Welcome!!! On our page you will find information on mountains, wildlife, legends and water(s). This information is from the book Through a Sherpa Window, which is was written by Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa. The publisher is Vajra Publications, in 2008. The time period this information is set in is the 1970's.
Mountains
This is the tallest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest!
There were many different types of mountains in Khumjung. There were snow mountains, rocky mountains, boulder covered mountains, and grassy mountains. Snow mountains were the sacred realm of super-natural beings, and the storehouse of snow, ice, and life-giving water. Rocky mountains were the home for wildlife such as birds, snow leopards, lynx, tahr, ravens, and eagles. These were also homes for protective deities such as khumbi Yullha protector of Kumbu. Rocky mountains and grassy mountains were human landscaped. They would graze their animals there, gather plants for medicine, wild food, and aromatic plants that could be picked there. They were also hidden hunting grounds for snow leopards, wolves, and brown bears The many different types of mountains in Khumjung gave many different purposes for essential things in life. (Lexie)
Traditionally, Sherpa's do not harm their wildlife. This is because wildlife is very sacred to them. The wildlife is said to have spiritual powers. When someone or something is attacked by a sacred animal it is said to have been an act of a sacred deity working through the animal They do not kill their animals because of their belief in Buddhism and often get someone outside of the village to kill the animal. Hunting is not a way of life for them and they don’t rely on meat for food. There has always been conflict with the carnivores and the wildlife the herbivores and the humans. When there is a lacking of herbivores the carnivores will attack humans for food creating problem in their usual calm relationship. (Jada)
Many legends were told from parent to child in the traditional Sherpa culture. For example, the story of the seven suns was told. The story says that only one sun appears over the continents, while the rest are tethered over an ocean. When the Earth gets to be in such a bad condition, the other six will arrive and dry up everything. Another belief the Sherpa have is about eclipses. They believe that during an eclipse “the moon is swallowing the sun”. People bang pots and blow horns trying to scare away the “monster” that is attacking the sun. One final myth is the called the Racing Dragons. The Sherpa children are told that during a thunderstorm the thunder is made by two druk, or dragons, racing across the sky, and that the lighting is the fire they breathe from their mouths. The druk cannot be seen because of the clouds below covering them. These traditional Sherpa beliefs and myths are all about the weather and the ways they believe it happens. (Gillian)
Rivers and Streams
River. You can see the Himalayas in the background!
There are a lot of lakes and rivers in Nepal. There are sources of rivers and streams that provide water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and irrigating crops and feeding livestock. Sherpa do not ingage in any kind of water sports in the mountain lakes. Lakes, particularly those have existed for many years are considered as the residence of spirits. Tsangpu are large rivers. Sherpa do not have a single name for the entire length of a river. Different stretches have a different name and names are often associated with the area the river passes through. In the mountains regions, tsangpu are more of a hindrance than useful for human livelihoods. They follow through deep gorges were settlement and farming are difficult. Glacial lakes burst, causing floods that can do enormous damage. Rivers also hinder travel and transportation. (Kathryn)
Questions
1. In different seasons, do the mountains get different wildlife inhabitants? ASK: a farmer
2. What is a legend that every kid knows? (like in the US, goldilocks, ect.) ASK: kids at the Khumjung Schoool
3. Are the animals still sacred and as worshipped? ASK: a monk
4. When a river or stream dries up near a village do they move to a place with more water? ASK: a wise elder
This video is of Peter Hillary, son of Sir Edmund Hillary. He is talking about how Sherpa's are "embracing science" and how they need to "learn about the world around them".
Welcome!!!
On our page you will find information on mountains, wildlife, legends and water(s). This information is from the book Through a Sherpa Window, which is was written by Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa. The publisher is Vajra Publications, in 2008. The time period this information is set in is the 1970's.
Mountains
source:
http://www.worldsultimate.net/mount-everest.htmThere were many different types of mountains in Khumjung. There were snow mountains, rocky mountains, boulder covered mountains, and grassy mountains. Snow mountains were the sacred realm of super-natural beings, and the storehouse of snow, ice, and life-giving water. Rocky mountains were the home for wildlife such as birds, snow leopards, lynx, tahr, ravens, and eagles. These were also homes for protective deities such as khumbi Yullha protector of Kumbu. Rocky mountains and grassy mountains were human landscaped. They would graze their animals there, gather plants for medicine, wild food, and aromatic plants that could be picked there. They were also hidden hunting grounds for snow leopards, wolves, and brown bears The many different types of mountains in Khumjung gave many different purposes for essential things in life. (Lexie)
Wildlife
A common animal found in Nepal is a yak.
source:http://theagileadvisors.com/the-agile-team/so-there-i-am-shaving-a-yak/
Traditionally, Sherpa's do not harm their wildlife. This is because wildlife is very sacred to them. The wildlife is said to have spiritual powers. When someone or something is attacked by a sacred animal it is said to have been an act of a sacred deity working through the animal They do not kill their animals because of their belief in Buddhism and often get someone outside of the village to kill the animal. Hunting is not a way of life for them and they don’t rely on meat for food. There has always been conflict with the carnivores and the wildlife the herbivores and the humans. When there is a lacking of herbivores the carnivores will attack humans for food creating problem in their usual calm relationship. (Jada)
Legends and Beliefs
http://teachingwithcontests.com/?p=1821
Many legends were told from parent to child in the traditional Sherpa culture. For example, the story of the seven suns was told. The story says that only one sun appears over the continents, while the rest are tethered over an ocean. When the Earth gets to be in such a bad condition, the other six will arrive and dry up everything. Another belief the Sherpa have is about eclipses. They believe that during an eclipse “the moon is swallowing the sun”. People bang pots and blow horns trying to scare away the “monster” that is attacking the sun. One final myth is the called the Racing Dragons. The Sherpa children are told that during a thunderstorm the thunder is made by two druk, or dragons, racing across the sky, and that the lighting is the fire they breathe from their mouths. The druk cannot be seen because of the clouds below covering them. These traditional Sherpa beliefs and myths are all about the weather and the ways they believe it happens. (Gillian)
Rivers and Streams
River. You can see the Himalayas in the background!
source:http://www.nepal-pictures.com/Nepal+Trekking
There are a lot of lakes and rivers in Nepal. There are sources of rivers and streams that provide water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and irrigating crops and feeding livestock. Sherpa do not ingage in any kind of water sports in the mountain lakes. Lakes, particularly those have existed for many years are considered as the residence of spirits. Tsangpu are large rivers. Sherpa do not have a single name for the entire length of a river. Different stretches have a different name and names are often associated with the area the river passes through. In the mountains regions, tsangpu are more of a hindrance than useful for human livelihoods. They follow through deep gorges were settlement and farming are difficult. Glacial lakes burst, causing floods that can do enormous damage. Rivers also hinder travel and transportation. (Kathryn)
Questions
1. In different seasons, do the mountains get different wildlife inhabitants?
ASK: a farmer
2. What is a legend that every kid knows? (like in the US, goldilocks, ect.)
ASK: kids at the Khumjung Schoool
3. Are the animals still sacred and as worshipped?
ASK: a monk
4. When a river or stream dries up near a village do they move to a place with more water?
ASK: a wise elder
Peter Hillary on what we can learn from the Sherpa today. from Dream Flag Project on Vimeo.
This video is of Peter Hillary, son of Sir Edmund Hillary. He is talking about how Sherpa's are "embracing science" and how they need to "learn about the world around them".