Tibetan Etiquette 1

Tibetan etiquette is quite diverse and is always closely related to the religion.

Hata Presenting

Hata presenting is the most common etiquette in Tibet. In weddings, funerals or festivals, a hata is always presented. Also, when visiting others, worshipping the Buddha, or seeing somebody off, people will also present a hata.

Hata is a kind of raw silk fabrics which is as loose as a web. There are also some good-quality hata made from excellent silks. Hata is various in lengths, with the long ones of one or two zhang (a Chinese unit of length, 1 zhang=3.33 meters) and the short ones of three or five chi (another Chinese unit of length, 1 chi=33.333 centimeters). Presenting a hata represents the purity, honesty and loyalty. Hata is always white, for Tibetan people believe that white is the symbol of purity and auspiciousness.

As for the origin of a hata, hata was introduced to Tibet from the inland China areas. The first hata was brought to Tibet by Phags-pa from Kublai Khan when Phags-pa came back to Tibet in Yuan Dynasty. Later, a religious meaning was attached to hata, that is, hata is the streamer of a fairy maiden.

Kowtow

Kowtow is also a common etiquette of Tibet. The local people kowtow when they pilgrimage to Buddha, stupas or the living Buddha. Sometimes, people even kowtow to the elder. In the religious activities of Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery and other monasteries, the etiquette of kowtow can also be seen.

When people kowtow, they put their palms together and raise them above their heads, making a bow with hands folded in front for three times from above the head, to the forehead and then to the chest. And then they kneel known with hands stretching ahead and being placed on the ground, followed by standing up and do the former actions again.

The pious disciples always go to Lhasa to pilgrimage by kowtowing all the way. Many of them die on the way but they never complain.