Mêdog County
This article possibly contains original research. (September 2007) |
Mêdog County
墨脱县 • མེ་ཏོག་རྫོང་། | |
|---|---|
Location of Mêdog County (yellow) within Nyingchi City (yellow) and the Tibet Autonomous Region | |
Mêdog Location of the seat in Tibet Autonomous Region | |
| Coordinates (Mêdog government): 29°19′30″N 95°19′59″E / 29.325°N 95.333°E | |
| Country | People's Republic of China |
| Autonomous Region | Tibet |
| Prefecture-level city | Nyingchi |
| County seat | Metog |
| Area | |
| • Total | 34,000 km2 (13,000 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,500 m (8,200 ft) |
| Population (2010 Census) | |
| • Total | 10,963[1] |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard) |
Mêdog, Metok, or Motuo County (Tibetan: མེ་ཏོག་རྫོང་,, Wylie: Metog Rdzong; simplified Chinese: 墨脱县; traditional Chinese: 墨脫縣; pinyin: Mòtuō Xiàn), also known as the Pemako (Tibetan: པདྨ་བཀོད་, Wylie: pad ma bkod, THL: Pémakö, ZYPY: Bämagö "Lotus Array", Chinese: 白马岗), is a county as well as a traditional region of the prefecture-level city of Nyingchi in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China (PRC). It further stretches across McMahon Line into neighboring Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh; today one-third of historical Pemako – Lower Pemako – lies in Upper Siang district, which is claimed by the PRC.[citation needed]
Geography
Medog County is located in the southeast of the Tibet Autonomous Region and at the lower branch of Yarlung Tsangpo River. Medog County covers an area of 30,553 km2 (11,797 sq mi).
The average altitude of the county is 1,200 m (3,900 ft) above sea level.་Metok county is also called Pemakö. Pemakö is located in the average altitude ranging from 1,000–3,500 metres (3,300–11,500 ft) above seas level. It covers 30,000 square kilometres (12,000 sq mi) stretching from south of Kongpo and Powo (Bomê) through the lower Yarlung Tsangpo River into Arunachal Pradesh, surrounded by high mountains: the tallest is Namcha Barwa at 7,782 metres (25,531 ft)). Pemako has lush vegetation and many species of wild animals. Unlike other parts of Tibet, it receives plenty of rain, and has diverse biomes: there are subalpine coniferous forests in the north and temperate coniferous forest in the south in the low-lying area of the Yarlung Tsangpo gorges.
River Tsangpo (Tsangchu) which originates from Lake Manasarovar in Western Tibet flows through 1,500 km (930 mi) eastward when it reaches Mt Namcha Barwa, its bend making a U shape turn to penetrate into lower Himalayan ranges, thus carving one of the deepest Canyon in the world. Water dropping above 3,000 meters near Phe, about 300 metres at the end of the gorge. The river is called Tsangchu a famous river in Pemakoe, like kyichu in lhasa.
Climate and wildlife
Medog has a favourable climate caused by the relatively low elevations in parts of the county (down to just 600 m above sea level in the Yarlung Zangbo river valley) and by the South Asian monsoon, which brings moisture from the Indian Ocean. The area is lush and covered with trees and includes the Medog National Animal and Plant Reserve Area. It has more than 3,000 species of plants, 42 species of rare animals under special state protection, and over a thousand hexapod species.[clarification needed]
History
Tibet as whole was ruled by small princely rulers[when?], sometime called Pon-, Dzongpon and by some monastery. Pemako was no exception. It came under the rule of Powo (Bomê) king who ruled whole area of which defines Pemakoe (Now Medog). During Powo rule Pemako people had good relations with the Tibetan people, they jointly fought against Tani (Adis) and Mishmis who regularly disturbed the pilgrimage.[citation needed] Hardly any people lived in Pemako before Tsangla migrants settled in the region, currently Pemakopas makes up the majority of the population. As we always talk about Greater Tibet or Bhoet Chenpo at one time in Tibetan History all area of Drukyul, Dremong yul, Lha-dhak yul and Mon-yul were under the great king of Tibet, half ancestor of Pemako peoples the Tsangla group immigrated internally to the land of hidden valley to escape aggression in their original homeland. When first Tsangla people arrived in Pemako region they found that the land was unused, they settled in the lower Yarlung valley, surrounded by Kongpopas in the northwest and Pobas in the northeast and Lopas in the south, Tsangla adopted many customs from them but still retained their original language which they still speak at home. By 1931 Tibetan national government was able to dismantled Powo kingdom and region come under direct rule of central Tibetan Government, Lhasa. Pemako region came into the jurisdiction of Tibetan central Government. Ganden Phodrang (Tibet govt) had its governor stationed in Metok Dzong who look after the territory and established communications between Lhasa and region of Pemako. Hence tax to be paid to Tibet Lhasa govt which was compulsory for all the people living in the region in the form of cash or kind. Region of pemako was divided among different monastery and different aristocratic family. Some region of Pemako pay tax to Sera monastery in form of grains, chillis, bamboo poles for prayer flags (Dharchen), products made of cane, medicinal herbs such as yertsa-goonbu, mushroom and animal skin. Some regions of Pemako was under Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche as monastic entitlement of nyingma lineage. Head of the Tsang la requested powo for help fight against abor, but there was no evidence of powo ruled on Pemakoe and was unfamiliar in pemakoe. Some books referred pemakoe was ruled by powo is an contradiction of the claim.
