Local Perspectives of Sacred Landscapes and Tourism: Exploring the Linkages in Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park, Nepal

sacred landscape;tourism;Nepal;Sherpa;Mt. Everest;indigenous spiritual values;cultural geography

Mu, Yang

University of Waterloo

关键词: sacred landscape;    tourism;    Nepal;    Sherpa;    Mt. Everest;    indigenous spiritual values;    cultural geography;   

Others  :  https://uwspace.uwaterloo.ca/bitstream/10012/10088/4/Mu_Yang.pdf

瑞士|英语

来源: UWSPACE Waterloo Institutional Repository

【 摘 要 】

Many cultures around the world attach sacred values to natural and cultural sites. Althoughdifferent cultures interpret the word ;;sacred” differently, sacred places generally reveal strictbehavioural restrictions, a sense of separateness (Hubert, 1997), as well as strongemotion-oriented and place-bound characteristics (Levi & Kocher, 2013). However, theconcept of sacred landscape appears to be a vague one, and is not fully examined in existingliterature. As many sacred places turn into popular tourist destinations, the environmental,economic and social implications of tourism to such destinations require deeperunderstandings of tourism’s role in reshaping spiritual values and reproducing localperceptions of the ;;sacred”.This study examines local residents’ objective recognition and subjective interpretations of asacred landscape, and how these are influenced by tourism development. The Sagarmatha(Mt. Everest) National Park (SNP) in Nepal’s Khumbu Region was selected as the case studyarea. The region is perceived as a sacred beyul (hidden valley) by local Buddhist Sherpas, andhas undergone tremendous environmental, economic and social changes brought by trekkingtourism. This study is exploratory in nature, and is based on author’s field observation and 33in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with Sherpa residents during fall 2014.Study findings indicate that Sherpa residents’ objective recognition of sacred landscape areinfluenced by geographical proximity to sacred sites, age of residents, and their religiousbackground. Subjective interpretations of sacred landscape are shaped by a strong awarenessof the behavioural restrictions, family influence, as well as personal experiences. Sherpas’emotional and spiritual bonds with the landscape are reinforced through routinized contactwith the sacred cultural features, and consistent compliance with the rules of conduct atsacred sites. Through everyday practices, Sherpas unconsciously remind themselves about thespiritual values and religious beliefs embedded in the landscape. Sherpas are activelyengaged in activities such as religious festivals which promote their cultural identity andspirits. Tourism’s influence on local spiritual values is evident and reflected in three aspects:changes in mountain deity worship; shift in human-land relationship; and, alterations ofreligious routines and practices. Tourism development has made beyul Khumbu a hybrid anddynamic place, where traditional spiritual values and religious practices exist simultaneouslywith increased commercialization and modernization due to tourism. Although Sherpas stillregard Khumbu as a sacred place and are actively focused on retaining the essentialcomponents of Sherpa spiritual values and cultural identity, the religious influence of beyul isslowly declining as people’s life drift away from the land, and interests shift to materialconsumption.This research aims to make contributions to the existing literature on landscape studies andcultural geography by examining local residents’ perceptions toward multiple aspects of asacred landscape under changing social and economic contexts. Also, exploring the changingindigenous spiritual values and religious beliefs will help developing more sustainable andeffective management policies in cultural and environmental conservation.