The emergence, anecdotes and changes of Tibetan customs in Hada

Tibetan girls present Hada to foreign tourists

Hada is a Chinese translation of Tibetan, referring to a fabric made of raw silk or linen.

The Qing Dynasty's "Records of Things and Experiences in Xizang" records: "Hada is woven into a piece of white silk with a pattern of 'ten thousand' characters at the end and end, like a sweat handkerchief but wider than it. The barbarians use Hada to stab them. If they have equal relations, they will exchange them with each other."

Tibetan scholar Chile Quzha wrote in his book "The History of Xizang":

"Offering Hada is the most common etiquette among Tibetan people. Wedding and funeral festivals, visits to elders, interviews with Buddha statues, exchanges of news, farewell on long journeys, etc., all have the habit of offering Hada. Hada is a kind of raw silk fabric that is spun as loosely as a net. There are also excellent Hada made of silk. The length of Hada varies, from one to two feet long to three to five feet short. Since ancient times, Tibetans have believed that white symbolizes purity and luck, so Hada is always white. Of course, there are also colorful hada, with colors of blue, white, yellow, green and red. Blue means blue sky, white is white clouds, green is rivers and water, red is the God of Space Protector, and yellow symbolizes the earth. The colorful hada is used to make colorful arrows when it is dedicated to Bodhisattva and close relatives. It is the most precious gift. Buddhist teachings explain that the colorful hada is the clothing of a Bodhisattva. Therefore, colorful hada is only used under certain circumstances.

Hada was introduced to Xizang during the Yuan Dynasty. When Sakya King Basipa returned to Xizang after meeting with Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, he brought back the first Hada. At that time, Hada had a pattern of the Great Wall on both sides, with the words "Auspicious and Ruyi" on it. Therefore, it can be said that Hada was introduced into Xizang from the mainland. Later, people explained the religion at the Hada Fuhui, saying that it was a streamer on the body of a fairy."

Hada customs

Offering Hada is the most common and common etiquette among Tibetans. Tibetan areas all have the habit of offering Hada during festivals and festivals, visiting elders, paying homage and congratulating, pilgrimage to Buddha, weddings and funerals, welcoming and sending, correspondence, pleading for services and even the completion of new houses, admitting guilt, etc.

According to the usual custom, when subordinates present hada to superiors, younger generations to elders, or to living Buddhas, they should bow and bow their heads, hold the hada with both hands and place it on the table in front of the seat or at their feet. The other party will not give the hada back. At this time, Hada expressed his respect and gratitude.

The same generation presents hada at the same level to show friendship. They should be presented to the other party, and the other party will give hada back.

The superior expresses his cordial care and kind love for the subordinates and elders who present hada to the younger generation, and can directly hang the hada around the other party's neck.

When others present a hada to you, you should lean forward slightly, respectfully accept it with both hands, and then wrap it around your head and hang it around your neck to show your gratitude.

When they asked each other to offer a hada, the other party agreed and accepted the hada. If they did not agree, they returned the hada face to face; offering a hada to the opposing party meant that they had gained understanding and were willing to return to the old friendship and turn hostility into friendship.

Nowadays, whenever the New Year Festival approaches, Tibetans hang a statue of Chairman Mao in a prominent position in the living room of each family, with a hada on it; or tie a hada on a pillar in the main room; when the streets welcome distinguished leaders and eminent monks, throw hada to the leisurely walking sedan chair; in addition, there are customs such as horse racing festivals when riders bend down from galloping horses to pick up hada on the ground. On a festive day, after the owner accepted Hada, he also returned Hada to the other party's neck.

There are several folding methods for Hada, each with different meanings.

In addition, during the war, offering hada to the other party, or hanging hada from the windows of surrounded bunkers and buildings, is a sign of willingness to shake hands and make peace or surrender. This is exactly the same as the defeated in modern warfare holding white flags and surrendering.

When a Tibetan asks for a marriage, a middleman first presents a hada. If you accept it, it means that you can discuss it, otherwise it will be a rejection.

When borrowing a debt, petitioning or asking for help, you must donate Hada. If the other party refunds Hada three times in a row, you will never agree. A Hada is attached to the exchange of letters to express my sincere wish. When giving alms to temples or lamas, money and goods are generally wrapped in hada. To present Hada to the Buddha statue, you can also throw Hada over because you cannot get close to it.

In many places in Xizang, there is also the custom of hanging Hada on buildings, oxen rafts, bridges, utensils, etc.

At the wedding ceremony, when the bride enters the door, the person who sends off the bride must present hada to the door, stairs, pillars, kitchen, wool mats, Buddhist shrines, etc. of the man's house to express good luck and peace.

Hada anecdotes

Xizang is a place with many rules, and Hada is also a reflection of certain rules. The specifications of Hada vary according to the color, texture, and length.

The best of Hada is Nekuhada-"Zodani Modler", which is one or two long and more than two feet wide. The Great Wall pattern is woven on the edge and there are eight auspicious symbols and blessing words on the surface. This kind of Hada is found in the royal palace. It cannot be seen on the market.

Below Nekuhada is the first-class Ashihada, which is five or six feet long and more than one foot wide. It has excellent quality and has a diamond pattern. Below Axi Hada is the second-class Suxi Hada, which is of average quality. Ashhada and Suhihada are divided into three grades. The lowest type of Suhihada is "Suda"(Suzha), which is as loose as a net and three to four feet long. This kind of Hada can be purchased at stalls in Bagor Street in Lhasa, for two to three yuan each.

In the past, there were strict regulations on the use of Hada. Nekuhada was not commonly used. Only the "Galun" and the Secretary-General of the old Xizang government presented it to the Dalai Lama on the second day of the year. In ordinary times, what they presented to the Dalai Lama was only Ashihada.

But there are not so many rules now. For example, several times when a central delegation went to Tibet, the local government presented hada to the head of the group, always hanging the hada directly around the other party's neck. This was absolutely forbidden in the past. Nowadays, Xizang offers Hada, no matter who the other party is, most of them are directly hung around the other party's neck.

Hada is also a expression of respect for Buddha. In 1986, Vice Chairman Panchen Lama visited Ganzi Prefecture. When a Buddhist event for thousands of people was held in Ganzi, the master had just taken his seat, and white waves rolled on the huge square. Thousands of Hada looked like rows of silver waves surged forward, and in the blink of an eye, a mountain of Hada was piled in front of the master's seat. The scene was amazing.

Some people also print their own seals on hada. Such hada is often regarded as a blessing and cherished as a permanent memorial. Xiao Yang, former governor of Sichuan Province, once sent a hada with his own seal to Baden Doji, deputy governor of Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

Reform of Hada customs

Like the "Bangdian" apron specially used for Tibetan women, Hada is also prolific in Sichuan. The difference is that aprons are produced in Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan, while Hada is mostly produced in Chengdu.

Because in Xizang, you have to use hada for any small matter, and hada is just a ritual. After accepting it, you hang it around your neck and have to be taken off after the ceremony, otherwise it will be inconvenient to move and work. In this way, the preservation of Hada is also a problem. There is also a problem of waste of raw materials.

It is said that relevant departments in Xizang had considered reforming Hada customs, but no progress was made due to the wide range of issues involved.