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Lhasa Newar (alternate name: Lhasa Newah) () refers to the expatriate
Newar Newar (; , endonym: Newa; , Pracalit script: ), or Nepami, are primarily inhabitants in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal and its surrounding areas, and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation. Page 15. Newars are a distinct linguisti ...
traders and artisans who traveled between the
Kathmandu Valley The Kathmandu Valley (), also known as the Nepal Valley or Nepa Valley (, Newar language, Nepal Bhasa: ð‘£ð‘¾ð‘¥ð‘µð‘‘… ð‘ð‘µð‘‘…, नेपाः गाः), National Capital Area, is a bowl-shaped valley located in the Himalayas, Hima ...
and
Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ), or Greater Tibet, is a region in the western part of East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are other ethnic groups s ...
from centuries ago. These Nepalese merchants conducted trade between
Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
, Tibet and
Bengal Bengal ( ) is a Historical geography, historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the Eastern South Asia, eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Benga ...
,
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
over the
Silk Road The Silk Road was a network of Asian trade routes active from the second century BCE until the mid-15th century. Spanning over , it played a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between the ...
, and acted as a bridge for economic and cultural exchanges between
South Asia South Asia is the southern Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia that is defined in both geographical and Ethnicity, ethnic-Culture, cultural terms. South Asia, with a population of 2.04 billion, contains a quarter (25%) of the world's populatio ...
and
Central Asia Central Asia is a region of Asia consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The countries as a group are also colloquially referred to as the "-stans" as all have names ending with the Persian language, Pers ...
. Along with the merchants, there were colonies of artisans in various parts of Tibet who were engaged in creating
Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
art. They were major players in the exchange of art styles across the
Himalaya The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than 100 pea ...
. The thousand-year-old Lhasa Newar tradition came to an end after the caravan route linking India and Tibet through
Sikkim Sikkim ( ; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Koshi Province of Nepal in the west, and West Bengal in the ...
was shut down by the
Sino-Indian War The Sino–Indian War, also known as the China–India War or the Indo–China War, was an armed conflict between China and India that took place from October to November 1962. It was a military escalation of the Sino–Indian border dispu ...
in 1962. Subsequently, the merchants and craftsmen based in Tibet closed up shop and returned home to Nepal for the last time.


History

According to folklore, Singha Sartha Aju was the first merchant to travel to Tibet. The history of the Lhasa Newars officially dates from the seventh century with the marriage of Nepalese Princess
Bhrikuti Bhrikuti Devi (), known to Tibetans as , Bhelsa Tritsun ("Besa" Nepal ) or simply (), was a princess of the Licchavi kingdom in Nepal. In c.622Dr Poonam Rana, "Role of Bhrikuti (Bhelsa Tritsun) in spread of Buddhism", Sirjana Journal, p.208-115. ...
with Tibetan King
Songtsän Gampo Songtsen Gampo (Classical , pronounced ) (; (601–683 CE, reign 614-648) was the 33rd Tibetan king of the Yarlung dynasty and the founder of the Tibetan Empire. The first of three Dharma Kings of Tibet, he formally introduced Buddhism to Tib ...
. The traders and artisans who accompanied Bhrikuti to Lhasa as part of her retinue established commercial and cultural ties between Nepal and Tibet. In the 1640s, a treaty was negotiated under which Newar merchants were allowed to establish 32 business houses in Lhasa. It was also agreed that Nepal would mint coins for Tibet. By this time, the number of traders had risen considerably. Eighteenth-century traveller
Ippolito Desideri Ippolito Desideri, SJ (21 December 1684 Pistoia, Grand Duchy of Tuscany – 14 April 1733 Rome, Papal States) was an Italian Jesuit missionary and traveller and the most famous of the early European missionaries who founded Catholic Church in ...
noted that merchants of Nepal were "numerous" in Lhasá. The Newars were also organized into "pala" () societies which arranged the celebration of festivals and provided a place for get-togethers. The merchants celebrated
Mohani Mohani (Nepal Bhasa: or ; from Classical Newar: , ''mahani''), also known as Moni or Mohni is annual religious festival celebrated by the Newar people of Nepal. It is analogous to Dashain, a Hindu festival celebrated in South Asia, although ...
and other feasts like they did in Kathmandu. There were 10 "palas" originally in Lhasa, and seven remained active until recent times—Chyatangya, Chhusingsyar, Ghorasyar, Jhwala, Lhakam, Kun and Tarunsyar. The Newars in Shigatse and other places in Tibet had their own "palas". Returning merchants and craftsmen were called "Lhasa Newars". Most of them were Buddhist Newars like the
Uray Uray (; Mansi: Урай) a town in Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Okrug, located on the Konda River from Khanty-Mansiysk. Population: History It was founded as a settlement for oil field workers. It was granted town status in 1965. Administrativ ...
,
Bajracharya A vajrÄcÄrya (vajra + acharya, Tibetan: རྡོ་རྗེ་སློབ་དཔོན་, ''dorje lopön'', Wyl. ''rdo rje slob dpon,'' Chinese: é‡‘å‰›é˜¿é—æ¢¨, pinyin: ''jÄ«ngÄng Äshélì''; rÅmanji: ''kongÅ ajari'') (alternativel ...
,
Shakya Shakya (Pali, PÄḷi: ; Sanskrit: ) was an ancient Indo-Aryan clan of the northeastern region of South Asia, whose existence is attested during the Iron Age in India, Iron Age. The Shakyas were organised into a Gaṇasaá¹…gha, (an Aristocrac ...
and Dhakhwa. There were also many
Shrestha Śrēṣṭha () is a Nepali surname, which means "most excellent†or "great†in Sanskrit. It is one of the eponym surnames used by those belonging to the caste of Shresthas who own Bogati and Damais and are at the epitome of status prior to ...
s and
Maharjan Maharjan (), is one of the Hindu Buddhist Newar castes or groups of Nepal, predominantly from Patan, Kirtipur, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu in Kathmandu Valley.. They are a major subgroup of the Jyapu जà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤ªà¥‚: community inside the Newar comm ...
s among them.


