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Coordinates: 29°19′30″N 95°19′59″E / 29.325°N 95.333°E / 29.325; 95.333
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{{More citations needed|date=August 2023}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2023}}
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{{Underlinked|date=August 2023}}
{{short description|County in Tibet, China}}
{{short description|County in Tibet, China}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
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|tib=མེ་ཏོག་རྫོང་།
|tib=མེ་ཏོག་རྫོང་།
|wylie=me tog rdzong|zwpy=Mêdog Zong}}
|wylie=me tog rdzong|zwpy=Mêdog Zong}}
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mêdog County · Nyingchi, Tibet, China |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/M%C3%AAdog+County,+Nyingchi,+Tibet,+China/@29.3343495,94.3431201,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x3714df569565236f:0x88ff3387dd404643!8m2!3d29.3252099!4d95.33304!16zL20vMGZjMzdu?entry=ttu |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Mêdog County · Nyingchi, Tibet, China |language=en}}</ref>'''Mêdog''' ({{bo|t=མེ་ཏོག་རྫོང་།}}; {{zh|s=墨脱县}}), formerly known as '''Pemako''' ({{bo|t=པདྨ་བཀོད་|w=pad ma bkod|z=Bämagö|s=Pémakö}} {{lit}} "Lotus Array"), is a county of [[Nyingchi]] in the [[Tibet Autonomous Region]], [[China]]. Pemako is considered famous because it is the [[Nyingma]] master [[Dudjom Rinpoche]]'s birthplace, and it is a prophesied refuge for [[Tibetan Buddhism|Tibetan Buddhists]] by [[Padmasambhava]].
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mêdog County · Nyingchi, Tibet, China |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/M%C3%AAdog+County,+Nyingchi,+Tibet,+China/@29.3343495,94.3431201,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x3714df569565236f:0x88ff3387dd404643!8m2!3d29.3252099!4d95.33304!16zL20vMGZjMzdu?entry=ttu |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Mêdog County · Nyingchi, Tibet, China |language=en}}</ref>'''Mêdog''' ({{bo|t=མེ་ཏོག་རྫོང་།}}; {{zh|s=墨脱县}}), formerly known as '''Pemako''' ({{bo|t=པདྨ་བཀོད་|w=pad ma bkod|z=Bämagö|s=Pémakö}} {{lit}} "Lotus Array"), is a county of [[Nyingchi]] in the [[Tibet Autonomous Region]], [[China]]. Pemako is considered famous because it is the [[Nyingma]] master [[Dudjom Rinpoche]]'s birthplace, and it is a prophesied refuge for [[Tibetan Buddhism|Tibetan Buddhists]] by [[Padmasambhava]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Highway to heaven, and to China's most isolated county - Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com//english/2017-04/17/c_136214937.htm |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=www.xinhuanet.com}}.</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
{{main|Kingdom of Powo}}
{{main|Kingdom of Powo}}
{{refimprovesection|date=August 2023}}
⚫
[[Frank Kingdon-Ward]] was the first Westerner to describe the area in his 1925 book, ''Riddle of the [[Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon|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 Society|National Geographic]]''-sponsored team to Pemakö received book-length treatment in his 1994 ''The Heart of the World''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hidden Land of Pemako |url=https://www.harishkapadia.com/climbs-explorations/arunachal-pradesh/hidden-land-of-pemako/ |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=Harish Kapadia |language=en-US}}</ref>


⚫
Since 1904, the year [[Dudjom Rinpoche|Kabgye Dudjom Rinpoche]] was born in Pemako, people from all over [[Tibet]], especially from [[Khams]], [[Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Golok]], and [[U-Tsang]], entered Pemako and settled near their [[lama]]. [[Nyingma]] centers in Pemako were also connected to [https://www.jstor.org/stable/43300260 Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche].
⚫
[[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 Society|National Geographic]]''-sponsored team to Pemakö received book-length treatment in his 1994 ''The Heart of the World''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hidden Land of Pemako |url=https://www.harishkapadia.com/climbs-explorations/arunachal-pradesh/hidden-land-of-pemako/ |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=Harish Kapadia |language=en-US}}</ref>


⚫
Ever since Pemako was first opened to the outside world thousands of people settled in the region. The Tsanglha people were the original inhabitants of Pemako, as Pemako was part of [[Monyul]]. Monyul includes present day [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Bhutan]] and [[Sikkim]]. The Tshangla community continued to grow into the 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 [[Padmasambhava]] 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.
⚫
Since 1904, the year [[Dudjom Rinpoche|Kabgye Dudjom Rinpoche]] was born in Pemako, people from all over [[Tibet]], especially from [[Khams]], [[Golok]], and [[U-Tsang]], entered Pemako and settled near their [[lama]]. [[Nyingma]] centers in Pemako were also connected to [https://www.jstor.org/stable/43300260 Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche].


⚫
Over the period of time, Tibetans and Tshangla migrants amalgamated to form an homogeneous group called Pemakopas (''Pad-ma dkod pa''). The process of infusion gave birth to a new Tshangla dialect called Pemako dialect.
⚫
Ever since Pemako was first opened to the outside world thousands of people settled in the region. The Tsanglha people were the original inhabitants of Pemako, as Pemako was part of [[Monyul]]. Monyul includes present day [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Bhutan]] and [[Sikkim]]. The Tshangla community continued to grow into the 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 [[Lama]]<nowiki/>s who had been to this land, prophesied by [[Padmasambhava]] 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 [[Lama]]s and settled alongside Tshangla populace.


⚫
The majority of the people in Pemako speak the [[Tshangla language]]. Historically, Tshangla speakers migrated from eastern Bhutan around the 17th century during the Drukpa conquest led by [[Ngawang Namgyal|Zhabdrung Ngawang Ngamgyal]]. It was reported that over several hundred families made their way to Pemako. [[Ngatshang Gewog|Ngatshang]] and Chitsang clans were there in Pemako, later joined by many more people who left their homeland in a quest for better life.
⚫
Over the period of time, Tibetans and Tshangla migrants amalgamated to form an homogeneous group called Pemakopas (''Pad-ma dkod pa''). The process of infusion gave birth to a new Tshangla dialect called [[Pemako Tshangla language|Pemako dialect]].


