Under the Tibetan feudal serfdom, the land belonged to serf owners and the serfs were in servitude. The ruling class was composed of 3 groups of state holders, feudal officials, aristocrats and upper class lamas. They accounted for only five percent of Tibet's total population.
According to Old Tibetan law, Tibetans were divided into three categories, each was further divided into 3 classes. That meant a total of 9 classes. The value of a bottom class man was the mere price of a straw rope.
(CCTV.com April 7, 2008)
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