Taboos in Tibet Tour

Tibetan is a minority with long history. In the special environment of plateau, Tibetan formed a series of distinctive custom and taboos. These taboos, like an unwritten law, restrain people's daily actions. Hence, you are highly suggested to obey Tibetans taboos when have Tibet tour.

Taboos in Tibet Tour – Taboos about Etiquette

It is tabooed to address noblemen, elderly, monk and teacher disrespectfully by name. You should add a "La" after their address.

When go out, it is tabooed to get ahead of someone. Especially, it is tabooed to get ahead of elderly, monk and teacher.

It is tabooed to fart in front of others. This action will be regarded as ill-mannered and impolite.

It is tabooed to directly take over besom from others. When hand over besom to others, you should first put the besom on ground, and then the other one can pick up from ground.

When pass over snow mountains and lakes, it is tabooed to talk loudly.

When pour tea or wine for guests, it is tabooed to use dirty bowls or put fingers on the edge of bowl.

It is tabooed to whistle in house and at night. Tibetans think that whistle can draw ghost and demo which comes out at night.

It is tabooed to close door after the guest just getting out the room. It means the guest is not welcomed.

It is tabooed to spit and clap hands behind of someone.

If there are guests in the house, it is tabooed to put empty bottle, empty back basket on the passage where guest will pass by.

It is tabooed to use the bowl or cup with rap or breach. These broken things will block good luck.

When serve foods, pour tea or wine and hand over things to guests, elderly, teacher, monk and official, Tibetans must use two hands. Or they will be regarded as impolite.

When accept gifts from others, Tibetans will use two hands to take over. If their hands are dirty, they will clean their hands before taking over to express respect.

Taboos in Tibet Tour – Taboos about Diet

It is tabooed to eat the meat of horse, donkey, mule and other animals with round hoof. It is tabooed to eat the meat of cat, dog and other animals with sharp claw, as well as birds.

It is tabooed to stride over others' kitchenware and foods.

When have meal, you should not fill your mouth, make any sound when chew and drink and speak loud.

It is tabooed to turn the bowl for meal upside down because Tibetans only place the bowl which ever used by the dead with bottom up.

It is tabooed to pour tea or water with backhand. That's the action to pour tea for the dead.

Taboos in Tibet Tour – Taboos about Religion

When come across monasteries, mound of Mani stones, Buddhist pagodas and other religious facilities, you should walk from left to right. When come across monasteries of Bon Religion, you should walk from right to left.

Before coming into monastery, you should get the permission of the Lama who is in charge of the monastery. When visit monastery, it is tabooed to eat garlic, wear hat, smoke, touch Buddha statue and other religious articles, thumb over scriptures and knock bell and drum.

It is tabooed to speak loudly, sing songs, dance, kill life and play in monastery and near monastery.

It is tabooed to rub things with the paper which was printed or written with scriptures.

It is tabooed to stride over monk's seat, clothes and other religious articles. It is tabooed to stride over Buddha statues and scriptures.

It is tabooed to point Buddha statues, Thangka, scripture and fresco with fingers. You should use palm to show respect.