Port Louis (People’s Daily) – China's Tibetan medicinal bathing on Wednesday was added on the list of UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

Photo: courtesy of UNESCO

The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which met in Port Louis, Mauritius, decided to inscribe Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa (Tibetan medicine), knowledge and practices concerning life, health and illness prevention and treatment among the Tibetan people in China, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Sonam Tsering, a Manpa (traditional physician), introducing to students the medicinal herbs for the Lum bathing recorded in the medical thangka of Gyud zhi (the Four Tantras)

The Lum Medicinal Bathing of Sowa Rigpa has been developed by the Tibetan people within a life view based on Jungwa-nga (five elements), i.e., Sa (earth), Chu (water), Me (fire), Lung (wind) and Namkha (space), and a view about health and illness based on Nyepa-sum (three dynamics), i.e., Lung, Tripa and Pekan. In Tibetan, “Lum” indicates the traditional knowledge and practices of bathing in natural hot springs, herbal water or steam to adjust the balance of mind and body, to ensure health and treat illnesses.