We start with a hypothetical family consisting of a father, mother, three sons, and three daughters'

1
Sama The Normative Household Development Cycle
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We start with a hypothetical family consisting of
a father, mother, three sons, and three
daughters. The following slides document the
normative household development cycle. Bear in
mind this is a hypothetical example. In reality
there is much variation in long-term household
processes. Very often the eldest daughter is
ordained as a nun at an early age, often before
many of her siblings are born. She does not
reside in a convent (there is no convent in
Sama), but remains at home with her parents.
2
Kathmandu
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According to cultural convention all sons in the
family inherit equal proportions of their
fathers estate. One way to avoid the excessive
partitioning of their assets is for parents to
ordain a son (usually the middle one) to be a
monk. These days he does not reside at home or
in a local temple. Rather, he is sent to one of
the monasteries founded by Tibetan exiles in
Kathmandu or India where his education is
subsidized by donations from foreign patrons (see
Chapter 4).
3
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Kathmandu
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The eldest son in the family marries and brings
his bride home.
They all reside together until the birth of the
new couples first child, an event that signals
the time for them to establish an independent
household.
4
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Kathmandu
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The two younger daughters marry in succession and
exit the household to reside with their husbands
families. Henceforth they no longer belong to
their natal household, and will therefore no
longer be shown here.
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Kathmandu
Pema Chöling
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The youngest son marries and brings his bride
home.
The birth of their first child signals the final
partitioning of the household.
The son inherits the house, and the parents move
to a retirement residence on gomba grounds. They
are accompanied by their nun-daughter (now in her
30s or 40s) who cares for them until death. She
then inherits the gomba home.
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Parents Eldest Sister
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Kathmandu
Pema Chöling
Middle Brother
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Eldest Brother
Youngest Brother
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End result The eldest and youngest sons reside
in independent households (unless they married
polyandrouslyanother option to prevent
partitioning of assets). The middle son resides
as a monk in Kathmandu. He is removed from the
inheritance equation, but sends remittances to
the family. The eldest daughter, a nun, becomes
a caretaker for her aging parents at their gomba
retirement home. She inherits that home after
they pass away, and her brothers (or their
children) inherit it after she passes away. The
two younger sisters reside with their husbands.