Journey to Lhasa and Central Tibet

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XI. SOCIAL DIVISIONS--MARRIAGE--FUNERALS--MEDICINE--FESTIVALS. In Tibet there are three distinct classes among the people, lay and clerical, which are determined by birth and social position, and each of these has three sub-divisions.* They are as follows :-- First, or highest class, Bab:-- 1. --Bab-kyi rab. The king, members of the royal family, and incarnate lamas who have appeared many times on earth. 2. --Bab-kyi ding. The Desi, or regent, ordinary incarnate lamas, ministers and councillors of state, learned lamas, or abbots, professors at important monasteries. 3. --Bab-kyi tama. Secretaries to the Government, Dahpon, Djongpon, and inferior lamas, or abbots. Middle classes, Ding:-- 1. --Ding-kyi rab, or "upper middle class," including families who have for generations possessed great wealth, landlords who do not claim descent from illustrious ministers or warriors; Dungkhor, old families and men who have personally contributed in a marked degree to the welfare of the country; and lastly, the Don-nyer. 2. --Ding-kyi ding. This class includes the Dung-yig, or clerks, stewards, chamberlains, head grooms, head cooks, and other petty officers. 3. --Ding-kyi tama. Soldiers and subjects, f Lowest class, Tama :-- 1.--Tamai rab. Grooms, menials engaged in domestic service, and other hired servants. * I think these " classes" arc more theoretical than real, and that these remarks are probably borrowed from some work, based on Indian notions. The idea of caste is un-Tibetan as it is un-Chinese. Rab (rata) means " family, race, social class." Rabkyi rubs means " upper superior class;" Rab-kiji ding, " middle superior class;" Rabkyi tama, " lowest superior;" Ding-kyi rab, "superior middle class," etc., etc.--(W. R.) t By "subjects" I...