Trade

Newar traders exported finished products from Nepal and India to Tibet and brought back goods from Tibet and other parts of
Central Asia Central Asia is a region of Asia consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The countries as a group are also colloquially referred to as the "-stans" as all have names ending with the Persian language, Pers ...
. Metal utensils, sacred statues and rice from Nepal, and textiles and other factory products from India were the main exports to Tibet. The Lhasa Newars brought back gold dust, wool, musk pods, pelts and yak tails which were forwarded to Kolkata. The older generation in the village of
Sankhu Sankhu (Nepal Bhasa: साà¤à¤–à¥, alternative name: Sakwa (Nepal Bhasa: /सकà¥à¤µ)) is the ancient Newari town located in the north-eastern corner of Kathmandu Valley, about 17 km from the city center of Kathmandu. Mani-Yogini, on ...
also regularly play
Mahjong Mahjong (English pronunciation: ; also transliterated as mah jongg, mah-jongg, and mahjongg) is a tile-based game that was developed in the 19th century in China and has spread throughout the world since the early 20th century. It is played ...
brought from Tibet. Mule, donkey and yak caravans transported the trade goods over the Himalaya and across the Tibetan Plateau. In Nepal, porters carried the loads over the mountains on their backs. The trade route connecting India and Tibet goes over the Himalaya. The Lhasa Newars used the Gyirong (Kyirong, Nepali: , ) and ''Kuti'' ( Nepali: ) ( Nyalam Tong La) passes to the north of Kathmandu to travel to Lhasa. From the 1930s, a new caravan route over the lower
Nathu La Nathu La(, Sikkimese language, Sikkimese: རྣ་à½à½¼à½¦à¼‹à½£à¼‹) is a mountain pass in the Dongkya Range of the Himalayas between China's Yadong County in Tibet, and the Indian states of Sikkim. But minor touch of Bengal in South Asia. T ...
and
Jelep La Jelep La (; ) elevation , is a high mountain pass between Sikkim, India and Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is on a route that connects Lhasa to India. The pass is about south of Nathu La and is slightly higher. It was frequently used for t ...
passes on the border between Sikkim and Tibet became more popular. These passes were approached through
Gangtok Gangtok (, ) is the capital and the most populous city of the Indian state of Sikkim. The seat of East Sikkim district, eponymous district, Gangtok is in the eastern Himalayas, Himalayan range, at an elevation of . The city's population of 100 ...
in Sikkim and
Kalimpong Kalimpong is a town and the headquarters of an eponymous district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located at an average elevation of . The town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong district. The region comes under Gorkhaland Territo ...
in
West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...
, India. The Lhasa Newars lived in
Lhasa Lhasa, officially the Chengguan District of Lhasa City, is the inner urban district of Lhasa (city), Lhasa City, Tibet Autonomous Region, Southwestern China. Lhasa is the second most populous urban area on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining ...
,
Shigatse Shigatse, officially known as Xigazê () or Rikaze ( zh, s=日喀则, p=RìkÄzé), is a prefecture-level city of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Its area of jurisdiction, with an area of , corresponds to the histo ...
and
Gyantse Gyantse, officially Gyangzê Town (also spelled Gyangtse; ; ), is a town located in Gyantse County, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It was historically considered the third largest and most prominent town in Tibet (after Lha ...
in Tibet and in
Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...
and Kalimpong in India for years at a time. Lhasa, as a center on the Silk Road, attracted merchant caravans from across Central Asia with whom the Lhasa Newars engaged in trade. A few business houses also maintained shops in
Leh Leh () is a city in Indian-administered Ladakh in the Kashmir#Kashmir_dispute, disputed Kashmir region. The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the WP:TE ...
,
Ladakh Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory and constitutes an eastern portion of the larger Kashmir region that has been the subject of a Kashmir#Kashmir dispute, dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947 and India an ...
which lies on the caravan route to
Kashgar Kashgar () or Kashi ( zh, c=喀什) is a city in the Tarim Basin region of southern Xinjiang, China. It is one of the westernmost cities of China, located near the country's border with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. For over 2,000 years, Kashgar ...
in Chinese Central Asia. Kolkata was a center of wholesale trade.


