The Research On Celestial Burial Culture Of Tibetan Under The Ecological Environmental Dimension

Celestial burial is an ancient and mysterious,solemn and holy,unique and precious funeral custom.It is an important part of the Tibetan funeral culture,which has extremely high research value.Through the analysis of the Tibetan celestial burial custom,we not only can clear understand why celestial burial can exist and develop so deep,also can deeply feel extensive and profound funeral culture of the Tibetans.This dissertation is based on the natural geographical environment,production and life,religious belief and value concept of Tibetans on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.At the same time,This dissertation is mainly from the dimension of ecological environment to analyze the rationality and scientificity of the existence and development of celestial burial as the traditional funeral custom of the Tibetans,which also takes a hard look at cultural connotations and values behind celestial burial.There are four chapters in this dissertation.The main contents are as follows.The first chapter is a overview of Tibetan celestial burial,which is the basis for us to understand the funeral customs.Firstly,it summarize the ritual process of celestial burial which is divided into four stages.These four stages are the final preparations of the dying Tibetan,the matters of the dead before the funeral,the funeral and celestial burial of the dead,the matters of the dead after the celestial burial.Secondly,it elaborates on celestial burial masters and celestial burial sitesas the "props" used in celestial burial.The second chapter analyzes Tibetan celestial burial from the perspective of natural ecological environment.Firstly,it discusses that the celestial burial is compatible with environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by comparing with the inhumation,cremation and water burial of the Tibetans.Secondly,it discusses why celestial burial can exist from the two aspects of vultures and the naive materialist view of the Tibetans in the early days.The third chapter analyzes Tibetan celestial burial from the perspective of social ecological environment.This part analyzes the existence and development of Tibetan celestial burial,which is discussed from the three environmental sub-systems of religion,economy and politics,so as to see the adaptability of celestial burial to social environment.This chapter is the key of the dissertation.By discussing the internal connection between the celestial burial culture and the whole social environment,it reveals the basic balance between Tibetan celestial burial and the changing social ecological environment.The fourth chapter analyzes the cultural characteristics and realistic thinking behind the Tibetan celestial burial.Firstly,it summarizes the positive,optimistic,altruistic,self-interested and populist characteristics of the celestial burial culture.Secondly,through the cultural connotation reflected in the celestial burial,it brings out the author's realistic thinking.