Although this was a geological trip, I was unable to
separate what I observed from the policies of the Chinese
government regarding Tibet. All impressions, interpretations, and
opinions are my own, not those of the institutions that sponsored
this field trip. I am sorry if they cause offense, but these
things must be said. ![[Ethnic Tibet]](Ethnic1.gif)
Our journey
traversed Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai Provinces of China in
addition to the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR). However, despite
these being provinces of China, the area visited was mostly
confined to "ethnic Tibet," a region that has historically had a
Tibetan population (map). Tibet was a major central Asian power
in the 7th through 10th centuries,
conquering the Chinese capital of Ch'ang-an (Xian) in 763. It
avoided incorporation into the Mongol empire in the
13th century by promising political loyalty and
religious teachings in exchange for Mongol protection. Tibet
retained an uneasy independence constantly pressed by the Chinese
until 1949, when the China began its present military occupation
of Tibet.
![[His Holiness the Dalai Lama]](DalaiLam.jpg)
Originally, Tibet
consisted three provinces: Kham, Amdo, and Ü-Tsang. However,
in 1959, Kham was incorporated into Sichuan, Yunnan, and Gansu,
and much of the province of Amdo was absorbed into Qinghai
province. The Tibetan Government in Exile, led by His Holiness
the Dalai Lama (photograph), does not recognize the Chinese
occupation of ethnic Tibet, but has worked to come to an
accomodation with the Communists. The Chinese have used torture,
execution, and deportation to decimate the Tibetan Buddhist
community. Many lamas, monks, and nuns fled to India and
reestablished their monasteries. There is a continuing flow of
Tibetan refugees into India.
Historical data and other information are available at the links below:
