Chos dbyang rdo rje: Zho 'ong dbyis Village Collection
The World Oral Literature Project is pleased to host the collection of Chos dbyang rdo rje. Details of the full collection can be browsed on DSpace@Cambridge by clicking here.
This collection contains three mani songs, three paeans, five love songs, and nine celebratory songs recorded by Chos dbyang rdo rje in the Tibetan village of Zho ’ong dbyis, Zho ’ong dbyis Township, Reb gong County, Rma lho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Mtsho sngon Province, PR China.
Collection Details:
Collection: Zho 'ong dbyis Village Collection
Collector: Chos dbyang rdo rje
Date(s): 2009
Language(s): Amdo (A mdo) Tibetan
1. Celebratory Song 1
This song encourages people to sing by saying, “Look how big and gorgeous today’s gathering is. Look how many people are here and how happy they are. Today is the right time to sing.” This song is always sung at village gatherings when people are not brave enough to sing. The singer stands in the centre of the gathering and turns from side to side to face the room full of guests as they sing.
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2. Celebratory Song 2
This song may be sung at public and private celebratory gatherings. It states that the guests are lucky to live a happy life and to enjoy such a happy time.
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3. Celebratory Song 3
This song describes a large celebratory gathering and expresses the wish that the guests enjoy themselves, and will become happier and wealthier afterwards.
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4. Celebratory Song 4
This song can be sung at any celebratory gathering, but is sung especially when a lama visits a village or family. Two or more people standing in a circle sing it.
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5. Celebratory Song 5
This song praises the party at which the song is sung, saying, “Even though the juniper is beautiful, it is more beautiful when surrounded by other trees. Even though this performance is beautiful, it is more beautiful when surrounded by an audience. This song may be sung at any celebratory gathering, such as weddings or house-warming parties.
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6. Celebratory Song 6
This song describes the singer – where he is, what he is doing, and what he will do next.
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7. Celebratory Song 7
This song describes the steps of offering of liquor or milk while singing, and explains which finger should be used to make offerings for whom (milk and liquor are aspersed with the fingers). The lyrics state, “I will make an offering to the deities with my index finger first, second I will make an offering to local deities, and last I will make an offering to the people who are present at the party."
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8. Celebratory Song 8
This song can be sung at any village public celebratory gatherings or at private parties. Such songs are never sung at funerals. This song praises the gathering.
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9. Celebratory Song 9
This song is sung at such celebratory gatherings as weddings and horse races. This song describes how the gathering is made magnificent by the presence of many guests and much food and drink.
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10. Love Song 1
This song is never sung at public celebratory gatherings, as relatives might be present and it is taboo to sing such songs in the presence of relatives. Such songs are sung when peers, typically youths, gather outside the village. The lyric of this song aims to woo a listener. A male usually sings it to a female, but females may also sing it to males.
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11. Love Song 2
This song is never sung at public celebratory gatherings, as relatives might be present and it is taboo to sing such songs in the presence of relatives. Such songs are sung when peers, typically youths, gather outside the village. This song praises the singer's lover.
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12. Love Song 3
This song is never sung at public celebratory gatherings, as relatives might be present and it is taboo to sing such songs in the presence of relatives. Such songs are sung when peers, typically youths, gather outside the village. The lyrics describe how to people will certainly become lovers in the future.
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13. Love Song 4
This song is never sung at public celebratory gatherings, as relatives might be present and it is taboo to sing such songs in the presence of relatives. Such songs are sung when peers, typically youths, gather outside the village. This song describes the feelings of jealousy when one's lover falls in love with someone else.
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14. Love Song 5
This song is never sung at public celebratory gatherings, as relatives might be present and it is taboo to sing such songs in the presence of relatives. Such songs are sung when peers, typically youths, gather outside the village. This song describes the break-up period and the pain and sorrow of parting from a lover.
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15. Ma Ni Song 1
This genre is sung when greeting lamas who visit the village and at funerals. Women typically sing this song. The lyrics are the six sacred syllables of the mantra Om mani padme hum.
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16. Ma Ni Song 2
This genre is sung when greeting lamas who visit the village and at funerals. Women typically sing this song. The lyrics are the six sacred syllables of the mantra Om mani padme hum.
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17. Ma Ni Song 3
This genre is sung when greeting lamas who visit the village and at funerals. Women typically sing this song. The lyrics are the six sacred syllables of the mantra Om mani padme hum.
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18. Paean 1
This folk song praises leaders and lamas and encourages them to maintain their high social positions. This song can be sung at private and public celebratory gatherings but is especially sung when a lama visits.
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19. Paean 2
This song can be sung at private and public celebratory gatherings but is especially sung when a lama visits. The lyrics praise lamas, leaders, and other socially important people.
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20. Paean 3
This song can be sung at private and public celebratory gatherings but is especially sung when a lama visits. The lyrics praise secular leaders by comparing them to the sun.
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