The Tibetans of Burma: Mountaineers of Khang Karpo Peak

Tibetan remains the local language. Some residents speak Burmese, Kachin, or Zaiwa to communicate with other villages. Dahangdang Village is surrounded by mountains, and the Adonglang River flows through the valley (...) Around the Burmese pagoda flutter Tibetan prayer flags (...) Their sociable disposition facilitates their integration into this ancestral land. — Excerpt from "Khang Karpo Peak" by F.

My first knowledge of Burmese Tibetans came from an acquaintance of my father's, a trader in medicinal herbs and jewelry. According to his account, during May and June one could encounter these Burmese Tibetans, who had journeyed great distances for commerce, at Zayü County, now reachable through the Jitai trading point. The herbs they supplied were excellent in quality and sold at considerably reduced prices. Gely-Ozaki 1996, published in The Himalayan Journal.

Sherpas have received attention thanks to mountaineering. As for the Burmese Tibetans, a community residing in a remote and secluded area, my curiosity could at first be addressed only by scattered records. Over time, however, academia has shown increasing interest in this group; foreign scholars including P.C. Klieger and domestic researchers such as Yang Meng have conducted ongoing studies, providing us with deeper knowledge of the history and current situation of Burmese Tibetans.

Climbing was nothing new to Nima Gyentsen, who lived in northern Myanmar. The young man, described as "agile, goat-like," was never expected to make a major mark on mountaineering history, nor was anyone aware that the Burmese Tibetans he stood for would once again capture the world’s attention. In July 1995, the ten-member "Oizaki Family" expedition was the first to enter Khang Karpo Peak National Park in fifty-eight years. Filled with curiosity, Nima Gyentsen watched the foreigners whom his elder brothers had brought along.

Local folklore describes Khang Karpo Peak as a deity safeguarding the world, and the attempt to climb it was plainly an extremely hazardous venture. Upon learning of the plan to conquer the peak, the young Nima Gyentsen was quick to express his desire to take part, and Takazu Oizaki (1952–2011), the expedition's leader, accepted him. Weighing every factor, Oizaki then designated Nima Gyentsen as his main climbing companion for the journey. Although Nima lacked formal mountaineering training, he picked things up rapidly; "gifted, he soon mastered various techniques.

In the mountaineering report by F., the outcome of this climbing attempt was already indicated by the pressure weighing on Nima Gyentsen, the anxieties held by Oizaki's team, the severe weather, and the uncharted route. Moreover, from Myanmar's founding up until 1993, foreign entry into that region was strictly forbidden by the government, with the exception of official survey groups. Despite the mountain's non-aggressive nature, people's respect for it has never diminished.

It appears that the sacred peak, never before climbed by humans, both impeded and safeguarded the team, according to Gely-Ozaki, Takazu Oizaki's wife. Although they ultimately fell short of their objective, all members made it back unharmed. After returning to Dahangdang Village (ဒဟွန်းဒမ်း), they thanked the mountain and recounted their exciting experiences to the locals. A bonfire was lit on their last evening.

People were discussing their strategy in September 1996 at the foot of Khang Karpo Peak. A year later, they would make history. As is well known, Takazu Oizaki and Nima Gyentsen did not give up. Earlier, at the celebration, the Tibetans from Dahangdang Village had been joined by residents of other ethnicities from neighboring villages. Women wore traditional attire while singing and dancing, and children played together—including the two daughters of Takazu Oizaki and his wife.

Nima Gyentsen and Takazu Oizaki, unlike in the previous year, were now the team's pillars, and they would achieve the summit. The expedition was jointly organized by France, Japan, and Myanmar, with significant assistance from the Myanmar Himalaya Mountaineering Federation, which hoped this event would boost the association's international reputation.

At 3:12 PM on September 15, 1996, Takazu Oizaki of Japan and Nima Gyentsen, a Burmese Tibetan, stood on the summit at an elevation of 5,881 meters. As though recognizing their resolve, the sacred mountain had decided to 'turn a blind eye.' With broad smiles, the two raised the flags of the three countries. In international mountaineering circles and media reports, Nima Gyentsen and the Burmese Tibetans soon emerged as a focal point of discussion.

Following their accomplishment, this article, originally from SuolangWangqing's blog, was translated. Scholars and writers then gathered to observe these individuals from the hidden lands.