Study on Tibetan Place Name Culture in Tongren Area

　　Study on Jiangxi Geographical Names

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　　Abstract: Place names are an integral part of language, and it is a content of ethnolinguistics to study the culture behind them through language materials. This paper takes the Tibetan place names in Tongren area as the research object, and explains various cultural phenomena reflected behind the place names.

　　Keywords: Tongren Tibetan place names; Cultural phenomenon; Borrowed place names

　　First, look at the ecological environment from place names

　　Throughout the development of geographical names, although many geographical names will change with the evolution of history, there are still a large number of geographical names that will maintain their original form and have stability. The natural environment is constantly changing. When comparing place names with field features, we can understand the changes of ecological environment.

　　The origin of geographical names is closely related to the characteristics of geographical environment, which to some extent reflects the background and features of geographical naming period. Mountain landforms, natural vegetation, rivers and rivers are the main basis for naming, so the study of geographical names can understand the changes of ecological environment in history. For example, Zhazelongwa rdsa rtze lung ba (which means Yanfenggou in Tibetan) and Xiugan Hxarggan (which means Laobaigou in Tibetan) reflect the mountain system. Cog thang in Juhutang (meaning Pinus tabulaeformis beach), Wa Long hwa long (meaning Fox Gully) and Zhelong Wa dred lung ba (meaning Brown Bear Gully in Tibetan) reflect natural resources. Combined with the meaning of place names and field investigation, it is found that the ecological environment in Tongren area has changed greatly. From the perspective of the development of the whole human history and civilization, rivers are the primary conditions for human beings to choose to live. Tongren, located in Longwu Valley, is a region rich in water resources. There are also many forms of river and lake names in the Tibetan place name system in this area. For example, the names of river systems such as rdsa khog chu (meaning Yanshangou River) and rgan mo lung be chu (meaning Laopo Valley River) in Zako Hequ have also changed.

　　With the turning of the wheel of history, the original ecological background of a large number of place names has changed greatly, and some of them have even been unable to find the geographical entities reflected by place names, which has become a name in name only and a name in name only. This is of great significance to our future ecological protection and maintenance of ecological balance. It will also provide us with a basis for the history of ecological changes in Tongren area and the historical evolution of regional economic types.

　　Second, look at religious beliefs from place names

　　As a part of language, place names are the carrier of recording various cultural phenomena, and naturally they will record many religious place names. There are also many religious-related place names in the Tibetan place names in Tongren area. Studying these place names can help us understand the religious beliefs of Tibetans in Tongren area in the past dynasties and the relationship between Buddhism and Buddhism.

　　(A) geographical names and Bonism culture

　　Bonism is an ancient religion that prevailed on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau before Tibetan Buddhism was introduced into Tibetan areas. It is deeply rooted in the belief foundation and cultural foundation of Tibetan people, making it an important part of Tibetan social culture. Among the Tibetan place names in Tongren, for example, Wangkehe bon khog (meaning Benbu ditch), there is a mountain peak called Amiwangbu () on the upper part of this ditch. It is said that he is the mountain god of Bon religion, bon bovi lab tze of Benbu (meaning Benbu Raz) and so on. These place names are all related to Bonism, but most Tibetans living in these places believe in Tibetan Buddhism. This also shows that Tibetans living in these places may have believed in Bonism in history, but they changed to Buddhism when the struggle between Buddhism and Benzene or Buddhism prevailed.

　　(B) Geographical names and Buddhist culture

　　Since Buddhism was introduced into the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and competed and merged with local Bonism for 1300 years, the original exclusive state of Bonism was broken and Tibetan Buddhism with its own characteristics was formed. There are many Tibetan place names related to Tibetan Buddhism in Tongren area. For example, La Dong Long Wa bla gdong lung ba (meaning La Dong Gou) and Xi He Le Gai gshegs blvi sked (meaning the waist of a deceased teacher) are said to have been named after the death of a guru in this place before, while Ma Niang Long Wa ma ni rgo snying lung ba (meaning the heart ditch of an antelope) is named after a stone engraved with Buddhist scriptures and shaped like the heart of an antelope. For the Tibetan people who believe in the whole people, it is closely related to their lives. Therefore, there are many place names and legends related to Tibetan Buddhism, and they are named after the image of their tribal ancestors and sacred mountains and waters, which reflects that Tibetans value their kinship psychology.

　　Third, look at the mode of production from the place name

　　As a cultural phenomenon, place names are branded with the thinking consciousness and livelihood style of the naming group. Through the study, we can understand the production mode, production level and economic system in this area.

　　(A) geographical names and farming economy and culture

　　Tongren area is located at the intersection of eastern agricultural area and southern animal husbandry area in Qinghai Province, and agriculture prevails in the valley area centered on Longwu River. Therefore, there are Tibetan place names related to agricultural production, farm tools and farmland in Tongren area. For example, Ji He tong lcak (Tibetan meaning plow), Xiangqianwo xing vkhyam be (meaning shovel-like field), Xiangkou xing khuk (Tibetan meaning ditch), Caixiang ce xing (meaning lifelong field) and Gega vgos bsgal (meaning getting your share) and so on. Place names such as "TongJi He" and "Xiangqianwo" reflect the agricultural level or farming method when this place name was formed, and related place names such as "Zhuonai Longwa" reflect people's expectations for agricultural harvest. Place names such as "Cai Xiang" and "Gega" reflect the economic system of dividing fields into households.

