Book

The Sherpas transformed: social change in a Buddhist society of Nepal

SterlingNew Delhi • Published In 1984 • Pages:

By: Fürer-Haimendorf, Christoph von.

Abstract
Having visited Nepal in 1953, 1957, 1971 and 1983, Fürer-Haimendorf is able to document social change as Sherpas became more involved in the business of mountain climbing. Mountain climbing opportunities came at a fortuitous time just after China closed the borders of Tibet in 1959 and shut down the Tibet-India trade. Fürer-Haimendorf examines the changes in family and village life, monasteries, religious ceremonies, and morality. The lucrative business of mountain guiding and porterage has pulled young men into the city of Kathmandu, where the more successful have established second homes. The absence of men in the village has significantly impacted the traditional way of life. Fürer-Haimendorf provides a life history of each monk in one monastery and a 1953/1983 synopsis of each household in the village of Khumjung.
Subjects
Life history materials
Urban and rural life
Travel services
Arranging a marriage
Household
Community structure
Theological systems
Purification and atonement
Prophets and ascetics
Organized ceremonial
culture
Sherpa
HRAF PubDate
2004
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Central Asia
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 2002
Field Date
1953-1983
Coverage Date
1953-1983
Coverage Place
Khumjung and Khumbu region, Nepal
Notes
Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf
Includes bibliographical references (p. 189-192) and index
LCCN
84902892
LCSH
Sherpa (Nepalese people)