Tibet, sometimes called the roof of the world or the land of snows, is often thought of as a mysterious, legendary, and fascinating land. Tibet is a land of amazing geography, religious people, and ancient tradition and culture.

  Tibet covers an area of 2.5 million square kilometers. It is located in the center of Asia. To its east are the Chinese provinces of Qinghai and Sichuan. It is bordered by Nepal to the southwest and by Xinjiang to the north. Tibet consists of a high plateau with the average altitude being as high as 5000 meters. At Tibet’s southern border is the Himalayan mountain range (the world’s highest). The main river in Tibet is the Tsangpo which flows east to west and becomes the Brahmaputra. Tibet has little rainfall and is usually cold.

  Tibet has a population of about six million Tibetans. The primary language is Tibetan. The official language, however, is Chinese. The majority of Tibetans live in the southern part of the country where they live as farmers. The southern valleys produce crops such as barley, wheat, and some vegetables. Tibetans are very independent people. The majority of Tibetans today are either farmers or nomads.

  The major religion in Tibet is Buddhism. This is practiced by 99% of the Tibetan population. Religion is a very important part of Tibetan society and culture. Mahayana Buddhism is the prominent form of Buddhism in Tibet. One principal feature of Mahayana Buddhism is the cultivation of Bodhisattva. Bodhisattva is the wisdom gained when one achieves nirvana. The religious leader is the Dalai Lama. Reincarnation is a big part in Tibetan monasticism and the use of spells and divination is common. When China occupied Tibet they outlawed Tibetan Buddhism. What has happened throughout China’s rule has often been called religious genocide.

  Early Tibetan history is not very well known. It is known that during the second century BC, Tibet was occupied by nomadic tribes. During the 7^th and 8^th centuries Tibet was a strong military empire developed by the King Songsten Gampo. It was during his reign that the first Tibetan alphabet was conceived. It was also in the 7^th century when Buddhism came to Tibet. There were struggles between Buddhism and Bonism until Buddhism fully established itself in the 11^th century. In 1578, the title of Dalai Lama was given to Sonam Gyatso, the third high priest of the Gelupka school. The fifth Dalai lama, Lobsang Gyatso, is responsible for the establishment of the Dalai Lama’s power as the leader. In 1950 the Chinese Army moved into eastern Tibet and took control of it. In 1959, the Tibetans revolted but the Chinese defeated them soundly. Nearly 100,000 Tibetans were killed and the Dalai Lama along with about 80,000 Tibetans fled to India. During the cultural revolution (1966-1976) Chinese troops swept through Tibet destroying monasteries. Even today, Tibet is still under Chinese control although they have achieved a few more freedoms.

 

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