Transportation
Mêdog used to be the last county without permanent road access in Tibet, due to the landscape of several high-elevation mountain ranges. A first, simple road was built in 1970s, yet it was usually blocked by ice and snow on the mountains in the winter, making it only accessible seasonally. In December 2010, the Chinese government announced a project to renovate the road into a permanent highway from Bomê to Mêdog County,[2] including excavation of a new tunnel under the mountain range. The renovation was completed in 2013.
Before the completion of the highway, transportation in Mêdog primarily relied on foot. Hiking to Mêdog is also a popular activity among tourists, although Mêdog hiking is generally considered highly exhausting and risky. A primary route of accessing Mêdog begins in Bomê County, which inspired the route of the current permanent highway. Another important route for traveling to Mêdog on foot starts in Paizhen(派镇, a township in Mainling County) and travels all the way along the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon to Mêdog township, which is a route particularly popular among backpackers.
Economy
Farming is the main industry in Medog County. It is abundant with paddy, soybean, cotton and gingeli, etc. Hairy deerhorn, gastrodia tuber, muskiness, and hedgehog hydnum, etc. are special products of the area.
Demography
Medog county has a population of 10,963 according to 2010 census,[1] and most people who live in the county are of Tshangla, Khamba people and Lhoba ethnic group. The most renowned part of Medog is known as Pemako. Its inhabitants speak a form of Tshangla (仓洛; Cāngluò) related to that spoken in eastern Bhutan. They practice the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
Population according to 2009 in Various villages:
Medog/Metog Town (墨脱镇) with a total population of 1,878
Baibung/Bepung Township (背崩乡) with a total population of 2,138
Dexing/Deshing Township (德兴乡) with a total population of 1,549
Damu/Tamu Township (达木乡) with a total population of 729
Phomshen Township (旁辛乡) with a total population of 1,266
Gyalhasa Township (加热萨乡) with a total population of 812
Gandain Township (甘登乡) with a total population of 647
Gedang Township (格当乡) with a total population of 680[3]
Medog county is surely not a homogeneous society, different ethnic people lived here from many centuries, people like Tshangla, Kongpowas, Poba Tibetans, Khampa and Lopa(Adi, mishis etc.) live here but Tshangla speakers make up the majority about 60% of the total population of 10,000–12,000, remaining are Khampas, kongpowas and Lopas. People in Pemakod called themselves Pemakopa Pa refers to people in Tibetan language, (According to 2001 census in Metok county (Dzong) there are about 10,000 people ). In exile Pemakopa people spread through the world, but mainly concentrated in Tibetan Settlement of Miao choephelling, Tezu Dhargyeling, Tuting and area, Orissa-Jerang camp, Tibetan Women Centre – Rajpur, Clementown, Delhi area, approximately 100 individual in Europe . In North America approximately 130 individual in United States and approximately 980 individual in Canada.
Frank Kingdon-Ward was the first Westerner to describe the area in his 1925 book, Riddle of the Tsangpo Gorges. In his 1994 "Tibet Handbook", Hong Kong-born Victor Chan describes the extremely difficult trek from Pemakö Chung to the beyul Gonpo Ne, one of the remotest spots on earth. A modern journey by Ian Baker and his National Geographic-sponsored team to Pemakö received book-length treatment in his 1994 The Heart of the World.
