xunhua

Childbirth and Childcare in Rdo sbis Tibetan Township

Abstract: 
Rdo sbis (Daowei 道 帏) Tibetan Autonomous Township, Xunhua 循 化 Salar Autonomous County, Haidong 海 东 Region, is located in eastern Qinghai 青 海 Province, PR China. Knowledge, beliefs, and behavior associated with childbirth, midwifery, and childcare in Rdo sbis Township Tibetan communities are described, focusing on a single village as a case-study. 

The A mdo Tibetan Lab rtse Ritual

Abstract: 
The origin of a specific A mdo lab tse established, offerings to local mountain deities during the annual ritual venerating the three local mountain deities to whom the lab tse is dedicated and their origins, and related activities for a two-to-three-day period annually in summer are described. 

Lazi Festival

People from my township hold a Lazi festival next to the fields at the foot of this mountain. The three main events of the festival are: replenishing the Lazi, burning Sang and performing dances after the Lazi is replenished.

Photographer: 
Lumo Tsering

The Finger Cloud

We were sitting on the stone chanting Mani loudly to make the water deities hear our voices when a cloud which looked just like a thumb grabbed my attention. This was not simply a beautiful scene. It could also be a sign from the deities showing us that we were doing good job chanting.

Photographer: 
Lumo Tsering

White Sheep on the Mountain

I saw these sheep on the mountain on the way to the lake. They are the whites, strongest sheep I have ever seen. Think that this probably it is because the water they drink and grass they eat has not been polluted. 

Photographer: 
Lumo Tsering

Harvesting

It is necessary to wear gloves while harvesting, otherwise one's hands get splinters in them from the barley stalks. 

Photographer: 
Lumo Tsering

Gloves

Last year my grandma used these unmatched gloves during the harvest. No one was using them this year, so we thought we would harvest with them.

Photographer: 
Lumo Tsering

Lazi Festival

This is the time for the small lazi arrows to be transported to the lazi base. Men walk in a particular order according to which village they are from. No one really breaks this rule, because if they do so, their own or other’s arrows may be damaged which indicates bad luck for the owner. 

Photographer: 
Lumo Tsering