Tracing the Newārī Cultural Heritage of the Tsum Valley

Abstract

This research paper documents the cultural heritages associated with Newārī art and architecture that exist in the Tsum Valley. This article plans to trace out the tangible heritages reflected in an art and architectural forms, as well as local belief and values with such tangible forms that living in the Tsumbā community. This art form shows the cultural linkage between the Newār of Nepālamandala and the Tsumbā of Tsum valley. This study also presents the expansion of Newārī art, culture and oral traditions, and explores historical accounts highlighting the direct and indirect presence of Newārs from Nepālamandala in the Tsum Valley in different purposes, remarkably as artists and traders. A key objective of this paper is to document and preserve the endangered oral tradition related to the Newā, many of which are gradually disappearing from the Tsumbā community. Furthermore, the study emphasizes that the richness of Tsum Valley in Buddhist cultural heritage underscores the significant contribution of Newār artists and traders for the enrichment that has still insufficient studies. The findings of this paper are expected to serve as a valuable reference for the future scholars and to encourage further studies in similar Himalayan Buddhist communities of different regions.