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The symbol of Tibetan girls' adulthood
July,27 2016 BY Master Catherine Jigme
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Bazhu is a "Y" shaped or triangular frame worn on the head, wrapped by clothes or worsted and having various precious treasures inlayed on, such as pearls, corals, agates and turquoises, among which pearls are the top grade and corals the second.
Photo shows a Tibetan headwear "bazhu" collected by Tibet Museum, which is an accessory of noble lady of Lhasa area in the past.
Being the most typical headwear of Tibetan ladies, bazhu even reflected the social status of the wearers in the past, and was strictly restricted according to different classes.
In history, only the hereditary peer ladies of the fourth highest official rank or higher could wear "Muti Bazhu", meaning the top-grade bazhu made of pearls, matching a hat made of pearls sometimes. Those madams of ordinary officials' families or the rich families could only wear "Qulho Bazhu", i.e. bazhu made of corals, while the common women could only afford several pieces of corals dotted on their bazhu.
Photo shows a Tibetan headwear wearing "bazhu".
On the other hand, wearing bazhu is Tibetan women's symbol of adulthood, so when a girl wears a bazhu for the first time, it marks her entering of adulthood. According to Tibetan customs the parents should prepare a bazhu for the daughter early and choose a white day to hold a puberty rite for her, with relatives and friends of the family coming and celebrating.
Women of Tibetan ethnic group have various headwears, which would change according to different areas. In Tibetan inhabited areas of Qinghai and Sichuan Province, Tibetan women usually braid their long hair into scores of braids and wear two or three streamers on the hair, decorated by large agates, ambers, pearls, jades and golden or silver accessories.
As to Tibet Autonomous Region bazhu is the most typical headwear, which also changes in different areas. Those triangle ones are popular in today's Lhasa and Lhoka Prefecture, while those in bow or round shapes are in fashion in today's Shigatse Prefecture and surroundings.
Relative article:
Tibetan Adult Ceremony for girls
Women of Tibetan ethnic group have various headwears, which would change according to different areas. In Tibetan inhabited areas of Qinghai and Sichuan Province, Tibetan women usually braid their long hair into scores of braids and wear two or three streamers on the hair, decorated by large agates, ambers, pearls, jades and golden or silver accessories.
As to Tibet Autonomous Region bazhu is the most typical headwear, which also changes in different areas. Those triangle ones are popular in today's Lhasa and Lhoka Prefecture, while those in bow or round shapes are in fashion in today's Shigatse Prefecture and surroundings.
Relative article:
Tibetan Adult Ceremony for girls
With exceptional passion and outstanding leadership, Mrs. Catherine has dedicated herself to Tibet inbound tourism and China tour for 15 years. As one of the handful females who see great potential of Chinese inbound tourism, Catherine has made great contribution to promoting Tibet tourism and enhancing the employment of Tibetans and prosperity of local Tibetan community.
Over the years, she travelled overseas with Tibet Tourism Bureau many times to promote Tibet tourism. Currently, Catherine works as the marketing director of Tibet Vista, an opinion leader behind the whole team of Tibet Vista.
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