⚫
When the first Tsangla people arrived in Pemako they settled in the lower [[Yarlung Valley|Yarlung valley]], surrounded by [[Kongpo]]pas in the northwest, Pobas in the northeast, and [[Lhopa]]s in the south. The Tsangla adopted many customs from their neighbors but still retained their original language. Historically, the area came under the rule of [[Kingdom of Powo|Powo (Bomê)]] kings who ruled the entirety of Pemako (now Medog). During Powo rule, Pemako residents had good relations with the Tibetans. They jointly fought against the Tani ([[Adi people|Adis]]) and [[Mishmi people|Mishmis]] who regularly disturbed the pilgrimage.
⚫
The majority of the people in Pemako speak the [[Tshangla language]]. Historically, Tshangla speakers migrated from eastern [[Bhutan]] around the 17th century during the Drukpa conquest led by [[Ngawang Namgyal|Zhabdrung Ngawang Ngamgyal]]. It was reported that over several hundred families made their way to Pemako. [[Ngatshang Gewog|Ngatshang]] and Chitsang clans were there in Pemako, later joined by many more people who left their homeland in a quest for better life.


⚫
By 1931, the Tibetan government ([[Ganden Phodrang]]) was able to dismantle the Powo kingdom and the region came under the direct rule of the central Tibetan Government in [[Lhasa]]. Ganden Phodrang had its governor stationed in Medog Dzong, who looked after the territory and established communications between Lhasa and Pemako. Compulsory taxes in cash or goods were to be paid to Lhasa. The region of Pemako was divided among different monasteries and different aristocratic families. Some regions of Pemako pay tax to the [[Sera Monastery]] in the form of grains, chillis, bamboo poles for prayer flags (Dharchen), products made of cane, medicinal herbs such as yertsa-goonbu, mushroom, and animal skin.
⚫
When the first [[Tsangla language|Tsangla]] people arrived in Pemako they settled in the lower [[Yarlung Valley|Yarlung valley]], surrounded by [[Kongpo]]pas in the northwest, Pobas in the northeast, and [[Lhopa]]s in the south. The Tsangla adopted many customs from their neighbors but still retained their original language. Historically, the area came under the rule of [[Kingdom of Powo|Powo (Bomê) kings]] who ruled the entirety of Pemako (now Medog). During Powo rule, Pemako residents had good relations with the Tibetans. They jointly fought against the Tani ([[Adi people|Adis]]) and [[Mishmi people|Mishmis]] who regularly disturbed the [[pilgrimage]].


⚫
On April 25, 1951, the 18th Army of the [[Chinese People's Liberation Army]] assigned Bomi, Luoyu, and Gongbu to the jurisdiction of the Bomi Division of Labor. On July 23, 1959, Medog County was under the jurisdiction of the Tagong Division Committee. On August 27 of the same year, the Medog County Party Committee and the county government were formally established in the Pai District of [[Milin County]]. On February 24, 1960, the Pagoda Works Division was renamed Nyingchi Division, and Medog County was under its jurisdiction. In July 1964, Medog County was placed under the jurisdiction of Lhasa City. On February 1, 1986, Medog County was placed under the jurisdiction of [[Nyingchi|Nyingchi Prefecture]]. In 1988, the district was withdrawn and the township was merged, and a total of 8 townships and 59 administrative villages were established. In May 1988, Damuluoba Ethnic Township was established. In 1999, Medog Township was revoked and Medog Town was established. In March 2015, the Nyingchi area was abolished and prefecture-level Nyingchi City was established, and Medog County was under the jurisdiction of Nyingchi City.<ref>{{cite web |title=墨脱历史沿革 |url=http://www.motuo.gov.cn/mtx/zjmt/201901/0a518352da6b4628a461c12bbed79ac2.shtml |website=墨脱县人民政府 |date=2019-01-21 |accessdate=2022-07-09 |archive-date=2022-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117225518/http://motuo.gov.cn/mtx/zjmt/201901/0a518352da6b4628a461c12bbed79ac2.shtml }}</ref>
⚫
By 1931, the Tibetan government ([[Ganden Phodrang]]) was able to dismantle the Powo kingdom and the region came under the direct rule of the central Tibetan Government in [[Lhasa]]. Ganden Phodrang had its governor stationed in Medog Dzong, who looked after the territory and established [[communications]] between [[Lhasa]] and Pemako. Compulsory taxes in cash or goods were to be paid to [[Lhasa]]. The region of Pemako was divided among different monasteries and different aristocratic families. Some regions of Pemako pay tax to the [[Sera Monastery]] in the form of grains, chillis, bamboo poles for prayer flags (Dharchen), products made of cane, medicinal herbs such as yertsa-goonbu, mushroom, and animal skin.

