Khampa Nomads

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Tuesday, November 1, 2011 | flickr photos

I caught the travel bug at an early age when my mother took me on a trip to China in 1999. I was amazed at the Chinese culture. Everything from the elaborately dished food to the experience of being photographed with Chinese children because I had light eyes and hair. The trip changed my life in many ways, and I have been photographing and traveling ever since.
In the spring and summer of 2010 and 2011, I lived in Tagong China and the surrounding grassland area of the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to research and photograph the role that the warrior stories of King Gesar play in the daily Khampa Tibetan life. Traditionally, Tibet is divided into three sections, U-Tsang to the West, Amdo to the Northeast, and Kham, where Tagong is located, to the Southeast. The people living in each region, although all Tibetan, have their own distinct cultures, dialects, physical features and dress. The Khampas, for example, are known for being tall, handsome, and warrior-like in stature. They are the descendants of Gesar who lived during the 11th century, and is said to have been an enlightened warrior king who fought to protect Tibet and the dharma. He was a fierce fighter and an accomplished horseman. During the summer season, horse festivals are held throughout Kham. These festivals provide Khampa men the opportunity to demonstrate their riding skills to crowds of enthusiastic onlookers while balladeers sing tales of the great warrior king.