As it is known to us all, there are 55 minority groups in China, each with its traditional customs, costumes and culture. Now let’s take a look at the Tibetan Minority.
The Tibetan Minority group live in Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan Province. And the highest ridge in the world─beautiful and mysterious Tibet is their major habitat .
As the fertilized prairie stretches around the habitants as far as the eyes can see, most people live on animal husbandry, raising sheep, goats, cattle and growing a special kind of plant called Qingke. On account of the unique climate, people often wear warm and comfortable boots in winter, and they are always dressed in delicate robes which are made of the fur of sheep. Often they take off one sleeve of the clothes and tie it around their waists in order to work easily and use it as warm quilts at night.
Both men and women there like wearing silver ornaments, which look very mysterious and full of magical power. And they are good at singing and dancing, and the men there can have braids too. When they meet an important guest, they will present him or her a Hada, a piece of long white silk cloth to show their respect. And they will also treat the guest to a special kind of drink called Suyou Tea, which some people find hard to enjoy.
Besides, the habitants have developed both their own written and spoken languages, and the long poems they wrote play an important role in Chinese literature. And there are many well-protected culture relics as well, taking the grand Budala Palace as an example. It is a historical museum as well as an art treasury, where people can share their spirit belief in Buddhism and get artistic entertainment of the carved paintings and the beautifully-written chirographies.
The Tibetan ethnic group is also famous for its strange custom in funeral. Thinking that the soul belongs to the sky after a person dies, they usually put the body on a platform outdoors, spray on it and wait the condors to come to eat the body. In this way, they believe the soul goes up to the sky.
The Tibetan Minority is brimming over with deep emotions. The people there are very zealous and hospitable and they live freely and happily on the spacious grassland. Their history and culture contribute to the diversity of China, so we certainly should protect them and get them popularized and let them receive great respect they deserve.