⚫
On April 25, 1951, the 18th Army of the [[Chinese People's Liberation Army]] assigned Bomi, Luoyu, and Gongbu to the jurisdiction of the Bomi Division of Labor. On July 23, 1959, Medog County was under the jurisdiction of the Tagong Division Committee. On August 27 of the same year, the Medog County Party Committee and the county government were formally established in the Pai District of [[Milin County]]. On February 24, 1960, the Pagoda Works Division was renamed Nyingchi Division, and Medog County was under its jurisdiction. In July 1964, Medog County was placed under the jurisdiction of [[Lhasa]] City. On February 1, 1986, Medog County was placed under the jurisdiction of [[Nyingchi|Nyingchi Prefecture]]. In 1988, the district was withdrawn and the township was merged, and a total of 8 townships and 59 administrative villages were established. In May 1988, Damuluoba Ethnic Township was established. In 1999, Medog Township was revoked and Medog Town was established. In March 2015, the Nyingchi area was abolished and prefecture-level Nyingchi City was established, and Medog County was under the jurisdiction of Nyingchi City.<ref>{{cite web |title=墨脱历史沿革 |url=http://www.motuo.gov.cn/mtx/zjmt/201901/0a518352da6b4628a461c12bbed79ac2.shtml |website=墨脱县人民政府 |date=2019-01-21 |accessdate=2022-07-09 |archive-date=2022-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117225518/http://motuo.gov.cn/mtx/zjmt/201901/0a518352da6b4628a461c12bbed79ac2.shtml }}</ref>


==Geography==
==Geography==
The total land area of Medog County is 31,273.41 square kilometers, of which the actual jurisdiction area is about 6,600 square kilometers.<ref name=a1/> It is located in the lower reaches of the [[Yarlung Zangbo River]], at the southern foot of the [[Himalayas]], surrounded by mountains on the east, west, and north sides, and the [[Yarlung Zangbo River]] passes from north to south. It is also mainly located in [[Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon ]]. The north are the [[Kangri Karpo]] mountains, the west and northwest are the high mountains of the [[Himalayas]], and the south is the [[Yarlung Zangbo]] River Valley. The highest peak, [[Namcha Barwa|Namjagbarwa]] Peak, is 7,782 meters above sea level. Due to the melting and erosion of alpine ice and snow and the cutting of rivers, the cutting depth of most of the mountains in Medog County is more than two kilometers.<ref>{{cite book |editor=西藏林芝地区墨脱县志编纂委员会 |title=墨脱县志 |publisher=中国藏学出版社 |location=北京 |isbn=978-7-80253-944-0 |page=第二章}}</ref>
The total land area of Medog County is 31,273.41 square kilometers, of which the actual jurisdiction area is about 6,600 square kilometers.<ref name=a1/> It is located in the lower reaches of the [[Yarlung Zangbo River]], at the southern foot of the [[Himalayas]], surrounded by mountains on the east, west, and north sides, and the Yarlung Zangbo River passes from north to south. It is also mainly located in [[Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon]]. The north are the [[Kangri Karpo]] mountains, the west and northwest are the high mountains of the Himalayas, and the south is the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley. The highest peak, [[Namcha Barwa|Namjagbarwa]] Peak, is 7,782 meters above sea level. Due to the melting and erosion of alpine ice and snow and the cutting of rivers, the cutting depth of most of the mountains in Medog County is more than two kilometers.<ref>{{cite book |editor=西藏林芝地区墨脱县志编纂委员会 |title=墨脱县志 |publisher=中国藏学出版社 |location=北京 |isbn=978-7-80253-944-0 |page=第二章}}</ref>


=== Climate and wildlife ===
=== Climate and wildlife ===
Due to the large elevation difference in the terrain, there are obvious vertical climate changes in the mountains. The annual sunshine hours in Medog County are 1500.7 hours, and the annual average temperature in the valley area is 18°C–22°C. The average temperature in July is 25°C–28°C, and the average temperature in January is 12°C–16°C. There is no frost or occasional light frost throughout the year, and the annual precipitation is 2000-3000 mm.<ref>{{cite book |editor=西藏林芝地区墨脱县志编纂委员会 |title=墨脱县志 |publisher=中国藏学出版社 |location=北京 |isbn=978-7-80253-944-0 |page=第三章}}</ref> There are 3 species of wild plants under China’s national first-level key protection, 10 species of second-level key protected wild plants, 17 species of first-level national key protected wild animals, and 42 species of second-level key protected wild animals.<ref name="a1">{{cite book |editor=西藏林芝地区墨脱县志编纂委员会 |title=墨脱县志 |publisher=中国藏学出版社 |location=北京 |isbn=978-7-80253-944-0 |page=第六章}}</ref>
Due to the large elevation difference in the terrain, there are obvious vertical climate changes in the mountains. The annual sunshine hours in Medog County are 1500.7 hours, and the annual average temperature in the valley area is 18°C–22°C. The average temperature in July is 25°C–28°C, and the average temperature in January is 12°C–16°C. There is no frost or occasional light frost throughout the year, and the annual precipitation is 2000-5000 mm.<ref>{{cite book |editor=西藏林芝地区墨脱县志编纂委员会 |title=墨脱县志 |publisher=中国藏学出版社 |location=北京 |isbn=978-7-80253-944-0 |page=第三章}}</ref> There are 3 species of wild plants under [[China]]’s national first-level key protection, 10 species of second-level key protected wild plants, 17 species of first-level national key protected wild animals, and 42 species of second-level key protected wild animals.<ref name="a1">{{cite book |editor=西藏林芝地区墨脱县志编纂委员会 |title=墨脱县志 |publisher=中国藏学出版社 |location=北京 |isbn=978-7-80253-944-0 |page=第六章}}</ref>


Due to the heavy precipitation in the area, Medog County has dense forests including the [[Northeastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests]] at middle altitudes and the [[Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests|E]][[Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests|astern Himalayan broadleaf forests]] at lower altitudes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Northeastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests|url=http://www.globalspecies.org/ecoregions/display/PA0514|website=Global Species|publisher=Myers Enterprises II|access-date=11 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests|url=http://www.globalspecies.org/ecoregions/display/IM0401|website=Global Species|publisher=Myers Enterprises II|access-date=11 September 2017}}</ref> At higher altitudes, the mountains are covered by [[Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows|url=http://www.globalspecies.org/ecoregions/display/PA1003|website=Global Species|publisher=Myers Enterprises II|access-date=11 September 2017}}</ref>
Due to the heavy precipitation in the area, Medog County has dense forests including the [[Northeastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests]] at middle altitudes and the [[Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests]] at lower altitudes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Northeastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests|url=http://www.globalspecies.org/ecoregions/display/PA0514|website=Global Species|publisher=Myers Enterprises II|access-date=11 September 2017|archive-date=25 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325021447/http://globalspecies.org/ecoregions/display/PA0514|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests|url=http://www.globalspecies.org/ecoregions/display/IM0401|website=Global Species|publisher=Myers Enterprises II|access-date=11 September 2017}}</ref> At higher altitudes, the mountains are covered by [[Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows|url=http://www.globalspecies.org/ecoregions/display/PA1003|website=Global Species|publisher=Myers Enterprises II|access-date=11 September 2017|archive-date=29 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829074322/http://www.globalspecies.org/ecoregions/display/PA1003|url-status=dead}}</ref>