Since 1904 the year Kabgye Dudjom Rinpoche was born in Pemako, people from all over Tibet especially from Khams, Golok and Utsang, descended in Pemako and settled near their Lama. Gradually intermarriage between the first settler and second wave settler produce what is today Pemakopa spread around the world. Descendant of Pemakopa are hard working, strong, smart and intelligent people. Descendant of Pemakopa are spread across the Globe in this times. Today Pemakopa has unique cultural identity and dialect that can be compared to any other region and dialect of Tibet. Tsangla is collequial of Pemakoe. Eastern Bhutaness sharing same language in the form of text, therefore, Tsangla has text no longer use in Pemakoe.
Ever since Pemako was first opened to outside world thousands of people from different walks of life settled in the region, among them, earliest were the Tshangla people from Eastern Bhutan who fled their homeland and took refuge there. Among the first clans of Tshangla people were the Ngatsangpas (Snga Tsang pa) who paved ways for others to join them in their plight for a promised land free from sufferings. The exodus of Tshangla community continued from beginning of the 18th century right until the early 20th century. Political and religious turmoil in Tibet forced many Tibetans to join Tshangla people in Pemako a land where religious serenity pledge through many revered Lamas who had been to this land, prophesied by Guru Rinpoche in the mid-8th century to be a land of final call where devotees would be flocking at the time of religious persecutions, the last sanctuary for Buddhism, with the time Pemako's popularity grew more and more, with the popularity many Tibetan people particularly from Kham followed their Lamas and settled alongside Tshangla populace. Over the period of time Tibetans and Tshangla migrants amalgamated to form an homogeneous group called Pemako pas ( Pad-ma dkod pa). The process of infusion gave birth to a new Tshangla dialect called Pemako dialect. People who reside in Pemako enclave are of mixed blood originated from early Tshangla settlers and different Tibetan tribes, Standard Tibetan is spoken in Pemako with many other Tibetic languages such Khampa language, Kongpo dialect, Poba Language etc., Tshangla language is often called Pemako Dialect and it's the lingua franca of the region
Tsangla
Today Majority of People in Pemako speak Tshangla language, history has it that Tshangla speakers migrated from Eastern Bhutan in around 17th century during Drukpa conquest of Bhutan which was led by Zabdrung Ngawang Ngamgyal, it was reported that over several hundred families made their way to Pemako, among the first settlers were the Ngatshang and Chitsang later they were joined by many more people who left their homeland in a quest for better life.
Tshangla speakers may have been the first one to settle in Pemako, but many other groups also made their way to Pemako, in contrast to Tshangla people who came from Eastern Bhutan various Tibetan tribes from Kham and Amdo also settled in Pemako. The people in the Pemako region call themselves Tsangla and they speak Tsangla language. They also call themselves monba as they originally migrated to the region from Mon which comprises present Bhutan and Tawang. The Buddhist people in Tuting call themselves Tsangla and Khampa i.e. who speak Tsangla language they call themselves Tsangla and who speak Khampa as Khampa. But people in Tibetan Settlements in India call themselves Pemakopas i.e. Inhabitant of Pemako.
Language
The Padma-kod dialect of Tshangla (Tibetan: པདྨ་བཀོད་ཚངས་ལ་སྐད་, Wylie: Padma-kod Tsangla skad, also Padma kod skad) is the predominant language in the Pemako region of Tibet and an adjoining contiguous area south of McMahon line in Arunachal Pradesh in India. Though Tshangla is not a Tibetan language, it shares many similarities with Classical Tibetan, particularly in its vocabulary. Many Tibetan loanwords are used in Pemako, due to centuries of close contact with various Tibetan tribes in the Pemako area. The Pemako dialect has undergone tremendous changes due to its isolation and Tibetan influence. Unique Tsanglha dialect of is in danger of extinction due to demographic changes and migration in Tsanglha speaking region in Tibet Autonomous Region , Eastern Bhutan, and Arunachal Pradesh. Dominant culture ( eastern and western ) that came in contact with Tsanglha is altering and influence the ability of this dialect to survive.
