Tibetan People

The Tibetans speak the Tibetan language natively and form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China (PRC), although in anthropological terms they include more than one ethnic group. Tibetans are one of the four non-Chinese nations incorporated into the PRC, the others being the Uighur, the Manchu, the Mongols. The SIL Ethnologue documents an additional 125,000 Tibetan language speakers living in India, 60,000 in Nepal, and 4,000 in Bhutan.

Tibetans generally observe Tibetan Buddhism and a close affiliate known as Bön.

It is generally agreed that Tibetans share a considerable genetic background with Mongols, although other main influences do exist. Some anthropologists have suggested an Indo-Scythian component, and others a Southeast Asian component; both are credible given Tibet's geographic location.

Tibetans traditionally explain their own origins as rooted in the marriage of the bodhisattva Chenrezig and a mountain ogress. Tibetans who display compassion, moderation, intelligence, and wisdom are said to take after father, while Tibetans who are "red-faced, fond of sinful pursuits, and very stubborn" are said to take after mother.

Tibetans typically have light brown skin, black, somewhat wavy or even curly hair, moderately high cheekbones, and brown eyes, although some have very light hazel and green eyes, due to their Mongol heritage. The men typically have full mustaches but sparse beards; traditionally, they pluck out their beards with tweezers. Nomads have long braided hair, the women usually braid their hair in 108 braids.

A Tibetan man from KhamTibetans have a legendary reputation to be able to survive extremes of altitude and cold, abilities which were no doubt conditioned by the extreme environment of the Tibetan plateau.