Tibet+-+Socio-Political+Structure

 __Buddhist Monasticism (Bhikku)__  __Tibetan Social Structure__
 * Dominant Practice of Buddhism in Northern & Southern Regions
 * During Dynastic Period
 * Fundamental Institution of Buddhist Practices
 * Began at Young Age (Usually 7 - 13 Years Old)
 * Must have Consent of Parents (Ancient & Modern)
 * Of Sound Mind
 * ”Bhikku” Originates from Root Meaning of “To Beg”
 * Informs General Practices of Nuns and Monks
 * Complete Isolation from Materialistic Aspects of Society
 * Exercises Poverty, Detachment from Consumerism
 * Originated in Indian Practices
 * Monks Would Abandon Families, Lifelong Pursuits
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Work to Apply Buddhist Teachings in Every Aspect of Life
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Reign of Sron-brtsan Sgam-po Allowed Women to Enter
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Contradicted Buddha Original Exclusivity of men
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Male Specific Monastic Community (Sangha) Still Exists
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Groups Would Reside in Southern Forests
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Buddhist Houses in Northern Plains
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Southern Groups Known to Travel to Lhasa to Influence Public Lifestyle
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Must Observe All Rules of the Monastic Code
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">227 to 250, Varying by Sect
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Example of Ramifications During Reign of Gtsug-brtsan (Mid 8th Century)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Violations Must Be Confessed at Uposatha (Meetings of Monks)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Uposatha Occurs Roughly 25 Times Per Year
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Four Rules Take Precedent
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">If Broken, Monk Expelled from Order Eternally
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Rules Prohibit:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Having Sexual Relations
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Taking or Influencing the Taking of Someone’s Life
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Taking Something of One’s Own that was Not Freely Given (Theft)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Making Claims Regarding one’s Spiritual Attainments, Powers, or Enlightenment
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Head and Face Shaven
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Wear Three Part Robes
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Allowed Minimal Possessions
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Adherent to Buddhist Philosophies
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">During Dynastic Period, Monks Grew Food for House
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Livestock Traded for Materials for Crafts
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Livestock Cooked for Other Monks
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Food is Begged For in Modern Times
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">No Food Between Noon and the Sunrise of the Next Day
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Meat Only Eaten if Cooked Exclusively for the Monk
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Prohibited from Handling Money Modernly
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Other than Materials for Crafts
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Prohibited from Physical Labor Modernly


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Emphasis on Simplistic Lifestyle
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Material Wealth not at All Idealized
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Ideologies of Culture Revolve Around Fundamental Buddhist Philosophies
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Bon Influence Noticeable in Lifestyles of Agriculturalists
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Dynastic Tibetan Society in Three “Social Classes”
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Bhikku (Primary)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Sedentary Agriculturalists
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Nomadic Pastoralists (Drok-’pa)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Sedentary Agriculturalists Usually Established Through Family
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Informed by Traditional Marriage Practices
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Fraternal Polyandry
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">One Wife to Line of Brothers
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Brothers Land Inherited by Family
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Usual Land Ownership Casual, Locally Recognized
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Dynastic Official Recognition Though Never to have Existed
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Alternate to Strict Chinese Practices
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Agriculturalists Resided in Southwestern Regions, Northern Plains
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Many Migrated Towards Bhikku Practices in North
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">During Late Reign of Ide-brtsan
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Pastoralists Roam, Primarily Absent from Eastern Regions
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Southern Regions Increased in Inhabitance Late 7th Century
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Wealth Usually Indicated by Quality of Clothing and Home
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Styles Synonymous Between Classes
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Alternate to Chinese Segregation of Classes
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Dynastic Period Influenced Constitutional Isolationism After Mongol Rule
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Failed Alliances led to Nationalistic Approach to Diplomacy

<span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;"> __<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Dynastic Political __ __<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Hierarchy __ <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">__Empire Influence on Constitutional Structure__
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Political Structure Varied
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Relative to Individual Ruler
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Consistent Existence of Primary Minister
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">NOT Prime Minister (Parliamentary)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Fulfilled Domestic Responsibilities of Ruler
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Diplomacy Forbidden
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Punished Usually through Execution
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Commanders Ordered by Ministers
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Some Ministers Also Commanders
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Commanders Responsible for Militant Progression
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Carried Out Diplomatic Desires of Ruler
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Sent Embassies
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Groups of Specially Designated Soldiers
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Armor of Various Styles, Alternate to Typical Soldier
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Softer Metals Used (Gold)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Chain Mail Absent
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">More Susceptible to Attack

<span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;"> __<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> Citations: __ <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">"Bhikku." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 03 May. 2009 <[]>. <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">"Tibet." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 03 May. 2009 <[]>. <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">"Tibet (Xizang)." Encyclopedia Americana. 2009. Grolier Online. 3 May 2009 <[]>.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Dynastic Influence Still Noticeable in Modern Tibet Prior to 1950
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Invoking of Buddhism in Tibetan Government
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Sron-brtsan Sgam-po
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Dalai Lama Maintains Supreme Religious and Temporal Position
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Theocratic Government as Composed by Several External Influences

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">__All Information Cross Referenced With:__ <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;"> Beckwith, Christopher I. Tibetan Empire in central Asia a history of the struggle for great power among Tibetans, Turks, Arabs, and Chinese during the early Middle Ages. Princeton, N.J: Princeton UP, 1987.