TIBET/XIZANGImprove your knowledge…

Aurélien AvignonBenoit Vanmoer

What do you know about it?

Superlative TibetGeographyDemographyHistoryPoliticsEconomic viewCultural particularitiesA controversial issue

Superlative Tibet

World's highest mountain?oMount Qomolangma (ཇོ� ་མོ� ་གླང་མོ)oMount EverestoMount Sagarmatha (सगरमा�था�)oMount Shèngmǔ Fēng ( 圣母峰 )

All ! 8840m

3,679 ascents, by 2,436 individuals… and 210 deaths

Superlative Tibet

Highest altitude monastery ?Rongbo Monastery 5100m

Mount Everest

Monastery and Pagoda

Superlative Tibet

World's longest epic poem: King Gesar

120 volumes, more than 1 million verses, over 20 million words

Geography

EVERESTLhassa

Tibet Autonomous Region

Belgium

Geography

Superficy : 2.5 billion m² ( 84x Belgium)Borders : India, Nepal, ButhanRegion capital : Lhassa

GeographyA Star of China

Ouïghurs

Hans

Mongols

Mandchous

Tibetans

Demography

Population of Tibet Autonomous Region

2,616,000 inhabitants

93% of Tibetans

6% of Hans

1% other (Mongols…)

Demography

Tibetan, one of the 55 Chinese ethnic minorities

Demography

Bilingual education in Tibet?

1950-1957 : Bilingual education1958-1977 : Chinese-monopolistic language policy1978-present : Back to bilingual education, also at an high level

History

127 B.C. 846 A.D. 1260 A.D.

Songtsen Gampo (6l7-698 A.D.)Golden AgeMarried Princess Wencheng (introduction of Buddhism)Introduction of Tibetan writing

Empire

645

History

World 820 A.D

History

127 B.C. 846 A.D. 1260 A.D.

UpriseBuddhism persecutionDivision into several kingdoms

Empire846

History

World 1200

846

HistoryGhengis Khan conquests

History

127 B.C. 846 A.D. 1260 A.D.

Conquest by KhansAppointement of Sakya Pandita Viceroy of TibetVassal state of Mongols Tibet spiritual influence><Mongol military influence

Empire1260

History

1368 1644 1912

First Dalai Lama1391

1385First Panchen Lama

1839-1901Opium Wars

1645Potala

History

1368 1644 1912 1950

English expedition from India to TibetExecution of remaining Sino-Mongol protection forces~12,000 killedForced to pay compensations & to trade with England1904

A friendly theocratic Serfdom?

Aristocrats in Lhassa

The Three rulling categories Aristocrat house

A friendly theocratic Serfdom?

Serfs harvesting barley in the burning sun

Serf with eyes gouged by owners

Hands cut by serf ownersBeg with shackles

Instrument of torture

History

1368 1644 1912 1950

10th Panchen Lama => ask for liberationMao Zedong => People's Liberation ArmyLocal government & Dalai Lama => against May 1951 agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet

1950

History

1368 1644 1912 1950

Rebellion led by Dalai Lama, and former privileged class (Indian and English influense, CIA Weapons)

Reaction of Central Government for unityDalai Lama and former privileged class => exile to India

1959

History

1368 1644 1912 1950

Creation of Tibet Autonomous RegionNgabo Ngawang as Governor

cabinet member under the Dalai Lamacommander of the Tibetan army in 1950

1965

Nowadays

PoliticsAutonomous Region Government

~95% of participationEmancipated serfs and slavesIlliterate (beans)30% of women95% of Tibetan

Exiled Government in IndiaBased on former aristocratic societyOnly men, former serfs non-eligible until 1991

Economic view

2006 GDP : 29 Billion Yuan (2.9Billion €)Major sectors:

Subsistence agricultureTourism

2.5billion yuan invested each year by Chinese Government

Cultural aspects

ReligionsBön => ancient Buddhism

Tibetan BuddhismDalai & Panchen Lama

Islam (Sunni)From Kashmir, Kabul &Samarkand

Mosque in Lhassa

Cultural aspects

Tibetain artPainting => Architecture => Adapted to the environmentMusic => ReligiousOrigami?

Thangka MandalasThangka Mandalas

A controversial issueChinese view

Linked historyVassal state since 1360Live improvmentRight of self-determination assuredEconomical developmentSaved from Monks and Aristocrats dictatorshipCultural protectionProblems created by English, nourrished by the U.S.

A controversial issueA problem nourrished by the U.S.?

THE CIA ACTIVITY REPORT 1964-1968-”political action, propaganda, and paramilitary activity”-”support subsidy to the Dalai Lama's entourage at Dharmsala, India”

Total--$ 1,735,000/year

“ Educational program for 20 selected junior Tibetan officers-- $ 45,000”“Expenses of covert training site in Colorado--$ 400,000”

http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/vol_xxx/337_343.html

A controversial issue

“The purpose of the program at this stage is to keep the political concept of an autonomous Tibet alive within Tibet and among foreign nations”…

http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/vol_xxx/337_343.html

A controversial issue

About misinformation

A controversial issue

About misinformation

"Our conflict with the Dalai clique is not an ethnic problem, not a religious problem, nor a human rights problem. It is a problem either to safeguard national unification or to split the motherland," Hu Jintao 胡胡胡

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China

A controversial issue

Exiled Government view:• Historical point of view• No freedom of speaking• No freedom of religion• No freedom of Government• Invasion by the Han

Thanks for your attention