'Gorba' Social Organization of Patriarchal Clan in Kham Kangding
Even today, there is a story spreading in Shanyan village: Shanyan's 45th progenitor had four brothers. One day, mud-rock flow devoured their village, so the four brothers had to escape in their own way. Mengribu, one of them, stranded to Shanyan and was entrenched here as his loot base.. Later, he founded Huoye-geba, means "big eagle". In Geba, whether you are rich or poor, under the sun ,"all Geba are one family".

Gorba means a group of fathers. Varied in size, all Gorba groups are equal and mind their own business. Also as an economic entity, Gorba may have dozens of households.

Only male can be the member of Geba. A boy of patrilineal lines, is a member since he was born. He has the right to take art in the meeting to make decisions for Geba and enjoys the public rights and obligations. He can advise whether have fight or peace talks with other groups of people, how to allot the captures, how to inherit the belongings of those families without man, etc.

Female hasn't the right to be the member of Geba. But they must fulfill their obligations for Geba: keep the secret and obey the decision.

The leader is not hereditary, but selected by all members according to his capability and experience. He must be eloquent, acting as the meeting preside .He hasn't any privileges. They adopt the minority subordinate to the majority.

With the increasing fights and enemies, men have to hide themselves at home and do some housewifery. So, they are always good at needlework and sewing. While staying at home, the drink and chat with friends. Women are engaged in farming, collecting firewood from hill, carrying water and other burdensome labor. Geba never kill woman in fighting and revenge, or, he will degrade himself and haze his repute.

Whoever can seize the most properties will be the most respectable man .All trophy/boot are divided equally. If you break the moral code, you will be punished heavily, even be sentenced to death.

Every year, all Geba members will gather together to swear their loyalty to their group. At this meeting, the elder will narrate the development history and jihad history of Geba, to continue their education on tradition.

The wedding is arranged by Geba. The most unique feature is two Gebas bicker each other on the wedding. They boast how extraordinary they are, and to show up the other side's fault. They try their best to praise the bridegroom's abilities in robing, killing, stealing. etc .They believe they are strong in this way.

Before the child comes out, the woman has to stay in the cattle stall till the child is born out .If a son, the family will kill a goat to celebrate; if a daughter, the woman will be vituperated.

They have sorts of buries such as water burial, celestial burial, cremation, tree burial and so on. They usually patter for the decedent in the coming 49 days. When a child aged under 13 dies, his/her body is buried in a wooden box hung in a tree.

Gaiyu had 89 Gorba groups in 1974. They were distributed in 22 economic accounting units. Each production team boasted four Gorba groups. Larger ones included eight or nine ones. A total of 841 households (with 3,370 people) or 75.08 percent of the total joined Gorba groups. In Shama, however, Gorba member households made up 98.8 percent of the total.

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