethnic group. But I am wondering why you have this thought? The southerners?? Waiting to know more about this term that you generated in your mind.
I have a small point to add. The term "Lhoba" I suppose loosely means "the southeners."