Medog has a favorable 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.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}
Medog has a favorable 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 [[Hexapoda|hexapod]] species.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}


==Transportation==
==Transportation==
Mêdog was 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 the 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 County|Bomê]] to Mêdog County,<ref>{{cite news|title=Isolated County in Tibet Is Linked to Highway System|author=Edward Wong|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/world/asia/17tibet.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 16, 2010|access-date=December 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725020508/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/world/asia/17tibet.html|archive-date=July 25, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> including excavation of a new tunnel under the mountain range. The renovation was completed in 2013.
Mêdog was 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 the 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 County|Bomê]] to Mêdog County,<ref>{{cite news|title=Isolated County in Tibet Is Linked to Highway System|author=Edward Wong|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/world/asia/17tibet.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 16, 2010|access-date=December 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725020508/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/world/asia/17tibet.html|archive-date=July 25, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 it is generally considered highly exhausting and risky. A primary route for 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 [[Pei, Tibet|Pai]] (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.
Before the completion of the highway, transportation in Mêdog primarily relied on foot. Hiking to Mêdog is also a popular activity among tourists, although it is generally considered highly exhausting and risky. A primary route for 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 [[Pai, Tibet|Pai]] (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.


==Administrative divisions==
==Administrative divisions==
Line 169: Line 168:


==Society==
==Society==
According to the results of the seventh national census of the [[People's Republic of China]] in 2020, the permanent population of Medog County is 14,889, including 8,528 males and 6,361 females; 3,386 people aged 0-14, 10,518 aged 15-59, and 985 aged 60 and over 7,842 Monba, 3,376 Han, 1,541 Lhoba, 1,883 Tibetan, and 247 other ethnic minorities; the urban population is 3,318, and the rural population is 11,571.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=墨脱县统计局 |date=2021-07-01 |title=墨脱县第七次全国人口普查主要数据公报 |url=http://linzhi.gov.cn/mtx/xwzx/202107/7a12f745e13643ac939335f83e5492c8.shtml |website=墨脱县人民政府 |access-date=2022-08-08 |archive-date=2022-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807172454/http://linzhi.gov.cn/mtx/xwzx/202107/7a12f745e13643ac939335f83e5492c8.shtml }}</ref> In 2022, the county's GDP will be 792 million yuan, the fixed asset investment of the whole society will be 1.066 billion yuan, the total retail sales of social consumer goods will be 67.895 million yuan, the general public financial budget revenue will be 68.1 million yuan, the per capita disposable income of urban residents will be 43,433 yuan, and the per capita income of rural residents will be 43,433 yuan. The disposable income is 17035 yuan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-07 |title=墨脱县基本情况 |url=http://www.motuo.gov.cn/mtx/zjmt/202303/103ef0b8b0a54b03a81d76840e0a8fd5.shtml |website=墨脱县人民政府 |access-date=2023-05-27 |archive-date=2023-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511001949/http://www.motuo.gov.cn/mtx/zjmt/202303/103ef0b8b0a54b03a81d76840e0a8fd5.shtml }}</ref>
According to the results of the seventh national census of the People's Republic of China in 2020, the permanent population of Medog County is 14,889, including 8,528 males and 6,361 females; 3,386 people aged 0-14, 10,518 aged 15-59, and 985 aged 60 and over 7,842 [[Monpa people|Monba]], 3,376 [[Han Chinese|Han]], 1,541 Lhoba, 1,883 Tibetan, and 247 other ethnic minorities; the urban population is 3,318, and the rural population is 11,571.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=墨脱县统计局 |date=2021-07-01 |title=墨脱县第七次全国人口普查主要数据公报 |url=http://linzhi.gov.cn/mtx/xwzx/202107/7a12f745e13643ac939335f83e5492c8.shtml |website=墨脱县人民政府 |access-date=2022-08-08 |archive-date=2022-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807172454/http://linzhi.gov.cn/mtx/xwzx/202107/7a12f745e13643ac939335f83e5492c8.shtml }}</ref> In 2022, the county's GDP will be 792 million [[Yuan (currency)|yuan]], the fixed asset investment of the whole society will be 1.066 billion yuan, the total retail sales of social consumer goods will be 67.895 million yuan, the general public financial budget revenue will be 68.1 million yuan, the per capita disposable income of urban residents will be 43,433 yuan, and the per capita income of rural residents will be 43,433 yuan. The disposable income is 17035 yuan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-07 |title=墨脱县基本情况 |url=http://www.motuo.gov.cn/mtx/zjmt/202303/103ef0b8b0a54b03a81d76840e0a8fd5.shtml |website=墨脱县人民政府 |access-date=2023-05-27 |archive-date=2023-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511001949/http://www.motuo.gov.cn/mtx/zjmt/202303/103ef0b8b0a54b03a81d76840e0a8fd5.shtml }}</ref>


