What are the taboos when traveling to Tibet?

The Tibetan people living on the roof of the world have unique customs and taboos. What should we pay attention to when traveling to Tibet?

When receiving guests, whether walking, sitting or speaking, always give the guests or the elders priority, and use honorifics, such as adding the word "La" after the name to show respect and kindness. It is taboo to talk about one's suffering directly. Greeting guests, bowing and bending knees, smiling. When sitting indoors, sit cross-legged, do not straighten your legs, put the soles of your feet facing people, and do not look around. When accepting a gift, use both hands to receive it. When giving gifts, bow down and raise your hands above your head. When offering tea, wine, or cigarettes, you should offer them with both hands, and do not put your fingers close to the mouth of the bowl.

Tibetans are absolutely forbidden to eat donkey and horse meat, and dog meat is the most taboo. Utensils containing these meats will no longer be used. They believe that eating the meat of these animals is unclean and sinful, and they cannot ascend to heaven after death. Fish is also not allowed to be eaten in some areas. People's preference for horses has the color of totem worship in primitive religion. They believe that the horse is a symbol of the road god. They do not eat its flesh, milk it, or use its skin, and they reproduce and die naturally.

When making a toast, the guest must dip a little wine into the ring finger and flick it into the air three times in a row to represent heaven, earth and ancestors. Then take a gentle sip, and the host will refill it in time, take another sip and then refill it, and drink three sips in a row. When the fourth refill is made, it must be finished in one gulp. This is a customary rule, otherwise the guest will be thought to be impolite and look down upon.

When eating, be sure to eat until your mouth is full, bite without making a sound, and drink without making a sound. When drinking butter tea, the host pours the tea, and the guests can only take it and drink it when the host holds it in front of them with both hands. Men and women who are not familiar with each other should not knead tsampa in the same bowl. It is forbidden to leave bowls, cups and other utensils with their buttons closed, because only the bowls and cups of the deceased can be left open.

On the first day of the Tibetan New Year, it is taboo to sweep the floor, eat food with fillings, cry, curse, quarrel, and say "empty", "nothing", "sick", "pain", " "Death", "kill", "poor", "don't want", "bad luck" and other unlucky words are considered to be unlucky for the whole year. You are not allowed to borrow things from others during the Chinese New Year, for fear of not being wealthy throughout the year.

The biggest taboo among Tibetans is killing. During the winter slaughter in the pastoral areas, the shepherds feel sorry for the animals and cannot bear to kill them. Therefore, in the western pastoral areas, large needles are used to pierce the internal organs from the back to minimize the pain of the sheep being slaughtered; in the central pastoral areas, ropes are tied around the mouths of the sheep to suffocate them. die. The herdsmen believe that killing with a knife is an undesirable and cruel act and oppose the killing of wild animals.

It is taboo to spit or slap others behind their backs. Women should not shake their skirts in front of others, as doing so would bring misfortune to the other person. When you encounter religious facilities such as temples, Mani Dou, and pagodas, you must go around from left to right. It is considered sinful to go in the opposite direction. When climbing over the top of a high mountain, don't make any noise, otherwise it will cause wind, snow, and hail.

Don't throw bones into the fire, thinking that doing so will attract ghosts. Avoid whistling at home, as it is only whistled when sending ghosts away. If there is a sick person at home, no visitors are allowed. It is taboo to take out the garbage at night. After dark, white things should not be taken out of the home to avoid losing wealth. After the death of a relative, no happy events, singing or dancing are allowed for 49 days so that the deceased can ascend to heaven quietly. String 3

Do not cross ritual vessels or braziers; prayer tubes and prayer wheels may not be reversed; it is taboo for others to touch the top of the head with their hands.