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.