How much do you know about Tibetan taboos?

 

How much do you know about Tibetan taboos?

 

The wise man Agudengba chatted with the caravan leader Lacuo about the characteristics of Tibetan food, including Tibetan food etiquette. However, there are also many taboos in Tibetan folk customs.

Agudenba said:

Most Tibetans believe in Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism considers the 8th, 15th and 30th of every month in the Tibetan calendar as auspicious days. On auspicious days or major religious festivals, many people do not eat meat and meat, but instead specialize in vegetarian food. In terms of dietary taboos, do not eat horse, donkey, dog meat, etc. Many people also don't eat fish, pigs, or eggs.

Some urban residents (mostly young people) eat small amounts of fish, shrimp, snakes, eels and seafood, but people in the vast majority of agricultural areas and special economic zones generally do not.

Even if you eat beef and mutton, you cannot eat fresh meat slaughtered on the same day. You must wait a day before eating it. Because the meat slaughtered on that day is called "Ningxia", people believe that although the animal has been slaughtered, its soul still exists, and it will take a day before the soul leaves the body.

Tibetans will never prey on birds or pheasants. Tibetans regard snow pheasants like "Lachagonmu" as sacred birds and are taboo about hunting them.

Agudumba added:

The Tibetan people are influenced by religion, environment, customs, culture, etc., and have formed many taboos. The main taboos I know are roughly the following:

Tibetans generally do not kill animals, do not prey on birds, and do not eat the meat of odd-hoofed animals (horses, donkeys, mules, etc.), animals with claws (dogs, cats, etc.) and scaly animals (seafood, fish, etc.);

Do not step on the pot or stove at home, do not cook meat in the stove, and do not sit with your back facing the stove;

It is strictly forbidden to cross the fire stove. The fire pond must be kept clean. Do not place unclean things next to the stove. Do not throw garbage into the stove to burn. Do not burn hair, garlic, etc. in the stove;

You cannot step on other people's clothes, nor put your own clothes on other people's clothes;

Do not step over or step on pots and pans;

Prayer wheels around temples or other places cannot be turned in the opposite direction;

Do not sit on sutras, paper, cloth, wood, etc. with printed text, let alone step on them;

Cutting down trees, hunting and killing animals, making noise and drinking alcohol, etc. are prohibited near the temple.

Lacuo said to Agudengba:

I have met many Tibetans in Myanmar. Some devout Tibetans hardly eat garlic. For those who eat garlic, they must not eat garlic if they are going to worship in holy places. It is taboo to eat garlic. The stench defiled and polluted the holy place.

Lacuo added:

Tibetans have a sacred reverence for fire stoves and believe that there is a kitchen god in the fire pond. You cannot cross the fire stove, spit into the fire stove, or burn bones, fur and other objects in the stove. The fire pit must be kept clean. Do not place unclean things next to the stove. When sitting by the stove, you are not allowed to put your feet on the stove. When cleaning garbage, do not throw garbage into the stove for burning. It is also taboo to grill meat directly on the fire. .

Agudemba said:

In Tibetan areas, wherever there is wine, there is singing. If the person making the toast does not sing during the toast, the person being toasted can refuse to drink. The so-called drinking and singing are inseparable. Both the host and the guest want the other party to drink more or sing more drinking songs.

Tibetan people who accept a toast cannot drink it all in one gulp, but must follow the "three sips and one cup" system. After playing the wine to worship the gods, the recipient should take a sip first, the toaster should refill the glass, the recipient should take a third sip, and then drink the wine in one gulp. Only those who drink nothing are sincere.

Agudengba sang a song "Wuji Let Me Do It":

 

I have truths that I cannot tell,

I have true feelings and cannot love,

Just because there is so much jealousy in the world,

There is even more taboo to suppress me.

 

Life is like a play,

The screenwriter sets the tone and respects the royal power,

It is taboo for directors to criticize the court;

To act recklessly is to cause chaos.

 

The theme song of singing and dancing,

The actor knelt down to worship the emperor,

Fear of death, fear of disaster, fear of fate,

It attracts wind and rain and invites death.

 

It is a taboo to speak frankly.

Keeping secrets is like saying too much,

It is a folk proverb that disaster comes from the mouth.

The human heart is unpredictable.

 

Who decides the hundreds of taboos?

Praying to gods and ghosts for natural disasters and man-made disasters,

The emperor’s grace is great and the people are blessed,

The emperor's word determines everything.

 

I am an audience member who is not involved in the drama,

Sitting aside and watching the palace drama,

Laughing at the end of the play,

The strong wind stirred up thousands of feet of waves.

 

I am Quan Wuji, a rogue,

Don’t be afraid of high mountains and dangerous roads,

The whole world puts on a show and wears a mask,

Survival is more difficult than mine.

 

I came naked without any delusions,

Go naked without any regrets,

Life lasts only thirty thousand days,

Smiling and proud, let me do whatever I want.