Skya rgya is a farming village in Amdo. While Tibetans largely welcome the material benefits that have been brought to them by the march of modernity, it is also inevitable that many of their older traditions have come to be seen as outdated. By juxtaposing voices from earlier periods with those that reflect contemporary experiences, [the author] has provided us with a fascinating window onto the processes of change and development, as they are being experienced by Tibetans in this area. The author's narratives give us a direct and vivid insight into the lives, experiences and expectations of members of his home community.
Author(s): Blo brtan rdo rje with Charles Kevin Stuart
Publisher: YBK Publishers
Year: 2008
Language: English, Tibetan, Chinese
Pages: 233
City: New York
Acknowledgements
ix Prefaces xi Lives, Experiences and Expectations xiii
Fernanda Pirie
Speaking to the Soul and Mind xvii
Marielle Prins
On the Edge of the Tibetan Cultural World xix
Gray Tuttle
Unencumbered by Abstraction or Systematization xxi
Gerald Roche
A Polyphonic View on the Reproduction of Social Life xxix
Emily Yeh
Listening to the Voices of the Voiceless xxxi
Françoise Robin
Introduction 1
A Brief Biography 3
The Yeti and the Talking Bear 3
Lha ris Leaves Her Husband’s Home 9
Little Bird 10
Uncle Lion, Uncle Elephant and Mother Rabbit 12
Background to the Study 16
Local Significance of Marriage 17
Significance of this Study 17
Informants 17
Transcription 19
Village Introduction 21
Location 23
Subdivisions and Population 23
History 23
Religion 24
Death 25
Nearby Muslims 26
Languages 27
Housing 27
Livelihood 27
Clothing 28
Recreation 28
Conflict 29
Skya rgya Oration 29
Voices 31
Introduction 33
Voice One: Bkra shis (b. 1979) Married at the Age of Fourteen 33
Grandmother Insists I Marry 34
About the Matchmaker 34
The Matchmaker and I Visit My Prospective Bride 34
The Prospective Bride’s Oldest Brother’s Song 34
The Matchmaker’s Reply 36
Agreement 38
A New Year Visit 39
My Formal Marriage 39
A Bowl Speech 40
Song to Begin the Wedding Ritual at the Groom’s Home 43
A Tibetan Love Song 46
The Bride’s Father’s Songs 48
My Last Year in Primary School 53
The End of Primary School 54
Beginning Junior Middle School 56
The End of My Marriage 57
I Begin Normal School 58
Voice Two: Sgron skyid 58
Voice Three: Nor bu mtsho 59
Voice Four: Lha skyid 61
Marriage Process 63
Night Cabals 65
Marriage Definition 66
Marriage Forms 67
Spouse Selection 67
Abduction 68
Sending the Bride to the Groom’s Home 68
The Groom Goes to the Bride’s Home with a Companion to Take the Bride 69
Songs to Awaken the Bride 69
The Bride’s Mother’s Lamentation When the Bride Departs 73
The Bride’s Response to Her Mother’s Lamentation 76
The Bride’s Departure 76
The Groom’s Side Sings Greetings to the Bride Enroute to the Groom’s Home 77
Songs Sung by Escorts From the Bride’s Side 79
The Bride’s Arrival at the Groom’s Home 89
The A zhang Assembly 90
Welcoming the A zhang 90
The A zhang’s Arrival at the Groom’s Home 91
Songs Sung by the Groom’s Side for the A zhang’s Arrival 91
A Tea Speech 97
A Liquor Speech 102
A Bread Speech 103
Songs Approving the Banquet 106
Ceremony Participants and Congratulatory Gifts 113
The Groom’s Mission During the Wedding Ceremony 114
Songs to Energize the Banquet 114
Dowries and Brideprices 126
A Ma zhang Speech 126
The Matchmaker’s Reply to the Ma zhang’s Speech 128
Livestock the Ma zhang May Demand 132
The Bride’s Father’s Oration 134
Clothing Speech 135
The Sash-tying Ritual 138
A Sash-tying Speech 139
Sash-tying Songs 144
The A zhang’s Departure 156
A Farewell Meal 156
Farewell Songs 156
Activities After the A zhang’s Departure 162
Songs Sung Competitively at Night 162
After the Big-Day Wedding Ceremony 174
Ear-pulling Ritual 174
Invitations Extended to the Bride 174
Escorting the Bride to the Groom’s Home for a Three-Day Stay 174
VI. Conclusion 175
Divorce 177
Childbearing 177
Married Men and Women and Their Lovers 177
Widows and Widowers 178
Unmarried Adults 178
VII. References 181
VIII. Photographs 185
1. Skya rgya Village in the summer of 2006 187
2. Gsung sgrog dgon pa (Sungtok Monastery) 187
3. Rin chen chos gling sgang, a Nyingmapa temple 188
4. Burning bsang 188
5. An old-style village house 189
6. Wedding bowls 190
7. A locally crafted sle bo or basket 191
8. A the’u rang 191
9. A modern village home 192
10. Women’s jewelry and ornaments 193
11. Old ornaments for women 194
12. Mr. Mgon po tshe ring 194
13. A village bride in 2004 195
14. Mr. Blo bzang chos ‘phal 196
15. Ms. Phag mo sgrol ma 196
Appendix—Chinese Ideographs 197