Art

Lhasa Newar artisans created statues, painted
paubha A paubhÄ (Devanagari: पौभा) is a traditional religious painting made by the Newar people of Nepal. Paubhas depict deities, mandalas or monuments, and are used to help the practitioners in meditation. The Tibetan equivalent is known as T ...
s and frescoes and built temples in Tibet and other parts of Central Asia, and were instrumental in the spread and development of Buddhist art throughout the region. The
Jokhang The Jokhang (, zh, s=大昭寺}), historically known as the Rasa Trulnang (ra sa 'phrul snang) or Qoikang Monastery or Zuglagkang ( or Tsuklakang), is considered the "heart of Lhasa"."Jokhang". MAPS, Places. University of Virginia. The Jokhang ...
Temple in Lhasa and the
Kumbum A Kumbum ( "one hundred thousand holy images") is a multi-storied aggregate of Buddhist chapels in Tibetan Buddhism. The most famous Kumbum forms part of Palcho Monastery. The first Kumbum was founded in the fire sheep year 1427 by a Gyants ...
Stupa in Gyantse are examples of their artistic legacy in Tibet. The White Dagoba in
Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
, built by
Arniko , birth_date = , birth_place = Nepal Mandala () , death_date = , death_place = Yuan Dynasty , known_for = Nepalese artist in the court of Kublai Khan , notable_works = White stupa at Miaoying Temple , st ...
in the 13th century, is another specimen of the artistry of the Lhasa Newars. Newar artists were the most sought after among the foreign artists living in Tibet. French missionary traveller
Évariste Régis Huc Évariste Régis Huc, C.M., also known as the Abbé Huc (1 August 1813 – 31 March 1860) was a French Catholic priest, Lazarite missionary, and traveller. He became famous for his accounts of Qing-era China, Mongolia (then known as "Tartary" ...
has written that it is they who construct for the Buddhist temples those fine roofs of gilt plates, which resist all the inclemencies of the seasons and always retain a marvellous freshness and glitter. They are so skilful at this class of work that they are sent to the very interior of Tartary to decorate the Lamaseries. Newar artists gained importance after the destruction of Indian Buddhism in 1203 as they were the only remaining experts in traditional Buddhist art. Tibetan artists thus turned to them for inspiration and learned the Newar style, or Beri as it is now known. The style prevailed for more than four centuries, and reached its peak from 1360 to 1460 when it was adopted as Tibet's universal painting style. The period from the 14th to the 16th centuries is considered a golden age of Nepalese art. During this time, Newar artists travelled widely and left their mark on the artistic styles of Tibet, Bhutan,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
and Mongolia.


