Tibetan Nomads

Beskrivelse

Discover the fascinating world of Tibetan nomads living on the remote Chang Tang plateau, nestled between the Himalayas and the Gobi Desert. This book offers an in-depth look at their traditional lifestyle, culture, and survival in one of the most isolated regions on Earth.

An extensive exploration of Tibetan nomadism and their high-altitude way of life.

The nomads of Tibet dwell on the vast and elevated Chang Tang plateau, a region shielded by towering snow-capped mountains and harsh deserts, making it one of the most inaccessible areas even within Asia. For centuries, this land was nearly off-limits to outsiders, guarded by both natural barriers and the fiercely independent Tibetan people.

Early western visitors in the 18th and 19th centuries left only brief notes about these nomads, and it wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that more detailed information began to emerge. The first thorough studies appeared in the 1930s, paving the way for further research.

The ambitious Third Danish Expedition to Central Asia (1947-1955), initially led by Henning Haslund-Christensen, sent scientists to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India for extensive fieldwork. Although plans were made to continue into China and Mongolia, political upheavals-Haslund-Christensen’s death in 1948 and the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950-halted these efforts.

Among the expedition members was anthropologist HRH Prince Peter of Greece and Denmark. Unable to proceed to China, he set up a base in Northern India to continue his studies of Tibet and gather collections for the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. Thanks largely to his dedication, the museum now houses one of Europe’s finest and largest collections of Tibetan arts and crafts.

This volume catalogs these remarkable artefacts but goes beyond a simple catalogue. It tells the story of a nomadic lifestyle that has thrived for centuries on Tibet’s high-altitude grasslands, showcasing how these pastoralists endure by herding livestock and engaging in trade.

Drawing on observations from travellers and anthropologists over the past century, the book reveals the intricate social, economic, and technical skills essential for survival on the "roof of the world."

Contents include:

• The land of the Tibetans
• High altitude pastoralism and the pastoral nomad economy
• Domestic production
• Craftwork, tent-making and domestic artefacts
• Caravan trade and transport
• Riding accoutrements and accessories
• Agricultural implements
• Equipment for livestock
• Weapons, hunting equipment, and armour
• Costumes and accessories
• Jewellery and dZi beads
• Other personal accessories
• Tibetan Buddhist images with annotations
• Other religious objects and related materials
• Musical instruments: Temple and lamasery
• Appendix: Symbols used on Buddhist objects
• Bibliography and Index

Published in 1996 as part of The Carlsberg Foundation's Nomad Research Project, this hardcover edition spans 464 pages and features 283 illustrations, including 109 in colour, plus a detailed map of Tibet.

Schuyler Jones, Director of the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, is a renowned anthropologist with extensive fieldwork experience in Central Asia. He has contributed numerous scholarly articles to publications ranging from National Geographic to The Journal of Afghan Studies.

Illustrator: Thomas Otte Stensager

Photographer: Ruben Blædel

Subject Editor: Ida Nicolaisen

Editorial Committee: Ida Nicolaisen and Per Øhrgaard

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