Tibet
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Tibet, also called The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibetan: བོད་ ; Wylie: Bod-rang-skyong-ljongs; Simplified Chinese: 西藏自治区; Traditional Chinese: 西藏自治區; Pinyin: Xīzàng Zìzhìqū, literally: "western depository" coming from the Chinese name for Ü-Tsang (simplified Chinese: 卫藏; traditional Chinese: 衛藏; pinyin: Wèizàng)), is a province-level autonomous region of the People's Republic of China (PRC). It's capital region is Lhasa.
Tibet's religion is Buddhism. Their traditions make it a place of fascination to other countries. The local monks are sometimes said to have special, superhuman abilities.[1] Whether or not this is true, the writings of Tibetan monks are sometimes shared with outsiders, and are lauded for their insight. The Tibetan Book of the Dead contains rituals for the dead and dying, similar to the Catholic Last Rites rituals.[2]
The religious leader of Tibet's Buddhists is called the Dalai Lama. He was the ruler of Tibet before he was forced to leave the country when the Chinese army took over. The Dalai Lama presently lives in exile in India, but often visits other countries.
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[change] Tibet becomes part of China
Tibet was independent until the 1950s (although no countries recognised it).[3] Officially Tibet was part of China since the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty.
[change] Influence outside Tibet
Tibetan culture also influences other regions nearby, such as Nepal, Bhutan, parts of eastern Kashmir and some regions in India, most notably Sikkim, Uttaranchal and Tawang . China claims part of the Indian province of Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet.
[change] Unrest
There has been some protests in Tibet since China took control in the 1950s.[4] Most of them have been because of social or economic problems. Some of them have been because there are people who believe Tibet should not be a part of China. A railway line, the Qingzang railway, has been built, linking China to Lhasa. Also, rising prices of food, and difficult access to higher education have angered many people.[5] The railway line also raised fears about more migration.[6] This situation has led to some violence against people from outside Tibet. Some of this violence occurs outside Tibet.[7] When it comes to assigning government posts in Tibet, more Chinese seem to be assigned, and fewer Tibetans.[8] The Chinese Government claims that if Tibet became independent again, its economy would suffer.
[change] Other pages
[change] References
- ↑ Journal of Religion and Film
- ↑ The Tibetan Book of the Dead
- ↑ "China becomes Red" by Claude Arpi
- ↑ Tibetan Resistance by the Khampa Guerillas
- ↑ Savetibet.org - The International Campaign for Tibet
- ↑ Train heads for Tibet, carrying fears of change
- ↑ "Ethnic unrest continues in China, International Herald Tribune, April 8,2008". http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/04/asia/04china2.php.
- ↑ Personnel Changes in Lhasa Reveal Preference for Chinese Over Tibetans, Says TIN Report
[change] Other websites
