A Study of Tibetan Concepts of Purity and Waste Utilisation from an Ecological Anthropological Perspective

Existing studies mostly focus on waste management issues in modern societies, while offering little explanation regarding the disposal and utilization of waste within traditional societies. This paper adopts an ecological anthropological approach to examine how Tibetan notions of purity influence the disposal and reuse of waste. It finds that under the unique cultural background of Tibetan society and the ecological conditions of the Tibet Plateau, a rich and complex concept of purity has formed. This concept profoundly shapes local understandings and classifications of waste in daily life, constructing a long-standing system of resource reuse that plays an important role in promoting sustainable material utilization within the community. The Tibetan approach to waste disposal and reuse reveals an internal logic of ecological rationality that can be understood as a form of local environmental wisdom. It contributes positively to maintaining ecological balance and provides valuable insights for the modern management of rural household waste.