There are mainly two kinds of cultivated land in Medog County, paddy field and dry land, of which the area of paddy field is 4755.2 mu, the area of dry land is 32905.3 mu, and the grassland is mainly natural grassland, of which 4479.3 mu is grazing grassland in summer and autumn, 122530.5 mu is non-seasonal grazing grassland, and 109739.6 mu is temporary grazing grassland mu, accounting for 46.35% of pasture land.<ref name=a1/> The main crops are rice, upland rice, rapeseed, corn, highland barley, chicken feet, soybeans, peanuts, potatoes, sugar cane, etc. The economic forests mainly include apples, citrus, bananas, plantains, lemons, figs, etc. The industry is based on rattan weaving, bamboo weaving and stone tool processing. Medog County is the last county in the Tibet Autonomous Region with road access. The first dirt road was built in 1994, but some sections of the road were immediately destroyed by large-scale landslides and mudslides. In 2013, the Zha-Mo Road was completed and opened to traffic, ending the lack of road access in Medog County. History.<ref>{{cite book |editor=中国大百科全书编委会 |title=中国大百科全书 |edition=第三版 |url=https://www.zgbk.com/ecph/words?SiteID=1&ID=405375&Type=bkzyb&SubID=173198}}</ref> As of 2019, the total mileage of highways in Medog County is 524.23 kilometers, including 117 kilometers of county roads, 130.11 kilometers of township roads, and 277.12 kilometers of village roads.<ref>{{Cite web |author=墨脱县交通局 |date=2019-01-17 |title=墨脱县加大道路交通建设力度 |url=http://www.motuo.gov.cn/mtx/zjmt/201901/09bc03ca8e474574802c545e0db602ef.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527080404/http://www.motuo.gov.cn/mtx/zjmt/201901/09bc03ca8e474574802c545e0db602ef.shtml |archive-date=2023-05-27 |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=墨脱县人民政府}}</ref>
There are mainly two kinds of cultivated land in Medog County, paddy field and dry land, of which the area of paddy field is 4755.2 mu, the area of dry land is 32905.3 mu, and the grassland is mainly natural grassland, of which 4479.3 mu is grazing grassland in summer and autumn, 122530.5 mu is non-seasonal grazing grassland, and 109739.6 mu is temporary grazing grassland mu, accounting for 46.35% of pasture land.<ref name=a1/> The main crops are rice, upland rice, rapeseed, corn, highland barley, chicken feet, soybeans, peanuts, potatoes, sugar cane, etc. The economic forests mainly include apples, citrus, bananas, plantains, lemons, figs, etc. The industry is based on rattan weaving, bamboo weaving and stone tool processing. Medog County is the last county in the [[Tibet Autonomous Region]] with road access. The first dirt road was built in 1994, but some sections of the road were immediately destroyed by large-scale landslides and mudslides. In 2013, the Zha-Mo Road was completed and opened to traffic, ending the lack of road access in Medog County. History.<ref>{{cite book |editor=中国大百科全书编委会 |title=中国大百科全书 |edition=第三版 |url=https://www.zgbk.com/ecph/words?SiteID=1&ID=405375&Type=bkzyb&SubID=173198}}</ref> As of 2019, the total mileage of highways in Medog County is 524.23 kilometers, including 117 kilometers of county roads, 130.11 kilometers of township roads, and 277.12 kilometers of village roads.<ref>{{Cite web |author=墨脱县交通局 |date=2019-01-17 |title=墨脱县加大道路交通建设力度 |url=http://www.motuo.gov.cn/mtx/zjmt/201901/09bc03ca8e474574802c545e0db602ef.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527080404/http://www.motuo.gov.cn/mtx/zjmt/201901/09bc03ca8e474574802c545e0db602ef.shtml |archive-date=2023-05-27 |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=墨脱县人民政府}}</ref>


Medog county is diverse, with different ethnicities intermixing for many centuries. Residents include [[Tshangla]] people, [[Kongpo]]pas, Poba, and [[Kham]]pa Tibetans, and [[Lhoba]] people (Adi, Mishmis) live here, while [[Tshangla]] speakers make up the majority about 60% of the total population of 10,000–12,000 (According to {{citation needed span|date=July 2020|reason=There was no consensus in 2001|2001 census}} in Metok county (Dzong) there were about 10,000 people). People in Pemako called themselves Pemakopa. They also call themselves [[Monba]] as they originally migrated to the region of Mon which comprises present Bhutan and Tawang. In exile Pemakopa people spread through the world, but mainly concentrated in Tibetan settlements of Miao choephelling, Tezu Dhargyeling, Tuting and area, Orissa-Jerang camp, Tibetan Women Centre – Rajpur, Clementown,<ref name="Tibet Post International">{{cite web|url=thetibetpost.com/en/features/education-and-society/4838-dehradun-another-home-away-from-home-for-exiled-tibetans-in-india|title=Dehradun – Another Home away from Home for exiled Tibetans in India|access-date=27 June 2020|date=24 December 2015}}</ref> [[Delhi]] area.<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/between-worlds-60-years-of-the-tibetan-community-in-india/article24179862.ece|title=Between worlds: 60 years of the Tibetan community in India|access-date=27 June 2020|date=16 June 2018}}</ref> There are approximately 100 individuals in Europe, 130 in the United States and 980 in Canada.
Medog county is diverse, with different ethnicities intermixing for many centuries. Residents include Tshangla people, Kongpopas, Poba, and Khampa Tibetans, and Lhoba people (Adi, Mishmis) live here, while Tshangla speakers make up the majority about 60% of the total population of 10,000–12,000 (According to {{citation needed span|date=July 2020|reason=There was no consensus in 2001|2001 census}} in Metok county (Dzong) there were about 10,000 people). People in Pemako called themselves Pemakopa. They also call themselves Monba as they originally migrated to the region of Mon which comprises present Bhutan and [[Tawang district|Tawang]]. In exile Pemakopa people spread through the world, but mainly concentrated in Tibetan settlements of Miao choephelling, Tezu Dhargyeling, Tuting and area, Orissa-Jerang camp, Tibetan Women Centre – Rajpur, Clementown,<ref name="Tibet Post International">{{cite web|url=thetibetpost.com/en/features/education-and-society/4838-dehradun-another-home-away-from-home-for-exiled-tibetans-in-india|title=Dehradun – Another Home away from Home for exiled Tibetans in India|access-date=27 June 2020|date=24 December 2015}}</ref> [[Delhi]] area.<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/between-worlds-60-years-of-the-tibetan-community-in-india/article24179862.ece|title=Between worlds: 60 years of the Tibetan community in India|access-date=27 June 2020|date=16 June 2018}}</ref> There are approximately 100 individuals in Europe, 130 in the United States and 980 in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |last=张文芳 |title=Medog's climate becomes source of its wealth |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202301/31/WS63d86b03a31057c47ebabfbc.html |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref>


