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| Inheritance.Snow
Taste.Nobility |
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| Inheritance: |
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The laic
cabinet has been monoplied by the nobility in Tibet, and there are
about one 150 families like that left at present. It was given forty
that they are offsprings of Tibet King, or regional chief and second
class liegeman, whoes ancestor has ruled Tibet. People can apply
for succeeding nobility without offspring as soon as they possess
sufficient money and status. The family of Dalai Life Living Lama
has most repersentation in this respect. They all are nobilities
who made their mark by joining the nobal procession and have been
apporved to the first class.
Hada is an indispensable
gift in local social interaction, which is divided into three types.
The best texture is made of pure silk, and it is about twelve feet
by three, there are "Wan" Character on its four sides, and some
of them have been knitted with figure of Buddha in the middle of
them. And such kind of hada can only be dedicated to Dalai Lama,
Panchen Lama and the first Living Lama. The second class hada is
made of silk, and fringed with "Wan" Character, nine feet by three,
which is used to dedicate to the top drawer. The third class hada
is a knitting of flax and silk, and much more shorter, given to
the lower order.
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Taste Nobility: |
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Nobility's
language differs from that of lower order, whose language is zhe-sa,
that is honorific. Tibetan language can be divided into three classes
based on the subtle differency of it, which are the first honorific,
the second honorific and non-honorific. That is not just different
turn of expression, but two set of different vocabulary, and all kinds
of noun, verb, pronoun, adjective and adverb dominated by grammer.
Thus, everything has honorific and non-honorific through out gentlemen,
except noun unrelated to separate property like the sun, moon, heaven
and hell. Honorific vocabulary contain all respects of life, things
from head to foot and from wearing to livestock, which threw simple
life order into confusion. Nobility you have met is the epitome of
that set of courtesy of Tibet, which not only require them showing
humulity facing people from topper class but dignity with people from
lower class. This rule demands everyone correct their behavior based
upon their positions, and lower order should behave with lowclass
attitude, people from top class would be criticized if not put on
airs with lower order according to their identity. Tibetan does not
know any courtesy except their rank.
Tibet courtesy has rigid
rules, that is host should wait for the most honoured guests in front
of the gate, for guests taken second place in the second door, for
guests of lower order at the staircase, guests from lower class than
the host at the perlor door, and guests from the lowest class should
inquire for reception.
Ladies and gentlemen should
live separatly in all orthodox Tibet party. All Tibetant are used
to two meals a day, and middle class enjoy food made of beef jerky,
mutton and hot pepper, while nobility enjoy one or two dish from upcountry.
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| --from
"Tibet and Tibetan" written by Shen Zonglian and Liu Biqi |
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