Every culture's ritual should be respected Every culture has a different and unique way of taking care of their diseased. I do not think this is brutal or barbaric. If you come to think about it, people from Tibet are living in some of the harshiest environment in our planet. From a religious standpoint, they believe the soul will leave the body after 3 days, and therefore sky burial is actually one of the most environmentally friendly way of disposing the dead body once the 3-day ritual is observed by the family. (With no chopping down of trees to make coffin, no wasteful occupation of land to bury the carcase, remember, farmable land is extremely precious on the roof of the world). Indeed, from their cultural perspective, this is done with the utmost respect by offering it back to mother nature. One other side note, the immediate family members are not supposed to observe the ritual, only close relatives of the family. For all those people who are igornant about many aspects of the Tibetan culture, let's stop labelling their deeds as burtal or uncivilized !
Thanks I have mixed emotions concerning the photos. From perspective of a Native Rights activist, my first reaction was to be repulsed by the idea of having someone's body and funeral being published online. All too often I have to write a letter or sign a petition asking for someone's bones or belongings back from a private collector or a museum. It is a matter of honoring the deceased- our ancestors, and their wishes. I know I don't want my ass dug up and displayed, especially without my family’s consent.
However, from an Anthropology student's view, the family did allow the photos to be taken. Whether or not they knew they'd be displayed for all to see, is another matter. But I must thank the photographer, I was able to use this page in a term paper for my anthropology class concerning death and burials.
I must urge everyone, however, to use their best judgment when sharing people's ways and beliefs. Sometimes it isn't yours to share. I'm not in the position to say this instance is wrong or right, but I will ask everyone to keep it in mind.
Peace,
Shines through the Clouds
I would love to hear your thoughts The sites that are monitored for cameras are "touristic" sites. It is monitores mainly by the Chinese government, and not by the Tibetans themselves. If you read my text you could see that the people agreed to photos.
I think that hiding this amazing thing IS the source of the fog and the stigma. If you know more about this ritual I would appreciate if you post it here, rather than just saying that we don't know enough about it.
Thanks,
R.
you shouldn't have taken pictures of this. i am an anthropologist who studies sky burials, and your disrespect for the privacy and sanctity of this amazing ritual is infuriating. most sky burial sites explicitly check to make sure that tourists are not taking photos. you must have either been doing this secretly or simply took advantage of a site that was not monitoring your use of a camera. for you to sensationalize this practice on the worldwideweb only contributes to the fog of stigma and misunderstanding regarding the practice of sky burials that many westerners have. i'm really unhappy to have come upon this site. and hope that you ultimately take down these pictures and have a little respect for the culture that you invaded.
Sky burrial Good job by all 4 creating awareness and knowledge but all must move on from the dead body to more facts about lives and future about Tibet. Lithang is a tibetan name and by including into a chinese province doesn't become chinese. If u agree with me, go to youtube and search for Tibet, u get complete story of Tibet and in videoes.llly watch the series of THE CRY OF SNOW LION. reply tinlay@rediffmail.com
Why not? These people let him take photographs after inviting him to watch. No money changed hands, and he treated them with respect (and admittedly some shock and curiosity). The ceremony sounds strange and profound to me, a welcome change from the far more disrespectul pageantry of western funerals. Maybe I'll do a sky-burial when I go...and if my family lets someone take pictures I'll roll my eyes at some sod bitching about it afterwards.
Been to Xian May 2005 I got a chance to stay at the home of my wifes parents for a week in Xian and have to say it was an adventure. Loud speakers wake you up in the morning playing the National Song, some local information was brodcast and peope gathering to exercise together in the open parks. men played cards on the corner of their tenamants late into the night.
Enjoyed seeing your pictures brought back memories.
giving back to nature I am not sure if you understand the reason for what they did but if you believe in reincarnation then it should be easy for your mind to understand the why behind what they did We come into this life and borrow from nature the cells we need to live in this body and we must give them back at the end of this experience so that they are there to use the next time around Burrying and decomposition is the same thing the difference is it takes longer and the bugs and parasites do what the vultures did only it takes much longer This way the cells needed to come back are put back into nature faster so you can return faster Not complicated or gross just a fact
Inspired Am heading up there with my girlfriend in the next couple of weeks and am overjoyed to read and see what you have done. I believe that we can stay at the Nunnery so we'll see. You've motivated me to forward some further notes post experiances Thank you
LoL dude that was a sleece.. i'm chinese so i know what happened: they are just too poor and corrupt, both economically and spiritually, so they sleeced your money. That was uh not racist, but they know you are white and their empiricist experiences told them that white people are rich, and it was all about the money. well i'm not saying you don't have money, but know a bunch of white people love to explore the genuine culture, i guess, the obsolete one, the ancient yet original one. But well hold your horses, this is an educational experience i have to say, it is not the real face, everything is just multitudinal, congratulations on discovering the other side of china :)
hit on some big cities, it is different but amazing as well
Why? Why must people do what they are asked not to do/ If photos are not to be taken then why do people take them? Written accounts should serve to provide a record.