== Language ==
== Language ==
⚫
{{unsourcedsection|date=August 2023}}
The [[Pemako Tshangla dialect]] (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 the [[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 regions in Tibet Autonomous Region, Eastern Bhutan, and Arunachal Pradesh. Dominant cultures that are coming in contact with Tsanglha is altering and influence the ability of this dialect to survive.
The [[Pemako Tshangla dialect]] (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 the [[McMahon Line|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 regions in Tibet Autonomous Region, Eastern Bhutan, and Arunachal Pradesh. Dominant cultures that are coming in contact with Tsanglha is altering and influence the ability of this dialect to survive.


Tsangla or Pemakopa is one of the many languages of Tibet. Tsangla is widely spoken and understood by many non-Tsangla speakers in the area. People of Pemako also speak [[Standard Tibetan]]. The Pemakopa people also speak other dialects of Tibet, such as Khampa, Kongpo and Zayul dialects. Today inside Tibet Pemakopa people are also well versed in [[Mandarin Chinese]]. As the majority are Pemakopas, spoken Tsangla is well established. Pemakopa dialect of Tsangla doesn't have tones, unlike Standard Tibetan, but Tsangla language in Pemako [[pitch-accent language|uses high and low accents]], which are absent in other Tsangla dialects. Pemakopa dialect's numerical denominations up to 20 and higher are counted in Standard Tibetan. The globally Tsangla language has about 140,000–160,000 speakers.
Tsangla or Pemakopa is one of the many languages of Tibet. Tsangla is widely spoken and understood by many non-Tsangla speakers in the area. People of Pemako also speak [[Standard Tibetan]]. The Pemakopa people also speak other dialects of Tibet, such as Khampa, Kongpo and Zayul dialects. Today inside Tibet Pemakopa people are also well versed in [[Mandarin Chinese]]. As the majority are Pemakopas, spoken Tsangla is well established. Pemakopa dialect of Tsangla doesn't have tones, unlike Standard Tibetan, but Tsangla language in Pemako [[pitch-accent language|uses high and low accents]], which are absent in other Tsangla dialects. Pemakopa dialect's numerical denominations up to 20 and higher are counted in Standard Tibetan. Worldwide, the Tsangla language has about 140,000–160,000 speakers.


== Religion ==
== Religion ==
Majority of people in Pemako follow [[Nyingma]] tradition of [[Tibetan Buddhism]]. Some follow the indigenous [[Bon]] tradition as well. [[Lhoba people]] in Pemako practice a combination of animism and Buddhism.
Majority of people in Pemako follow Nyingma tradition of [[Tibetan Buddhism]]. Some follow the [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous]] [[Bon]] tradition as well. Lhoba people in Pemako practice a combination of [[animism]] and Buddhism.
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

Revision as of 04:48, 24 July 2024

Mêdog County
墨脱县 • མེ་ཏོག་རྫོང་།
Metok, Motuo, Pemako
County
Mêdog is located in Tibet
Mêdog
Mêdog
Location of the seat in Tibet
Mêdog is located in China
Mêdog
Mêdog
Mêdog (China)
Coordinates (Mêdog government): 29°19′30″N 95°19′59″E / 29.325°N 95.333°E / 29.325; 95.333
CountryChina
Autonomous RegionTibet
Prefecture-level cityNyingchi
County seatMetog
Area
(de facto controlled)
 • Total6,600 km2 (2,500 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total14,889
 • Density2.3/km2 (5.8/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Websitewww.motuo.gov.cn
Mêdog County
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese墨脱县
Traditional Chinese墨脫縣
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinMòtuō Xiàn
Tibetan name
Tibetanམེ་ཏོག་རྫོང་།
Transcriptions
Wylieme tog rdzong
Tibetan PinyinMêdog Zong

[2]Mêdog (Tibetan: མེ་ཏོག་རྫོང་།; Chinese: 墨脱县), formerly known as Pemako (Tibetan: པདྨ་བཀོད་, Wylie: pad ma bkod, THL: Pémakö, ZYPY: Bämagö lit. "Lotus Array"), is a county of Nyingchi in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Pemako is considered famous because it is the Nyingma master Dudjom Rinpoche's birthplace, and it is a prophesied refuge for Tibetan Buddhists by Padmasambhava.[3]

History

Main article: Kingdom of Powo

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.[4]

Since 1904, the year Kabgye Dudjom Rinpoche was born in Pemako, people from all over Tibet, especially from Khams, Golok, and U-Tsang, entered Pemako and settled near their lama. Nyingma centers in Pemako were also connected to Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche.

Ever since Pemako was first opened to the outside world thousands of people settled in the region. The Tsanglha people were the original inhabitants of Pemako, as Pemako was part of Monyul. Monyul includes present day Arunachal Pradesh, Bhutan and Sikkim. The Tshangla community continued to grow into the 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 Padmasambhava 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 Pemakopas (Pad-ma dkod pa). The process of infusion gave birth to a new Tshangla dialect called Pemako dialect.