Tsangla or Pemakopa is one of the many dialects of Tibet. Tsangla is widely spoken and understood by many non-Tsangla speakers in the area. As Tibetans, people of Pemako also speak Shuong Ke or the official Tibetan national language. The Pemakopa people also speak other dialects of Tibet, such as khampa, Kongpo and Zayul ke. Today inside Tibet pemakopa people are also well versed in Mandarin Chinese. As a majority are Pemakopas, spoken Tsangla is well established. If we talk about Tsangla language it is a branch of Tibeto-Burman bodish language which is mutually intelligible with those Tsangla in Eastern Bhutan. The dialect has evolved into a new dialect as intermarriage between the first wave of settler and second wave of settler that came from kham, golok and ustang after the birth of Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche in Pemako. Contemporary pemakopa dialect is, a distinct, one of many and rich regional dialect of Tibet. Tsangla or Pemakopa dialect doesn't have tones unlike Shoung Ke or Tibetan National language, but Tsangla language in Pemako has high and low sound, which is absence in other Tsangla speaking people of neighboring countries. Pemakopa dialect numerical denomination up to 20 and higher number are counted in Shoung Ke or Tibetan National language. Globally Tsangla language is spoken by about 140,000–160,000 people.
Religion
Majority of people in Pemako follow Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Nyingma means old translation in Tibetan language, some follow indigenous Bon tradition as well, Lhoba people in Pemako practice combination of animism and Buddhism.
Pemako Chung
Pemako Chung (pad+ma bkod chung, Chinese: 白马狗熊) is a partially deserted monastery destructed in 1950 Medog earthquake. There was some three lamas recently.
Pemako Monastery
Lamaling Monastery in Kongpo headed Dudjom Rinpoche's daughter, Rinchenpong Monastery in Metok, Tirkong Gompa, Gilling Gompa, Lopang, Gompa etc.
Pema Choeling in Miao, Monastery in Tuting and Yoldong.
Lama of Pemako
Pekod Kyabje Dudjom Jigdrel Yeshe Dorjee Rinpoche of Pemako . Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche , Dungse Dola Tulku Jigme Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Semo Dechen Yudron , Semo Pema Yudron , Dungse Phende Norbu Rinpoche , Dungse Dorje Palzang , Semo Tsering Yangchen . Dungse Shenphen Dawa . Dungse Dzongsar Khentse Rinpoche, Dungse Dungzin Garab Dorjee Rinpoche , Semo Yeshi, Semo Pema, Dungse Kathok Situ Rinpoche, Dungse Namgyal Dawa Rinpoche, late Semo Lhanzey Tulku of Mayum Namgyal Dolma, Kyabje Dudjom Yangsi Sangye Pema Shepa and Kyabje Dudjom Yangsi Tenzin Yeshye Dorje. Forementioned Lama and Rinpoche are Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche Blood lineage and Dharma Lineage holder. Pemako (Land of Lotus Arrays) have wonderful enlightened sublime beings guiding the faithful since beginning less into Nirvana. As predicted and prophecized by Guru Padmasambhava blood lineage and Dharma lineage holder of Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche of Pemako are helping innumerable beings into path of Dharma and Nirvana.
Gampopa, Terton Ngangey alias Terton Drakngag Lingpa, Marpong Rinpoche, Venerable Gyalsay Rinpoche, Tulku Dawa Rinpoche, Taksham Choegye Lingpa, Tokdhen Sether, Tokdhen Rhether alias Jigmey Namdrol, Gyeling Lama Yonten, Lama Papa. All male and female born in Pemako are blessed spiritually as Dakas ( Pawo) and Dakanis ( Pamo). There are innumerable sublime beings as immeasurable quality of sublime in Land of Lotus Arrays.
Make once in life time journey to Pemako the Land of Lotus Arrays. Visit Chit-Ta-puri, Dewa-kota, Pema-Shel-Ri, Riwo- Tala, and Dhana-Ko-Sha Tso.
Pekod Khenpo Tsering Dorjee Rinpoche, Pekod Terton Tulku Pema Rigzin Rinpoche , Pekod Tulku Orgyen Phuntsok Rinpoche , Pekod Tulku Tenzin Gyelek Rinpoche, Lopon Ngagchang Orgyen Tanzin Rinpoche , Tulku Gyetrul Jigmey Rinpoche, Melud Orgyen Rigzin Pema Osel Rinpoche, Melud Rinpoche Palden Dugda. All Tulkus and khenpos are doing excellent Dharma workaround the world.
