Interview with an Amchi


Collection Information

Part of
Digital Archive of Cultural Heritage (view collection record)

General Information

Title:
Interview with an Amchi
Created:
2018
Language:
Ladakhi
Physical Description:
1 audio file
Form/Genre:

Content

Summary:
Amchi Phuntsog Tonyot is an amchi or traditional medicinal healer, as well as a farmer. He is a native of Tsazar, a village in Zanskar valley.
In the interview he explains how he had learnt the art of being an amchi from his father. He talks about the volumes of medicinal texts (six volumes according to him) that an aspiring amchi has to become familiar with before he can start to practice. He himself inherited his volumes from his father, who had brought them from Tibet. He also tells about the changes taking place in the village and how they are influencing the work of amchis, whose importance is fast diminishing with the introduction of Western-style medicine. Another radical innovation is the ‘amchi’s pharmacy’ (men-tse-khang), where amchis like Amchi Tsazar now buy their own medicines, instead of collecting special herbs in the mountainsides and making the medicines themselves.

Context

Note:
This item is available in the <a href="https://catalog.osaarchivum.org/catalog/osa:9ae46fc1-6fcf-48ab-9ce8-3bd609ab29de" target='_new'>Digital Repository</a>.
Source:
HU OSA 437-1-20 Oral Tradition of Zanskar (HU OSA 437-1-20)
Associated Names:
Part of Series:
HU OSA 437-1-20 Oral Tradition of Zanskar

Coverage

Additional Places:

Access and Use

Rights Statement:
Rights Reserved - Free Access
Archival ID:
HU OSA 437-1-20:3/1
Suggested Citation:
"Interview with an Amchi", 2018. HU OSA 437-1-20:3/1; HU OSA 437-1-20 Oral Tradition of Zanskar; Open Society Archives at Central European University, Budapest.
Permanent URI:
http://hdl.handle.net/10891/osa:9ae46fc1-6fcf-48ab-9ce8-3bd609ab29de
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