Strongly built Tibetan women with ruddy cheeks, a
common sight throughout Tibet, have joined their male
counterparts in creating both material and cultural progress
in the autonomous region.
Tibetan women,
filled with both eternal and great maternal love, have given
birth to an industrious and brave race on the Qinghai-Tibet
Plateau.
Tibetan women love things of beauty,
and have created unique highlands clothing featuring
exaggerated coloring and rough lines. They fill their homes
with beauty by using nimble hands to express their deep
understanding of nature, including the sky, earth and all
living things, as well as the braveness of man, in patterns
on rugs. Their mere presence adds beauty to the mysterious
Tibetan highlands.
Tibetan women are good
vocalists, and break out into song no matter whether tilling
the land, building enclosures, herding sheep or cows,
weaving woolen rugs, churning butter or harvesting highland
barley. They not only sing while engaging in labor,
worshipping Buddha, drinking wine and meditating disputes.
Most learned to sing and dance as children and find no
difficulty in rendering a song no matter how difficult the
situation at hand. They sing no matter whether happy or sad,
with their songs expressing the ideals and pursuits of the
Tibetan race.
Tibet reeled under the cruelty
of feudal serfdom, a system often described as being much
barbarous than that found in Europe in Middle Ages. The
broad masses of Tibetan serfs and slaves suffered from both
overt suppression and oppression, with women relegated to
the lowest rung of society. Women were in fact subject to
the abuses of political power, as well as the
authoritarianism of the clan, religious officials and
husbands. Local government codes in old Tibet clearly
stipulated: "Women have no right to discuss state
affairs," and "neither slaves nor women are
permitted to involve themselves in military and political
matters." Women were also subject to untold verbal
abuses such as "believing the words of a woman will
cause weed to grow on one's roof." Simply stated,
Tibetan women shouldered the heaviest labor burdens, but
were relegated to the lowest social status. They gave birth
to and raised their children, but enjoyed no right to learn
to read or write. They wove brightly colored clothing, but
were forced to wear rags. This was indeed the cruel fate of
women in old Tibet.
However, historic changes
have taken place since the founding of New China in 1949,
and Tibetan women have since been the masters of their own
fate. Tibetan women have truly exhibited their brilliance in
the new era, with many former female slaves and servants,
headwomen and female Living Buddhas, as well as the wives of
nobles assuming new professions as teachers, writers,
judges, lawyers, tourist guides, officials, police officers,
singers, dancers, economists and engineers. Tibetan women
indeed continue to fully exhibit their graceful bearing.
A large number of Tibetan women hold
high-ranking positions with government institutions. The
long list includes Balsang, a former serf; former medical
worker Cering Zholgar who now serves as vice-chairperson of
the people's government of the Tibet Autonomous Region in
charge of cultural and public health activities in the
region; Degyi Zholgar, deputy director of the Shannan
Prefecture Administrative Office; Garma, deputy director of
the Nagqu Prefectural Administrative Office; and Baizhoin, a
magistrate in Nedong County. Each of the women have truly
distinguished themselves in their new careers.
Tibetan women have traditionally been good
managers and traders, with large numbers having excelled
during the ongoing reform and opening program. They include
Cering Yanzom, general manager of the Tibet Guest House;
Qungzholma and Lhazhoin, respective director and deputy
director of the Tibet Branch of the Bank of China; and
Cering Zholgar, director of the Chenguan Rugs Factory in
Lhasa.
Tibet is also home to a number of
talented female artists, including famous singer Cedain
Zholma; Yumei who distinguished herself in performances of
the ballad King Gesar; Degyi Medog, a first-class state
artist; and Baigyi, a famous dancer. Numerous Tibetan women
have also joined troupes completing highly acclaimed tours
abroad.
Tibetan women have also contributed
greatly to the development of traditional Tibetan art. For
example, female weavers have inherited the region's
outstanding weaving tradition and have proceeded to create
colorful hats and accessories to meet the needs of the
region's advancing society.
Tibetan women, who
quite simply love life and are devoted to common work, are
excellent housekeepers and faithful neighbors. Just as their
male counterparts, women are faithful Buddhists who
undertake pilgrimages to monasteries and holy mountains to
pray for good health, a happy life for their families, and
the continuing modernization of Tibet.
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