Tibetan Aristocratic Families is a groundbreaking work that examines the world of Tibet’s noble houses through the lenses of cultural anthropology and sociology. Focusing on the period 1900–1951, the book dissects the hierarchical structure of aristocratic families—ranging from the sacred Yabshi (families of the Dalai Lamas) to the powerful Miza and ordinary nobles—and explores their domestic life, marriage contracts, child-rearing practices, and intricate social networks. Drawing on fieldwork, oral histories, and 138 rare photographs, the author paints a vivid portrait of a closed, privileged, yet deeply constrained society on the eve of its transformation. Widely regarded as the first comprehensive and engaging study of its kind, this book offers an essential key to understanding old Tibet’s social fabric and historical change.

Illustrated with black & white photos, text in English.

2006, China Intercontinental Press, trade paperback, 272 pp., used, pages lightly browned with age, otherwise in very good condition.