The majority of the people in Pemako speak the Tshangla language. Historically, Tshangla speakers migrated from eastern Bhutan around the 17th century during the Drukpa conquest led by Zhabdrung Ngawang Ngamgyal. It was reported that over several hundred families made their way to Pemako. Ngatshang and Chitsang clans were there in Pemako, later joined by many more people who left their homeland in a quest for better life.

When the first Tsangla people arrived in Pemako they settled in the lower Yarlung valley, surrounded by Kongpopas in the northwest, Pobas in the northeast, and Lhopas in the south. The Tsangla adopted many customs from their neighbors but still retained their original language. Historically, the area came under the rule of Powo (Bomê) kings who ruled the entirety of Pemako (now Medog). During Powo rule, Pemako residents had good relations with the Tibetans. They jointly fought against the Tani (Adis) and Mishmis who regularly disturbed the pilgrimage.

By 1931, the Tibetan government (Ganden Phodrang) was able to dismantle the Powo kingdom and the region came under the direct rule of the central Tibetan Government in Lhasa. Ganden Phodrang had its governor stationed in Medog Dzong, who looked after the territory and established communications between Lhasa and Pemako. Compulsory taxes in cash or goods were to be paid to Lhasa. The region of Pemako was divided among different monasteries and different aristocratic families. Some regions of Pemako pay tax to the Sera Monastery in the form of grains, chillis, bamboo poles for prayer flags (Dharchen), products made of cane, medicinal herbs such as yertsa-goonbu, mushroom, and animal skin.

On April 25, 1951, the 18th Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army assigned Bomi, Luoyu, and Gongbu to the jurisdiction of the Bomi Division of Labor. On July 23, 1959, Medog County was under the jurisdiction of the Tagong Division Committee. On August 27 of the same year, the Medog County Party Committee and the county government were formally established in the Pai District of Milin County. On February 24, 1960, the Pagoda Works Division was renamed Nyingchi Division, and Medog County was under its jurisdiction. In July 1964, Medog County was placed under the jurisdiction of Lhasa City. On February 1, 1986, Medog County was placed under the jurisdiction of Nyingchi Prefecture. In 1988, the district was withdrawn and the township was merged, and a total of 8 townships and 59 administrative villages were established. In May 1988, Damuluoba Ethnic Township was established. In 1999, Medog Township was revoked and Medog Town was established. In March 2015, the Nyingchi area was abolished and prefecture-level Nyingchi City was established, and Medog County was under the jurisdiction of Nyingchi City.[5]

Geography

The total land area of Medog County is 31,273.41 square kilometers, of which the actual jurisdiction area is about 6,600 square kilometers.[6] It is located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, at the southern foot of the Himalayas, surrounded by mountains on the east, west, and north sides, and the Yarlung Zangbo River passes from north to south. It is also mainly located in Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon. The north are the Kangri Karpo mountains, the west and northwest are the high mountains of the Himalayas, and the south is the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley. The highest peak, Namjagbarwa Peak, is 7,782 meters above sea level. Due to the melting and erosion of alpine ice and snow and the cutting of rivers, the cutting depth of most of the mountains in Medog County is more than two kilometers.[7]

Climate and wildlife

Due to the large elevation difference in the terrain, there are obvious vertical climate changes in the mountains. The annual sunshine hours in Medog County are 1500.7 hours, and the annual average temperature in the valley area is 18°C–22°C. The average temperature in July is 25°C–28°C, and the average temperature in January is 12°C–16°C. There is no frost or occasional light frost throughout the year, and the annual precipitation is 2000-5000 mm.[8] There are 3 species of wild plants under China’s national first-level key protection, 10 species of second-level key protected wild plants, 17 species of first-level national key protected wild animals, and 42 species of second-level key protected wild animals.[6]

Due to the heavy precipitation in the area, Medog County has dense forests including the Northeastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests at middle altitudes and the Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests at lower altitudes.[9][10] At higher altitudes, the mountains are covered by Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows.[11]

Medog has a favorable 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.[citation needed]

Transportation

Mêdog was 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 the 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,[12] 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 it is generally considered highly exhausting and risky. A primary route for 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 Pai (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.

Administrative divisions

Mêdog County comprises 1 towns, 6 townships and 1 ethnic township:[13][14]

Name Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Tibetan Wylie
Town
Metok Town 墨脱镇 Mòtuō zhèn མེ་ཏོག་གྲོང་རྡལ། me tog grong rdal
Townships
Jarasa Township 加热萨乡 Jiārèsà xiāng བྱ་ར་ས་ཤང་། bya ra sa shang
Ganden Township 甘登乡 Gāndēng xiāng དགའ་ལྡན་ཤང་། dga' ldan shang
Bangxing Township 帮辛乡 Bāngxīn xiāng སྤང་ཞིང་ཤང་། gpang zhing shang
Gutang Township 格当乡 Gédāng xiāng དགུ་ཐང་ཤང་། dgu thang shang
Dezhing Township 德兴乡 Déxīng xiāng བདེ་ཞིང་ཤང་། bde zhing shang
Drepung Township 背崩乡 Bèibēng xiāng འབྲས་སྤུངས་ཤང་། 'bras spungs shang
Ethnic township
Takmo Lhoba Ethnic Township 达木珞巴族乡 Dámù Luòbāzú xiāng སྟག་མོ་ལྷོ་པ་མི་རིགས་ཤང་། stag mo slo pa mi rigs shang

* includes areas claimed but currently under control of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Society

According to the results of the seventh national census of the People's Republic of China in 2020, the permanent population of Medog County is 14,889, including 8,528 males and 6,361 females; 3,386 people aged 0-14, 10,518 aged 15-59, and 985 aged 60 and over 7,842 Monba, 3,376 Han, 1,541 Lhoba, 1,883 Tibetan, and 247 other ethnic minorities; the urban population is 3,318, and the rural population is 11,571.[15] In 2022, the county's GDP will be 792 million yuan, the fixed asset investment of the whole society will be 1.066 billion yuan, the total retail sales of social consumer goods will be 67.895 million yuan, the general public financial budget revenue will be 68.1 million yuan, the per capita disposable income of urban residents will be 43,433 yuan, and the per capita income of rural residents will be 43,433 yuan. The disposable income is 17035 yuan.[16]

