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Small minority, colorful culture
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LIVING in Tibet for long, the Moinba ethnic group enjoys close ties to Tibetans and share many similar customs.
With a population of 10,561, the Moinba ethnic group mainly lives in Medog County of Tibetan Autonomous Region. But some live in Tibet’s Nyingchi, Cona, Milin and Naidong counties, or Lhasa City.
“Moinba”literally means “people living in Menyu”in Tibet language. The group originated from the aboriginals in the Menyu area in the southern Himalayas, as suggested by folk legends, as well as written records and archaeological analysis.
The group took shape before the 7th century. The Menyu area officially joined China抯 territory as part of Tibet in the 13th century. Some Moinba moved to Medog in the 18th century and became a compact community known as the Moinbas.
Moinba people have their own language, which belongs to the Tibetan-Burmese language family.
The group has established close connection with the Tibetans through political, economical, cultural and religious exchanges over the years. Quite similar to the Tibetans, the Moinbas also believe in Lamaism, wear woolen clothing, eat zanba, or roasted qingke barley flour, and drink barley wine. Many Moinba understand the Tibetan language, from which some Moinba words are borrowed.
Some Moinba believe in primitive religions while others follow Tibetan Buddhism. The Lamaism supported by the government enjoys the ruling position among the group, while the primitive religion has been popular among the ordinary group for long.
Both Moinba men and women wear long or short white-colored gowns made of cotton and linen. Women often dress themselves in multicolored skirts and braids with yellow, green and red threads. They usually wind their hair around the head. Traditionally, each Moinba woman wears a piece of calfskin around the shoulder. Apart from keeping warm, it is also said to help repel evil spirits.
Necklaces or bracelets made of red coral, turquoise and silver earrings are common ornaments for Moinba women. The women usually wear them for big days like visiting relatives or celebrating festivals.
Men usually take a sheathed meat cleaver with them that serves as both a protective tool and ornament. “Ba’erxia”is a daily necessity among Moinba in the Menyu area. It is a hat made of wool and dyed red and yellow.
The diets of Moinba people differ greatly depending on where they live. Corn, rice and grains are staples for some, while others prefer buckwheat, wheat and highland barley. Pepper is a popular seasoning.
A buckwheat cake is a most popular regional cuisine in Menyu area. To make a buckwheat cake, the Moinba people usually put a flat round iron block in the tripod and then spread the buckwheat paste on the block for baking. Creams are spread on the flat cake. The Moinba will roll the cakes with cream and eat when hot.
Homemade highland barley wine, rice wine or grain wine will always be offered by Moinba to treat guests. Accepting the drink and getting drunk will be regarded as paying great respect to the hosts. The Moinba people are also known for their beautiful tunes, dynamic dances and dramas. The famous Moinba drama mostly originated from their folk dance, which is based on legends. The performers wear masks and leather or feathers while dancing accompanied with drum and cymbal beats. The libretto is usually in forms of folk songs in a loose style. The melody changes according to the content and plot. “Zhuowa Sangmu,”known as one of the eight Tibetan operas, is said to have been adapted into Tibetan script by a Moinba Lama.
Using the Tibetan calendar, the Moinba people share many festivals with the Tibetans including the Tibetan New Year at the begining of the year and Wangguo Festival in the 7th month. Meanwhile, they also have their own festivals such as Moinba New Year.
Therefore, the Moinba celebrate New Year twice. Da’nian (big New Year) is celebrated on the first and the 15th day in the first month of the Tibetan Lunar Year. While xiaonian (small New Year) differs from place to place.
Before the New Year Festival arrives, Moinba will prepare heaps of food. On New Year’s Eve, they daub signs of “badge of luck”on walls with wheat paste or highland barley paste as a prayer for wealth and luck. Before the cock crows on the first day, the housewives rush to the water well with buckets. It is said one who carries water back first will be the luckiest in the coming year.
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