Notable people
Lama of Pemako
Pekod Kyabje Dudjom Jigdrel Yeshe Dorjee Rinpoche of Pemako . Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche , Dungse Dola Tulku Jigme Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Semo Dechen Yudron , Semo Pema Yudron , Dungse Phende Norbu Rinpoche , Dungse Dorje Palzang , Semo Tsering Yangchen . Dungse Shenphen Dawa . Dungse Dzongsar Khentse Rinpoche, Dungse Dungzin Garab Dorjee Rinpoche , Semo Yeshi, Semo Pema, Dungse Kathok Situ Rinpoche, Dungse Namgyal Dawa Rinpoche, late Semo Lhanzey Tulku of Mayum Namgyal Dolma, Kyabje Dudjom Yangsi Sangye Pema Shepa and Kyabje Dudjom Yangsi Tenzin Yeshye Dorje. Forementioned Lama and Rinpoche are Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche Blood lineage and Dharma Lineage holder. Pemako (Land of Lotus Arrays) have wonderful enlightened sublime beings guiding the faithful since beginning less into Nirvana. As predicted and prophecized by Guru Padmasambhava blood lineage and Dharma lineage holder of Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche of Pemako are helping innumerable beings into path of Dharma and Nirvana.
Gampopa, Terton Ngangey alias Terton Drakngag Lingpa, Marpong Rinpoche, Venerable Gyalsay Rinpoche, Tulku Dawa Rinpoche, Taksham Choegye Lingpa, Tokdhen Sether, Tokdhen Rhether alias Jigmey Namdrol, Gyeling Lama Yonten, Lama Papa. All male and female born in Pemako are blessed spiritually as Dakas ( Pawo) and Dakanis ( Pamo). There are innumerable sublime beings as immeasurable quality of sublime in Land of Lotus Arrays. Make once in life time journey to Pemako the Land of Lotus Arrays.
Pekod Khenpo Tsering Dorjee Rinpoche, Pekod Terton Tulku Pema Rigzin Rinpoche , Pekod Tulku Orgyen Phuntsok Rinpoche , Pekod Tulku Tenzin Gyelek Rinpoche, Lopon Ngagchang Orgyen Tanzin Rinpoche , Tulku Gyetrul Jigmey Rinpoche, Melud Orgyen Rigzin Pema Osel Rinpoche, Melud Rinpoche Palden Dugda. All Tulkus and khenpos are doing excellent Dharma workaround the world.
Officials
Pekoe Kyabje Dudjom Jigdrel Yeshi Dorjee is not Nyingma Lama but also King of Land of Lotus Arrays ( Pemako ) . Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche was both spiritual and political administrative head of Pemako . Dudjom Rinpoche is a descendant of PoWo Kanam Depa and King Trisong Dutsen . Kyabje Dudjom Jigdrel Yeshi Dorjee Rinpoche played important role in exile for establishing text books for Tibetan school in exile and institute Tibetan Performing Arts, Nyima Kama and Religious of Tibet .
Many parallel, equally and powerful role by played by : TulKu Dawa ,Gampopa, Terton Choegye Lingpa , Terton Dangag Lingpa, Marpong Rinpoche , Terton Ratna Lingpa , Pekod Jedrung Rinpoche .
Since Lama and Rinpoche have important dual role of spiritual head and political head, Lama and Rinpoche are above Dzongpo or any administrative head at any level . Likewise Pemako have many lamas.
Dzongpon Dawpo, chieftain of Metok district (dzong) during Powo khanam rules. Dawpo was last known Dzonpon of Pemako.
There were five village elders under Dzongpon. Five village or cluster were: Sakar , Hora , Bipung, Tompo, Ta-ngam Tso . Five village elder are Tompo Tso Ngawang Tsultrim, Sakar Tso Wangchen, Hora Tso Norbu Wangchuk and Bipung Tso Sonam Dorjee.
Notes
- ^ a b "Mòtuō Xiàn (County, China) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Archived from the original on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2015-02-06.
- ^ Edward Wong (December 16, 2010). "Isolated County in Tibet Is Linked to Highway System". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
- ^ "Administrative Division of Medog". Archived from the original on 2015-02-09. Retrieved 2015-02-06.