Traditional Tibetan bathing under Unesco
Beijing: Traditional Tibetan bathing for health and healing was added to Unesco’s intangible cultural heritage list.
The entry – officially listed as “Lum Medicinal Bathing of Sowa Rigpa: Knowledge and practices concerning life, health and illness prevention and treatment among the Tibetan people in China” – was added to the list during the 13th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Port Louis, Mauritius on Wednesday.
The committee said in its decision that the element “underlines the importance of traditional knowledge concerning nature and the universe and offers a positive example of the sustainable relationship between humans and their environment”.
In the Tibetan language, the word “lum” refers to the traditional knowledge and practices of bathing in natural hot springs, herbal water or steam to adjust the balance of body and mind, ensure health and treat illness. Sowa Rigpa refers to traditional Tibetan medicine.
According to the bid document submitted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the theory behind medicinal bathing is based on five elements: “sa” (earth), “chu” (water), “me” (fire), “lung” (wind) and “namkha” (space).
Its practitioners include farmers, herdsmen and urban residents, with the manpa (physician), lum jorkhan (pharmacist) and manyok (assistant) having different responsibilities in the practice.
It also embodies traditional Tibetan astrology, rituals, religions and many other aspects of daily life.
As the main component of traditional Tibetan medicine, the bathing practice is widely transmitted in the Tibet autonomous region, as well as among the Tibetan populations in Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan and Gansu provinces.
Nevertheless, the major hubs of “lum” medicinal bathing are in agricultural areas along the Yarlung Valley and Tsongkha mountain range.