The Lhoba Nationality

The Lhobas mainly inhabit the Lhoyu area in southeastern Tibet, with an investigated population of 2,300. They have their own language, which belongs to the Tibetoª²Burman group. They don't have a written form, and their dialects vary greatly from tribe to tribe. Some people can speak and write in Tibetan. Their main occupation is farming, but hunting and gathering provide a considerable portion of their livelihood. They traditionally believe in primitive religion and Tibetan Buddhism.

Lhoyu, a fabulous land of 70,000 square kilometers, is the ancient home of the Lhobas. It is located at the southern foot of the Himalayas eastern end, stretching south from the mysterious high Nanjiabawa Mountain to the Assam Plain in India.

Lhoba is what Tibetans call the people living in Lhoyu. It means "southerners" and includes many different tribes such as Bogaer, Ningbo, Adi, Tajin.

The Lhobas living in the rural district of Nayu, Milin County, along the northern slope of the Himalayas belong to the Bogaer tribe. They moved from Manigan district dozens of years ago, and they still lead a traditional life here. They customarily live in blockhouses made of stone and wood which are solid, durable and protective. They often paint various auspicious patterns on their doors and walls in the house. Animal heads hanging on the walls are not only a symbol of wealth but also a display of their hunting skill.

They have always lived on corn and Jizhua rice, most often roasted. However, they are presently accustomed to the Tibetan diet: eating Zamba made of highland barley and drinking butter tea.

In Nayu area, the Lhobas' clothing style is particularly practical. They make their clothes mainly from plant fabric and animal skin. Men usually wear homemade sheepskin coats or long Tibetan pulu robes, over which a black vest called Namu is pulled. They wear a brimmed bearskin hat. The brim is wrapped with a ring of bear fur, and hanging at the back is a patch of bearskin with eyeholes. The hat is said to be capable of confusing the fowls when they go hunting.

The women like to wear little collarless shortª²sleeved garments woven with flax together with close-fitting knee-length skirts and ankle leggings.

Both men and women like to wear ornaments. They grind a bluish stone into beads, and hang them around their necks. Every adult has several strings of the beads. Some people wear dozens of strings on festivals.
In the past, due to the scarcity of farm land and relatively low levels of production skills, their agricultural harvest was too meager to meet their year round needs. Consequently, hunting became an important part of their economic activities. During the offª²seasons, groups of Lhoba men often went hunting in the mountains. They have learned many ways to trap game and fowl, and use poisoned arrows to deal with big fierce animals they encounter. Hunting in the dense wild forests is, in any case, a dangerous and adventurous job for every hunter. It is in fact a grave challenge on their virility.

Perhaps because they do not have a written language, or perhaps because the magical Himalayas have given them unending artistic inspiration, they have created a rich oral literature. An ancient ode Creation of the World, so desolate and forceful, has been passed on from generation to generation. Various touching love songs are always the best way for young men and women to express their love. And the lively and melodious flute tunes seem to present eternal eulogy to their beautiful homeland.

Low production levels and contingency in hunting make the Lhobas highly dependent on nature. In their religious belief in which nature is worshipped, sky, mountain, water, tree, wind, rain and thunder are all endowed with human intelligence, and they communicate with humans through wizards and witches. For thousands of years, the Lhobas have gained food and fortune from nature and they pay homage to nature through pious worship. In a way, they have identified their spiritual belief with the high mountains and deep valleys of the Himalayas.

Now when another spring comes around quietly to Lhoba villages in the depth of the mountains, many beautiful government funded houses have already risen above the ground. Village schools have also been constructed to promote their educational levels. A brighter future is unfolding before every Lhoba's eyes.