Tibet Web Digest

Dhorshi Rinpoche is a prominent Tibetan scholar. His writings have been published in many languages, and particularly in Tibetan and Chinese. Unlike other Tibetan scholars in Tibet, he is very interested in the intersection between modern science and buddhism. Since 1983, he has been a professor at Northwest University for Nationalities. Dhorshi Rinpoche has also founded a private fund for Tibetan university students. Continue reading →

Tsering Tashi is among the third generation of writers in Tibet and his writings are very provocative. Readers have especially paid immense attention to his poems, which are sexually explicit in a way that is new in Tibetan writing. His pen name, which is Dha Tsenpo, is derived from his birthplace. Continue reading →

There are only a few popular novelists in Tibet and Takbum Gyal is one of them. Many of his short stories and novellas have been published in Tibetan literary magazines. He also published a novel called “the Silent Grassland” a few years before. He is now writing a novel called “Decline” and a collection of short stories called “The Winter Without Snow.” His short story collection “The Song of Life” received the 2011 Minority Literary Award in Beijing last year and was translated into Chinese by film-maker and writer Pema Tseden. We translated this interview excerpt from the Gedun Choepal Website.
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The website sangdhor.com is an active part of the online Tibetan literary world. There have been a number of literary debates on this website. Many writers also keep their personal blog on Sangdhor, including Mila Tsitsi, whose writings are much favored by the other writers. Mila Tsitsi is a penname. His writings are direct, transparent and honest about the issues surrounding him. So far he has published 25 pieces, received 287comments and been viewed more than 17,840 times. Continue reading →

For the documentary “Angry Monk” about famed Amdo scholar Gendun Chophel, Luc Schaedler interviewed 14 Tibetan scholars who had done research on Gendun Chophel or were close friend of him. Amdo Champa, a very well-known Tibetan artist, was one of these interviewees. He talked about Gendun Chophel’s personal life. We are translating an excerpt from Amdo Champa’s interview, which was published on the Gendun Chophel website, where Tibetan writers publish their articles about Gendun Chophel as well. This website is managed by the Gendun Chophel Middle School in Tibet. Continue reading →

Tsewang Lhamo has rapidly become one of the leading singers in the Tibetan music world. She is very popular both inside and outside Tibet. Her first album “Nikchuk circle dance” was a hit with Tibetan audiences. Last year, she came to the US to perform at a concert organized by Trace Foundation in conjunction with the International Conference on Tibetan Language, and received a joyous welcome from Tibetans in NYC who were able to see her for the first time. “There is Gold greater than yellow gold” is one of her most popular songs. This video has been viewed on Youtube more than78,000 times. Continue reading →

Kyabchen Dedol is one of the best young Tibetan writers in Tibet and he is also the leading figure of the “Third Generation”, a generation defined both by their age and their distinctive thoughts and views. The piece was published on the popular website Chonmey (Lamp), of which Dedol is former editor. There was a serious online debate among young Tibetan writers about their attitude towards Tibetan scholars, and Dedol argues that there are many other Tibetan scholars besides the widely admired Gedun Chophel and Dhondup Gyal. Continue reading →

This excerpt is taken from another popular blog Tso Nyonpo (Kokonor). Caterpillar fungus, which grows on the plateau, is sold to the mainland where it is highly prized for its medicinal uses. It has now become a primary source of income for many families in Tibet, especially in Kham and Amdo areas where the fungus grows well. Because it brings in so much money, there have been fights among villagers regarding the ownership of disputed grassland areas where the fungus is found. Continue reading →

The article is written by one of the prominent contemporary Tibetan writers from Lhasa, who uses the pen name Yumtso (meaning “turquoise colored lake). Yumtso is a common name among Tibetans and also the name of several famous lakes such as Mipam Yumtso and Yamdrok Yumtso. The writer mentions that because of the Tibetan lamas’s dharma teachings in Tibet, the number of smokers and drunks is gradually shrinking, but on the other hand, this medical herb drink called “huo-xiang-zheng-qi water” and contains alcohol, is becoming very popular in the market. Continue reading →

Tsangyang Gyatso is the Sixth Dalai Lama, and one of Tibet’s most famous poets. He was also known as a great lover of liquor and of women. His famous dharma songs, beloved among the Tibetans, are now being translated into Chinese, English and other languages. Continue reading →