Moinba Ethnic Group
( 2005-10-27 )

In the Monyu area, they often build stones walls and slopingroofs covered by planks that are pressed with stone slabs. In their three-story houses, people often live on the second story and keep their grass and stalks upstairs and livestock downstairs.

The houses in the Metog area usually rise about one meter above the ground, and also have slanted roofs covered by banana leaves or planks pressed with slabs. All their buildings face east, because they believe a shining sun in the doorway symbolizes good luck and happiness.

Their diets also differ from place to place. Some eat corn and rice while others have buckwheat, wheat, and highland barley. They like to add pepper to their food. Most of their cookware are made of stones because they think food prepared in them is tastier.

The Moinbas' customs are strongly influenced by the Tibetans. For example, like Tibetans, they like to wear pulu clothes made of woven wool.

In Monyu, men often wear pulu robes or crimson-cloth robe. Women often wear multicolored pullovers under red or black coats made of pulu, and which are used to pad a piece of sheepskin or calfskin to the backs. They often wear stringed ornaments made ofred coral, agate, and other stones. They hang a metal box with Buddhist images or scriptures inside around the neck. It is called Ga'u meaning "blessing and fortune." Both men and women wear a two-meter-long, six-meter-wide red pulu belt round their waists.

In the Metog area, when it is warm, women like to wear thin white-colored little garments or vests to go with colored skirts. Matching all these with necklaces and earrings, they look very graceful.

The Moinbas are widely famous for their household handicraft industry. Their workmanship in making wooden bowls and weaving bamboo utensils is ever flourishing. To make wooden bowls, they have to first choose the right materials: roots of hard trees such as azalea trees, or trunks or knots of tung and birch trees. Then they have to cut, whittle, and scrape them into the shape of bowls. An exquisite wooden bowl can be produced only after five or six processes. Because these bowls are beautifully patterned, durable, and easy to carry, they are greatly treasured by Tibetans and Lhobas living nearby.