There are mainly two kinds of cultivated land in Medog County, paddy field and dry land, of which the area of paddy field is 4755.2 mu, the area of dry land is 32905.3 mu, and the grassland is mainly natural grassland, of which 4479.3 mu is grazing grassland in summer and autumn, 122530.5 mu is non-seasonal grazing grassland, and 109739.6 mu is temporary grazing grassland mu, accounting for 46.35% of pasture land.[6] The main crops are rice, upland rice, rapeseed, corn, highland barley, chicken feet, soybeans, peanuts, potatoes, sugar cane, etc. The economic forests mainly include apples, citrus, bananas, plantains, lemons, figs, etc. The industry is based on rattan weaving, bamboo weaving and stone tool processing. Medog County is the last county in the Tibet Autonomous Region with road access. The first dirt road was built in 1994, but some sections of the road were immediately destroyed by large-scale landslides and mudslides. In 2013, the Zha-Mo Road was completed and opened to traffic, ending the lack of road access in Medog County. History.[17] As of 2019, the total mileage of highways in Medog County is 524.23 kilometers, including 117 kilometers of county roads, 130.11 kilometers of township roads, and 277.12 kilometers of village roads.[18]

Medog county is diverse, with different ethnicities intermixing for many centuries. Residents include Tshangla people, Kongpopas, Poba, and Khampa Tibetans, and Lhoba people (Adi, Mishmis) live here, while Tshangla speakers make up the majority about 60% of the total population of 10,000–12,000 (According to 2001 census[citation needed] in Metok county (Dzong) there were about 10,000 people). People in Pemako called themselves Pemakopa. They also call themselves Monba as they originally migrated to the region of Mon which comprises present Bhutan and Tawang. In exile Pemakopa people spread through the world, but mainly concentrated in Tibetan settlements of Miao choephelling, Tezu Dhargyeling, Tuting and area, Orissa-Jerang camp, Tibetan Women Centre – Rajpur, Clementown,[19] Delhi area.[20] There are approximately 100 individuals in Europe, 130 in the United States and 980 in Canada.[21]

Language

The Pemako Tshangla dialect (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 the 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 regions in Tibet Autonomous Region, Eastern Bhutan, and Arunachal Pradesh. Dominant cultures that are coming in contact with Tsanglha is altering and influence the ability of this dialect to survive.

Tsangla or Pemakopa is one of the many languages of Tibet. Tsangla is widely spoken and understood by many non-Tsangla speakers in the area. People of Pemako also speak Standard Tibetan. The Pemakopa people also speak other dialects of Tibet, such as Khampa, Kongpo and Zayul dialects. Today inside Tibet Pemakopa people are also well versed in Mandarin Chinese. As the majority are Pemakopas, spoken Tsangla is well established. Pemakopa dialect of Tsangla doesn't have tones, unlike Standard Tibetan, but Tsangla language in Pemako uses high and low accents, which are absent in other Tsangla dialects. Pemakopa dialect's numerical denominations up to 20 and higher are counted in Standard Tibetan. Worldwide, the Tsangla language has about 140,000–160,000 speakers.

Religion

Majority of people in Pemako follow Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Some follow the indigenous Bon tradition as well. Lhoba people in Pemako practice a combination of animism and Buddhism.

References

  1. ^ "林芝市第七次全国人口普查主要数据公报" (in Chinese). Government of Nyingchi. 2021-06-17.
  2. ^ "Mêdog County · Nyingchi, Tibet, China". Mêdog County · Nyingchi, Tibet, China. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  3. ^ "Highway to heaven, and to China's most isolated county - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17..
  4. ^ "Hidden Land of Pemako". Harish Kapadia. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  5. ^ "墨脱历史沿革". 墨脱县人民政府. 2019-01-21. Archived from the original on 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  6. ^ a b c 西藏林芝地区墨脱县志编纂委员会 (ed.). 墨脱县志. 北京: 中国藏学出版社. p. 第六章. ISBN 978-7-80253-944-0.
  7. ^ 西藏林芝地区墨脱县志编纂委员会 (ed.). 墨脱县志. 北京: 中国藏学出版社. p. 第二章. ISBN 978-7-80253-944-0.
  8. ^ 西藏林芝地区墨脱县志编纂委员会 (ed.). 墨脱县志. 北京: 中国藏学出版社. p. 第三章. ISBN 978-7-80253-944-0.
  9. ^ "Northeastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests". Global Species. Myers Enterprises II. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests". Global Species. Myers Enterprises II. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows". Global Species. Myers Enterprises II. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 2022年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码：墨脱县. National Bureau of Statistics of China (in Chinese).
  14. ^ "汉藏对照工具书__西藏行政地名词典" (in Chinese).
  15. ^ 墨脱县统计局 (2021-07-01). "墨脱县第七次全国人口普查主要数据公报". 墨脱县人民政府. Archived from the original on 2022-08-07. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  16. ^ "墨脱县基本情况". 墨脱县人民政府. 2023-03-07. Archived from the original on 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  17. ^ 中国大百科全书编委会 (ed.). 中国大百科全书 (第三版 ed.).
  18. ^ 墨脱县交通局 (2019-01-17). "墨脱县加大道路交通建设力度". 墨脱县人民政府. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  19. ^ [thetibetpost.com/en/features/education-and-society/4838-dehradun-another-home-away-from-home-for-exiled-tibetans-in-india "Dehradun – Another Home away from Home for exiled Tibetans in India"]. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2020. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  20. ^ "Between worlds: 60 years of the Tibetan community in India". 16 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  21. ^ 张文芳. "Medog's climate becomes source of its wealth". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
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