Sherpa means 'oriental', which is why we call this ethnic group "people from the east". Before the peaceful liberation of Tibet, Sherpa mainly lived on cargo exchanges and as porter for tourists.
Later, with the development of agriculture and animal husbandry, various sidelining production and trade became prosperous there. Sherpa men wear white short-sleeved woolen coats trimmed with black wool known as 'pudou', with a crescent-shaped blade in the belt. Women wear brightly colored long-sleeved shirt. Beneath the shirt is a long and flowery skirt while outside the shirt is a handmade white woolen vest called Paduo.
Sherpa women like combing a long braid decorated with red ribbons, and wearing golden or jade earrings. Sherpa predominantly believe in Tibetan Buddhism. Sakya and Kagyu followers can marry and live at home rather than in the temple.
They cultivate the land of the temple and take turns going to the temple to burn incense, chant, and pray. Their Buddhist canons act as guidelines for their everyday actions, andthe monks have a special status amongst the Sherpa people. They also revere spirits, believe in prediction by the stars, and it is common to perform divination before making major decisions.
When a loved one passed away a lama will first chant over them, which is then followed by a cremation or burial. Deceased adults are placed in a specially made wooden case and then are sent to be cremated. Two or three days after cremation, some of the ashes are strewn into rivers and the rest are covered with stones. When children pass away they are bundled into a fetus-shape and are then put it in caves or hollow trees. Over time, it will become lipocere.
