Notes from Tibet: exploring the ethnobotany of the Deng people

Date: 2024/10/24 16:43:51 Source: Author: Yang Limei Views: 7529

The Deng (also called Dengba) are a people living in the border areas of Tibet, in the forested valleys of the Dulai and Zayü rivers — tributaries of the Yarlung Tsangpo — east of the Himalaya and west of the Hengduan Mountains, at an average altitude of about 1,000 m. When ethnic groups were officially classified in the early 1950s they were not listed among China's 56 ethnic groups, but their production, way of life and customs differ from those of the Tibetan, Monpa and Lhoba peoples, and they have long been called the Deng. Including those in the Indian-controlled area of southern Tibet, there are more than 50,000 Deng, about 1,500 of them in Upper and Lower Zayü of Zayü County. They have their own language but no script, and like other peoples of China they have their own beautiful stories and a distinctive culture.

1. The close relationship between the Deng people and plants

The Deng live in mountain and forest environments rich in natural resources. Their daily life, customs and traditional medicine are inseparable from plants. Through knowledge handed down from generation to generation, they have mastered the uses of many plants and developed a distinctive ethnobotany.

1.1 Diversity of food plants

The Deng live mainly in Zayü County in south-eastern Tibet, known as the “Jiangnan of Tibet” for its subtropical climate suitable for subtropical crops. In their diet, kiwifruit is a recent introduction, while rice and banana are traditional foods. Their agriculture is based on maize, finger millet, upland rice, buckwheat and foxtail millet. They farm distinctive terraces, digging channels to irrigate them with mountain streams. The cultivation and consumption of these plants reflect the Deng's adaptation to the local environment and their way of life and cultural traditions.

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1.2 Use of medicinal plants

Medicinal plants play an important role in the environment and culture of the Deng. The forest behind the new Deng village is rich in medicinal plants, and besides raising livestock, villagers go into the mountains to collect medicinal materials such as caterpillar fungus, sanqi, tianma and fritillary bulbs, which are important in Deng traditional medicine and health. However, when we asked what they do when injured or ill and whether they use plants for simple treatments, many Deng answered that they go to the army doctor. This struck us deeply: with the good policies they now enjoy under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and changes in their way of life, many young people no longer collect or use traditional plants. This loss of knowledge affects not only their way of life but also weakens the transmission of their culture.

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2. The role of plants in culture

The Deng not only depend on plants to survive but also integrate them into their culture and beliefs. Plants play important roles in traditional rituals, festivals and daily life, being both necessities and symbols of culture and spirit. From an ethnobotanical perspective, the interactions between the Deng and plants reflect their deep understanding of and respect for nature, expressed not only in plant use but also in the perception, naming, protection and transmission of plant knowledge. The Deng have their own system of classification and naming: fruits hanging on trees are collectively called “xi” — for example Saurauia napaulensis is called “ga-na-xi”; plants wrapped in layers are called “da-beng” — the banana is “a-lang” and the banana flower “a-lang-da-beng”; and mushrooms are collectively called “da-guai”. From food to daily articles, from practical uses to spiritual symbols, plants in Deng culture embody their close connection with nature, showing both their dependence on natural resources and their reverence for and protection of nature. Deng practice reminds us that people and nature are interdependent, and that harmony between them can be achieved only by respecting nature and using its resources wisely.

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3. Facing the challenges of modernization

As modernization accelerates, the traditional plant knowledge of the Deng faces challenges. The younger generation is moving away from traditional ways of life, and much knowledge of plant use may be forgotten; environmental change also threatens wild plants. Protecting and transmitting Deng ethnobotanical knowledge is therefore especially important. How can these challenges be met?

(1) Education and transmission. Educational activities can help the younger generation learn traditional plant knowledge, which is both cultural transmission and ecological protection. During this visit we found that most of the people who know how to use wild plants are elderly, which made us realize how important education of the younger generation is.

(2) Community cooperation. Encouraging communities to take part in ethnobotanical research and documentation can ensure that Deng traditional knowledge is systematically preserved and shared. Cooperation with scientists can combine traditional knowledge with modern science and enhance its value.

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The ethnobotany of the Deng people is the fruit of the fusion of nature and culture, embodying deep wisdom and experience. We have a responsibility to protect and transmit this precious cultural heritage so that Deng plant knowledge continues to shine. Working together, we can better understand and respect the relationship between people and nature and protect this beautiful land.