　　(B) Geographical names and animal husbandry economy and culture

　　Many places in Tongren area, such as Lancai Township, Duowa Township and Quku Township, are dominated by animal husbandry economy. Therefore, a large number of place names related to animal husbandry were collected during the field investigation in these areas. For example, Di Mang rtevu mang (which means multi-pony in Tibetan), Duo Dalai rtod rta klad (which means tying horses for grazing in Tibetan) and Zhi Mao Xiao Sa vdri mo vsho sa (which means the place where yaks are squeezed) reflect the content and mode of animal husbandry economy in Tongren area, and at the same time, it also reflects the psychology of naming groups for their own animal husbandry production to flourish. With the implementation of the national policy of returning grazing to grassland and dividing grassland, many place names such as "the grassland of XX family", "the public grassland", "the summer grassland of XX family" and "the winter grassland of XX family" have been derived.

　　(C) geographical names and farming and livestock economy and culture

　　Physical geography is the decisive condition of economic production. Tongren, located in the valley area of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is a necessary choice for villages located in mountainous areas, besides farming economy and animal husbandry economy. The most typical place name of this type is khab rings kha, Kayanka. This place name is distributed in almost all villages in Tongren area where agriculture and animal husbandry run concurrently. One or two laborers from each household are stationed on the mountain to graze, while the rest are farming at the foot of the mountain. The place where grazing is stationed is called "Keranka". It is seasonal. Generally, it needs to be stationed in Keranka in summer and autumn, and cattle and sheep can be driven to the village for release in spring and winter festivals. The reason why they choose to run both agriculture and animal husbandry is that the harvest of pure agriculture is not high and the income is low. Choosing farming and animal husbandry can increase income and make up for the shortage of agricultural income.

　　Fourth, look at ethnic relations from place names

　　Language itself can reflect the cultural color of history. When it comes into contact with other cultures, it will absorb new elements and mix with the old ones. The so-called "loanwords" are the mixed loanwords in a place name of a national language. It can express the influence of two different cultures on language after contact. On the other hand, we can see the cultural exchange from the combination of this language. In the process of studying Tibetan place names in Tongren area, many borrowed place names of other nationalities were found, which reflected the relationship between Tibetans and other nationalities in Tongren area.

　　(A) the relationship between place names and Tibetan and Chinese

　　According to historical records, the direct relationship between Han and Tibetan began in the 7th century when Tubo wiped out Tuyuhun. Therefore, there are many Chinese phrases or related place names in Tibetan place names in Tongren area, and these place names can be divided into Tibetan-language names that represent the Han nationality, Sino-Tibetan mixed language names and loanwords. For example, Jiaxiang rgya xiang (Han nationality field), Jiaka 'er rgya mkar (fortress of Han nationality), Lama Mountain (Lama Mountain), Yongtonggang yun mthong sgang (Yantungang), zha wa chung (brick factory) and so on. With the emergence of new things, the number of place names borrowed in Chinese is increasing, which is closely related to the development of transportation and network in recent years and the closer connection between Tibetans and Han nationality in Tongren area.

　　(B) the relationship between place names and Tibetan soil

　　Sizhaizi (one of the 12 Regong tribes) in Tongren area has four tribes, namely Sanggexiong, Wutun, Nianduhu, Guomari and Gasari. ) The spoken language is the local language. Because these four stockaded villages are closely related to Tibetan villages and have the same religious beliefs, when conducting on-the-spot investigations on Tibetans around the Tu villages, except for some local names, many of them are expressed in Tibetan. For example, the "sang ge xiong ja mko" in Wutun directly uses Tibetan, but there are also some native pure place names like "ybiy ho zie". This is mainly because the Tu people in Tongren area generally use Tibetan when communicating with Tibetans, and the linguistic and religious identity makes the relationship between the two ethnic groups closer.

　　(C) the relationship between place names and Mongolia and Tibet

　　Since the Yuan Dynasty, Tibetans and Mongolians in Tongren began to contact frequently and managed Tongren area for a long time. During this period, many Mongolian placenames were produced. Even though the Mongolians in Tongren area were driven away in the later period, many of these Mongolian placenames remained in the Tibetan placename system and have been in use ever since. For example, Wow Heli (meaning unknown), Kara Helehe (meaning unknown), and Wuhe Delong Wow bog bstu luag ba (Wuhe De is Mongolian, meaning unknown; "Longwa" is a Tibetan ravine) and other place names are pure Mongolian place names. Like Kasanmuzaihe "mkar sum przek" is a place name related to Mongolians. It is said that Mongolian troops were stationed here to manage Tongren area.

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　　The Tibetan place name system in Tongren area contains rich historical data, which provides useful historical clues for the study of ethnic relations in Tongren area. Place name is a special historical material involving ecology, geography, economy, history, language and religion. As a part of vocabulary, place names can provide important evidence to supplement and confirm the arguments of historians and archaeologists. It will also provide many reliable references for us to solve ethnic relations and ecological environment.

　　Author: Xia Wu Cuoji

　　Source: Place Names of China, No.2, 2019

　　Selected manuscript: Geng Fang

　　Editor: Yang Qi

　　Proofreading: Li Shuqi

　　Revision: Wang Hongqin

　　Editor: Wang Yufeng

　　(Due to the limited layout, please refer to the original text for the content of the article notes.)

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