The majority of Tibet's population of 1,890,000 are
Tibetans. Tibet is so thinly populated that it
averages out 1.6 8 persons per square kilometers.
About 90% of the people live on farming and
husbandry. Farmers live in the valleys of Tsangpo
River (Brahmaputra) and its major tributaries Kyichu
and Nuuang-chu. this area produces barely, wheat,
peas and rape-seed, the great northern grassland
which occupies a good half of Tibet is the home of
nomads, yaks and sheep. Nomads have no fixed abodes,
and keep roaming along fine pasture together with
all their belongings-tents and Livestock. The
remaining population, approximately 10%, live in
towns earning their living mainly On business and
handicraft, and many are factory workers and
government officials.
Ideology of people in this land differs greatly from
any other nationality both at home in china and in
the world. Religion seems almost everything. Many
live for the next life, rather than for the present.
They accumulate deeds of virtue and pray for the
final liberation-enlightenment. Lips and hands of
the elders are never at still, either busied in
murmuring of the six syllable mantric prayer OM Ma
Ni Pad Me Hum (Hail the Jewel in the Lotus) or in
rotation of hand prayer wheels, or counting of the
prayer beads. Pious pilgrims from every corner of
Tibet day to day gather at jokhang Temple and
bharkor Street offering donations and praying heart
and soul for their own Selves, for their friends,
and for their friends' friends.
Frequent visitors to Tibet can make out folks from
different regions judging by costumes and dalects.
Floks from agricultural regions dress in woolen
home-woven gowns, and those from the grassland clad
in sheepskin. men folk from chamdo wear huge tassels
of black or red silk which were used in old days for
protection in fight, while the Lhasa residents are
more stylish and modrn. Dialects in tibetan are in
variety, but mainly can be categorized into four:
Lhasa., Tsang (Shigatse and Gyantse), Chamdo and
Amdo. |