In popular culture

Lhasa Newars have been the subject of ballads, epic poetry and novels in
Nepal Bhasa Newar (; , ) is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding regions in Nepal. The language is known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhas ...
and other languages, mostly on the theme of loneliness and couples forced to endure long periods of separation. * The best known epic is Ji Waya La Lachhi Maduni ("It hasn't been a month since I came"), written in the late 18th century, about a trader who leaves for Tibet despite the pleas of his newly wedded wife. One day, a false message arrives that he has died in Tibet, and the wife burns herself on the funeral pyre in grief. Years later, the husband returns. Upon being told of her death, he goes away and becomes an ascetic. This poem was the source of "
Muna Madan ''Muna Madan'' () is a 1936 Nepali-language episodic love poem written by Laxmi Prasad Devkota. It is about Madan, newly married to Muna, who leaves for Lhasa in Tibet to make his fortune, despite protests from his wife. Synopsis ''Muna Madan ...
", a short epic story in the
Nepali language Nepali (; , ), or ''Gorkhali'' is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language native to the Himalayas region of South Asia. It is the official and most widely spoken Languages of Nepal, language of Nepal, where it also serves as a ''lingua fr ...
composed by
Laxmi Prasad Devkota Laxmi Prasad Devkota () (1909-1959) was a Nepalis, Nepalese poet, playwright, novelist, and politician. Honored with the title of Mahakabi () in Nepali literature, he was known as a poet with a golden heart, and is considered one of the most fam ...
in 1936. * In the song "My beloved has gone abroad", a wife longs for her husband who has gone to Tibet on business. One day, she is elated to receive a message from Tibet, however, the message contains news of his death. * Another song, "Oh husband, how shall I live" was written towards the end of the 19th century. In this song, a woman expresses her sadness as her husband leaves for Tibet soon after their marriage. * ''Bhrikuti'', a novel by
Dharma Ratna Yami Dharma Ratna Tuladhar, popularly known as Dharma Ratna Yami () was a Nepalese government deputy minister, activist and Newa language writer While serving eighteen years jail term, he changed his surname from Tuladhar to ''Yami'' (meaning an inh ...
, was awarded the Shrestha Sirapa in 1959. Another novel ''Ang Lhamo'' recounts the saga of a Tibetan girl amid a backdrop of the Chinese entry into Tibet. The first edition, published in 1970 by Pasa Muna, was banned by the Nepalese government. A second edition appeared in 1992, published by Paleswan Pithana, Kathmandu. * ''Mimmanahpau'' ("Unburnt Letter") by
Chittadhar Hridaya Chittadhar Hridaya (; born Chittadhar Tuladhar; 19 May 1906 – 9 June 1982) was a Nepalese poet. He is regarded as one of the greatest literary figures from Nepal in the 20th century. The title of Kavi Keshari (Lion among Poets) was conferred o ...
is a novel in the form of a letter from a merchant in Lhasa to his wife in Kathmandu. The husband misses home so much that he regrets the life of a trader. Published in 1968, the novel has been translated into English by Kesar Lall. * In the novel ''The Oriental Casebook of
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...
'', the famed detective befriends Gorashar, a Newar merchant in Lhasa, and travels with him to Kathmandu during the course of his journeys in Asia to unravel varied mysteries.Riccardi, Ted (2003). ''The Oriental Casebook of Sherlock Holmes.'' Random House. .


Gallery

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 135-KA-06-085, Tibetexpedition, Marktplatz in Lhasa.jpg,
Barkhor market in Lhasa, 1938.
File:Nepalese Chamber1943.jpg,
Nepalese Chamber of Commerce, Lhasa, 1947.
File:Kmt and krt on bsa.jpg,
Merchants on a BSA Bantam in Lhasa, 1952.
File:Lhasa newar merchants.jpg,
Newar traders in Tibetan and Western wear, 1945.
File:Sarbagya man tuladhar.jpg,
Trader wearing a
Mauser Mauser, originally the Königlich Württembergische Gewehrfabrik, was a German arms manufacturer. Their line of bolt-action rifles and semi-automatic pistols was produced beginning in the 1870s for the German armed forces. In the late 19th and ...
pistol, Lhasa, 1946.
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 135-S-12-35-20, Tibetexpedition, Lhasa, Markt.jpg,
A Lhasa Newar (far left) on the Barkhor, 1938.
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 135-S-18-10-26, Tibetexpedition, Gyantse, Chörten.jpg,
Kumbum Stupa (left) in Gyantse, 1938.
File:Miaoyingsi baita.jpg,
Miaoying Temple The Miaoying Temple (), also known as the "White Stupa Temple" (), is a Chinese Buddhist temple on the north side of Fuchengmennei Street in the Xicheng District of Beijing. The temple was a monastery of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism and ...
in
Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
, China, 13th century.
File:Newar caravan in tibet.jpg,
Mule caravan of Newar merchants, 1943.
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 135-BB-082-12, Tibetexpedition, Floß bei Chagsam.jpg,
Yak hide boat on the Yarlung Tsangpo, 1938.
File:Nepalese mohar 816.jpg,
Nepalese coin of Bhupatindra Malla, 1696.
File:Tibet-6048 - Largest Sitting Maitreya Buddha.jpg,
Maitreya Buddha at
Tashilhunpo Monastery Tashi Lhunpo Monastery () is an historically and culturally important monastery in Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet. Founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama, it is the traditional monastic seat of the Panchen Lama. The monastery was sa ...
.


See also

* Nepalese Chamber of Commerce, Lhasa *
Newa people Newar (; , ) is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding regions in Nepal. The language is known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bha ...
* Singha Sartha Aju (legendary trader) * Uray (caste group)


References


Further reading

* Hilker, DS Kansakar (2005), ''Syamukapu: The Lhasa Newars of Kalimpong and Kathmandu'', Kathmandu: Vajra Publications. . * Lall, Kesar (2007), ''The Newar Merchants of Lhasa'', Kathmandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar. . * Tuladhar, Kamal Ratna (second edition 2011), '' Caravan to Lhasa: A Merchant of Kathmandu in Traditional Tibet'', Kathmandu: Lijala and Tisa. . {{Trade route 2 Buddhist culture Himalayas History of international trade Lhasa Nepalese merchants Newar Silk Road History of Tibet Trade routes