to Kimball O'Hara This man is not an anthropologist he was simply an observer. He wanted to document something strange and wonderful. This was done with full knowledge and approval by the family and the priests. The story is also written in a manner that respects these people and their ritual. So you Kimball O'Hara are the one who can piss off. 3 words: Freedom Of Expression
Sky Burial Location Hi,
I have read your article, and found it quite interesting and informative. In late 2004 I visited the sky burial site outside of Langsmusi, right on the border between Gansu and Sichuan, and it was certainly a very special and fascinating place. Personally, I did not find it morbid at all, although I didn't actually witness the event of a sky burial - instead I saw the remains of many people who had been 'buried' there.
I will be going to Litang at the begining of August 2006 for the horse racing festival, and I would very much like to visit the sky burial site that you have written about. If you have any more information about how to get there, I would be most grateful.
You can write to me at the following address: andre.holdrinet@gmail.com
Cheers,
André
cool stuff ! hey. i just came back from doing the same thing (trek to EBC from Tingri and then beyond BC up to CIII. the aim was to hit ABC and then come back to CIII same day, but had to turn around before ABC because of lack of time. these are great pictures you have. that minefield of seracs on the climb up is mindblowing, isnt it ? i stumbled upon your posts when i googled for ice serac :)
Tibet and the Chinese Yes I agree that the Chinese are determined to destroy the Tibetan people and their culture and maybe, as all lovers of this wonderful land and its wonderful people, we should all try to do our best to make our Governments see this and to do something about it. The problem is that the British and US governments are turning a blind eye because business with the Chinese is good and in their books, MONEY IS ALL THAT MATTERS - FORGET THE PEOPLE AND THEIR CULTURES!!! God forbid the day the Chinese decide to rise up against them, not impossible!!
The Kora - Look at number of Wheels Hi
I was in Tibet and I also did the kora just about a week or two after you. Which kora does this picture reprsent, is this the one in Shigatse? I did the exact kora, staying in the exact places as yourself but I didn't actually see this at Kailash, I did see something similar in Shigatse.
I also see you managed to go down to Gauri Kund, wonderful!! Unfortunately, by the time I got over the pass, it was getting quite late, so we didn't dare risk going down and coming up again, not with the impending walk to the monastery!!
I am hoping to go back in 2012, year of the horse which means I can do just one normal kora an then the inner one. I must do th einnner kora!!
Isn't Tibet one of the world's true wonders? Sadly though, this is prpobably on e of the very few, if not the only place on earth where people are so contented, happy and sincere, but they Chinese are determined to ruin this awsone place and these wonderful people!!
you promised you promised no tourists in Toyuq (the village whos name you forgot) but the reality is that there are no WESTERN tourists. as allways there are a few Chinese ones :)
other then that your blog is a perfect guidbook. too bad you did not record your travels in SEA as well
great work I loved your photos. When Westerners say something is gross or shocking imagine what Tibetans think when they find out that we pay 6 grand for a casket and shoot embalming fluid into the body. They practice the circle of life and it is beautiful. As far as others who have commented to the photographer about invading their privacy well that is just cultural arrogance as well. To study and know another culture and to witness it opens the mind for peoples all over the world. Thank you for sharing so that I have a better understanding of and a greater appreciation for burial practices of those other than my Catholic upbringing. After all, it is from dust to dust that we all come and go.
Norman K.
non-member comment
Every culture's ritual should be respected
Every culture has a different and unique way of taking care of their diseased. I do not think this is brutal or barbaric. If you come to think about it, people from Tibet are living in some of the harshiest environment in our planet. From a religious standpoint, they believe the soul will leave the body after 3 days, and therefore sky burial is actually one of the most environmentally friendly way of disposing the dead body once the 3-day ritual is observed by the family. (With no chopping down of trees to make coffin, no wasteful occupation of land to bury the carcase, remember, farmable land is extremely precious on the roof of the world). Indeed, from their cultural perspective, this is done with the utmost respect by offering it back to mother nature. One other side note, the immediate family members are not supposed to observe the ritual, only close relatives of the family. For all those people who are igornant about many aspects of the Tibetan culture, let's stop labelling their deeds as burtal or uncivilized !