kham

Kham, also spelled Khams, is a historical and cultural region of eastern Tibet. It was traditionally considered one of the three major Tibetan regions, alongside Ü-Tsang in the center and Amdo to the northeast.

Geographically, the historic Kham area covers parts of present-day eastern Tibet and adjacent Chinese provinces. In contemporary terms, it overlaps with areas in Sichuan province (notably the Garze, or Ganzi, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture), as well as portions of Qinghai and the Tibet Autonomous Region. The region is characterized by a high-altitude Tibetan plateau landscape, with deep valleys, mountains, and extensive grasslands. The population is predominantly Tibetan, and Khams Tibetan is the principal dialect spoken in many communities. Culturally, Kham maintains distinctive musical, sartorial, and religious traditions that share much with broader Tibetan Buddhism while also exhibiting local variations.

Historically, Kham was organized as a mosaic of local polities and chieftaincies that interacted with broader Tibetan empires and later imperial powers. In the modern era, the area was incorporated into the Chinese state and is today administered across several prefectures and autonomous prefectures, with Garze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan serving as a central reference point for the historic region.

Notable features of Kham include its religious and educational centers, such as Larung Gar in Sertar County, one of the world's largest Tibetan Buddhist institutes. The region is also known for its rugged highland scenery and diverse Tibetan cultural heritage.