Research on the Difference of Marriage Customs between Tibetan and Han Ethnicities in the Litang Area along the Sichuan-Tibet Railway

Abstract

Promoted by the national Belt and Road Initiative and the Western development strategy, the Sichuan-Tibet railway, as an important transportation hub connecting Sichuan and Tibet, not only greatly promotes the development of the regional economy, but also provides opportunities for sustainable development of the cultures along the route. Although the tourism industry along the line shows a booming trend with culture and tourism integration that promotes economic development, the area also faces the challenge of ethnic and cultural differences. Therefore, this study aims to promote the interaction, communication, and integration of various ethnic groups along the line by reducing the friction that causes unnecessary conflicts. This study analyzes the cultural differences between Tibetan and Han marriages in Litang along the Sichuan-Tibet railway to put forward corresponding countermeasures that eliminate conflict from the cultural differences. The study found that there are significant differences between Tibetans and Han ethnicities in the Litang area in four aspects, namely, wedding ceremony, marriage custom, marriage concept, and wedding clothing. The three targeted countermeasures are proposed according to the results, which include establishing a cultural exchange platform, developing special cultural tourism products, and strengthening cultural education and dissemination.