5 Things You Didn’t Know About the Tibetan Ethnic Group

We Tibetans are an ancient people with a unique lifestyle shaped by the challenges of life in the highlands. We are deeply spiritual and warmly welcoming to visitors.

To truly understand us, there’s no better way than visiting Tibet. In the meantime, our article 5 Things You Didn't Know About the Tibetan Ethnic Group will give you a glimpse into our culture. Read on to learn more!

1. The Tibetan Ethnic Group is not only live in Tibet

The Tibetan ethnic group is not limited to living only in Tibet, but also in other regions within China. The traditional Tibetan homeland can be divided into three regions: U-Tsang, Amdo, and Kham.

U-Tsang covers central Tibet (the Tibet Autonomous Region), including the capital city of Lhasa and the Shannan area.

Amdo, spread throughout three Chinese provinces, is home to around 25% of Tibetans. It occupies parts of Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai northeast of U-Tsang.

Kham lies in the eastern and southeastern corner of the Tibetan Plateau, the world's highest and largest plateau. The region occupies parts of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Sichuan, Qinghai, and Yunnan provinces.

So nowadays, the Tibetan ethnic group lives not only in the Tibet Autonomous Region, but also in other nearby provinces such as Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai, and Yunnan.

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2. The Tibetan ethnic group has more than four branches

Kham, Amdo, and Jiarong are the major branches of the Tibet ethnic group. In addition, there are also other subgroups like Baima Tibetans, Muya Tibetans, etc. These subgroups have distinct cultural and linguistic differences, but they are all part of the broader Tibetan ethnic group.

Kham Tibetans

Also known as Khampa (Khamba), the Kham Tibetans are the most populous. 95% are Tibetan Buddhists and 90% of Khampas live in farming and husbandry in the eastern region of the Tibetan Plateau, including parts of Sichuan, Yunnan, and the Tibetan Autonomous Region. If you take a trip to Kham area, you can see the Khampa members are typically taller than other Tibetans.

Khampa Tibetans

Amdo Tibetans

The Amdo Tibetan is another major subgroup of the broader Tibetan ethnic group, living primarily in the northeastern region of the Tibetan Plateau, including parts of Qinghai, Gansu, and Sichuan provinces. They have a unique culture, language, and way of life, which has been influenced by their nomadic lifestyle and geographic location. If you want to take an Amdo Tibet tour, you can visit Qinghai Province, south-western Gansu Province and northwest Sichuan province.

Amdo Tibetans

Jiarong Tibetans

The Jiarong Tibetans, also known as the Gyarong Tibetan, primarily live in the southern part of the Tibetan Plateau, in Sichuan Province, China. They have their own distinct language, culture, and customs, which have been influenced by their geography and historical interactions with neighboring ethnic groups.

Jiarong Tibetans

Baima Tibetans

The Baima Tibetan is a subgroup of the broader Tibetan ethnic group, primarily living in northwest Sichuan and southeast Gansu. They're Tibetan Buddhists, skilled farmers, and livestock breeders.

Baima Tibetan

Muya Tibetans

Muya Tibetans are the fewest among the mentioned ethnic branches. They practice Buddhism and mainly live in the Muli Tibetan Autonomous County in Kangding, Sichuan Province, China. They have a unique culture, language, and traditions, which have been influenced by their historical interactions with neighboring ethnic groups and their geographic location in the southeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau.

Muya Tibetans

3. Each Branch of the Tibetan ethnic group has their own language

Tibetan falls into a group of eight Tibeto-Burman languages. An interesting thing is that the Tibetan language comprises dozens of various dialects and sub-dialects. For that reason, Tibetans belonging to one group may not understand those of another group without an interpreter.

The three main dialects are Central Tibetan, Kham, and Ando. Most Tibetans speak Central Tibetan, also known as Lhasa Tibetan. Their highly-stylized language reflects a social hierarchy between lower-ranking peasants and high-ranking nobles or lamas, for example.

Besides oral, the Tibetans have their written languages. What may strike most people as curious is their practice of writing from right to left. Their written language allegedly developed in the 7th century, when the first Tibetan emperor, Songtsen Gampo, sent a minister to India to gather information about Buddhism. Along the way, the minister came up with a Tibetan script.

Tibetan script

4. Tibetans have their calendar and New Year

Tibetan people refer to their lunisolar calendar. It consists of 12 or 13 months, and each begins and ends with a new moon. The 13th month is added every 30 months to align the calendar with the seasons. Moreover, they introduced skipped and doubled days to adjust differences between lunar and solar cycles.

Tibetan New Year (Losar) is one of the grandest celebrations of Tibetan people. It falls anywhere between 5 February and 5 March, and celebrations last for two weeks. The New Year celebration encompasses various performances based on local culture and beliefs. The Losar celebration dates back to the 2nd century BC, long before Buddhism arrived in Tibetan Plateau.

Live performances typically represent the struggle between good and evil. Besides performing, the Tibetans chant and dance. Burning incense to satisfy various local spirits and guardians is another Losar practice. Tibetans also offer gifts to family deities and paint religious symbols on the doors of their houses.

Tibetans celebrate the Tibet New Year

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5. Tibetan Ethnic Group Minorities Follow Different Practices

The Tibetan ethnic group has multiple beliefs, with Tibetan Buddhism being the most widely practiced religion among Tibetans. However, there are also some Tibetans who follow the Bon religion, which is an indigenous shamanistic belief system, and a small minority of Tibetans who practice Islam.

Tibetan Buddhism is a form of Mahayana Buddhism that incorporates elements of Tibetan culture and other indigenous practices. It emphasizes meditation, compassion, and the pursuit of enlightenment, and is characterized by its colorful and elaborate rituals and iconography.

The Bon religion, on the other hand, is an indigenous belief system that predates the arrival of Buddhism in Tibet. It emphasizes shamanistic practices, nature worship, and the belief in various gods and spirits.

Although Tibetan Buddhism and Bon are different, they also share some similarities, including the belief in reincarnation and the importance of spiritual practices such as meditation and offerings.

Tibetan Buddhism being the most widely practiced religion among Tibetans

Best Places to experience Tibetan Religions

To experience Tibetan Buddhism, you can visit famous Gelug monasteries such as the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, which are important pilgrimage sites for Tibetan Buddhists. You can also visit the Sakya Monastery to experience the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism.

For those interested in the Bon religion, the Kham region, located in western Sichuan and eastern Tibet, is a good place to visit.

Mount Kailash, located in the western part of Tibet, is also considered a sacred site for both Tibetan Buddhism and the Bon religion, and is an important pilgrimage destination for followers of both beliefs. If you are a cultural and religious traveler, you will not miss a Mount Kailash tour during your days in Tibet.

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Jokhang Temple is the best experience Tibetan Buddhism

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Now you know some basics about Tibetans. But there is much more you can learn about these remarkable and welcoming people and their beliefs and customs.

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