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.[1] They are as follows:—
First, or highest class, Rab:—
1.—Rab-kyi rab. The king, members of the royal family, and incarnate lamas who have appeared many times on earth.
2.—Rab-kyi ding. The Desi, or regent, ordinary incarnate lamas, ministers and councillors of state, learned lamas, or abbots, professors at important monasteries.
3.—Rab-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.[2]
Lowest class, Tama:—
1.—Tamai rab. Grooms, menials engaged in domestic service, and other hired servants.
- ↑ I think these "classes" are 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 (rabs) means "family, race, social class." Rab-kyi rabs means "upper superior class;" Rab-kyi ding, "middle superior class;" Rab-kyi tama, "lowest superior;" Ding-kyi rab, "superior middle class," etc., etc.—(W. R.)
- ↑ By "subjects" I fancy our author must mean serfs or tenants (misser).
