Tibet,
a rich and beautiful land, is located at the main part of
Qinghai-Tibet plateau, south-west frontier of China, situates
between 26°50´– 36°53´ minutes north latitude and 78°25´ –
99°06´east longitude with an average altitude over 4,000 m.
above sea level. Tibet possesses more than fifty peaks above
7,000 m. among which eleven are over 8,000 m. Tibet borders
with Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai and Xinjiang; to the south to
India, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Burma, and bounded by Kashmir
on the west. The Tibet Autonomous Region with a population
of two million, mainly Tibetans, and an area 1.2 million sq.
km. Tibet is rich in natural resources and owns a vast expanse
of landforms. People living on this land have been creating
a glorious culture since ancient times. There has a long history;
majestic mountains and rivers, regular customs and habit,
wonderful natural landscapes with monks clad in robes and
yellow hats are seen everywhere. If you were to set foot on
this virgin land, to follow the steps of pilgrims dating from
ancient times, to visit the great temples and monasteries,
to enjoy the unique culture, to have sips of water from those
limpid rivers and lakes, to sight the different customs and
to trek around those mighty snow clad peaks, you would surely
be intoxicated with their wonders.
BRIEF HISTORY OF TIBET
Inhabitants were in existence in Tibet since the latter part
of the Paleolithic Age which is considered as the opening
curtain of the Tibetan history. By the Neolithic Age these
inhabitants had scattered to a wider range of circle whose
result had gradually led to Tibetan race of the present generation.
In the 7th century a famous Tibetan King named Songtsen Gampo
united the whole of Tibet and established the Tubo Dynasty.
In the 7th and 8th centuries respectively two princesses from
the Tang Dynasty had married Tibetan kings, as a consequence
the two peoples, the Hans and Tibetans, became closer in relationship
and further exchanges took place within political and economical
affairs between the Tubo and the Tang dynasties which gave
creation to a beneficial condition for the development of
the Tubo society. Tibet fell into a decentralization period
for over three hundred years since the fall of the Tubo Dynasty
caused by inner revolt of the common people. During this period
the Tubo society took a change over from the slave society
to the feudal society. In the mid 13th century Tibet became
subject to the Yuan Dynasty, whose central administration,
passed the power to the Sakya for the over lordship of Tibet.
In the latter part of the Yuan Dynasty, the Sakya's rule over
Tibet tottered and the Kagyupa Sect overtook the power and
established Pagdu Dynasty. At the end of the Ming Dynasty
and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the 5th Dalai Lama
by the help of the Mongolian prince, Gorshi Khan, became the
ruler of Tibet and established the Ganden Podrang administration
which was recognized by the Qing central administration. The
Central Administration of China, the Qing Dynasty, gave the
over lordship of Tibet to the 5th Dalai Lama and established
its representative in Lhasa called "Amban" to supervise
political affairs of Tibet in order to strengthen its control
over Tibet. After 1911 Revolution the Republic of China established
a working office in Lhasa to exercise its management over
Tibet. In May 1951 concerning the method of liberation of
Tibet, the 17-Point Agreement, was signed between the Central
People's Government of China and the Local Government of Tibet
which opened a new historical page over Tibet.
RELIGION IN TIBET
Buddhism, with a history of some 1,300 years since
its penetration into Tibet, has shaped a unique form “Lamaism”.
Tibetan history, culture and religion are mixed together
and infiltrated on every aspect of social life. Tibetan
religious arts have distinctive style with adoption of Indian
and Chinese Buddhist influence, thus forming itself a pearl
of oriental Buddhist art in Chinese Buddhism. Tibetan architecture
is rich in shapes, sumptuous and full of noble aspiration.
The Potala Palace is built in the top of the hill and penetrates
its dome into the sky. It’s the king of the Tibetan architectural
structures. These architectural buildings include wonderful
sculptures, carvings, murals, “thangkas” and skilled butter
sculptures, and a vast accumulation of historical monuments,
which form a kind of religious art, which developed into
school of Tibetan tradition.
ETHNIC COMMUNITIES AND CUSTOMS
IN TIBET
People living on the Tibetan plateau, such as Tibetans,
Monpas, Lhopas and Moslems, have their own ways of living,
marriage, burial or other ceremonies. Tibetan calls themselves
“Bodpas”. They have a total population of 3.4 million among
which 2.2 million are the Autonomous Region. Tibetan mainly
engages in agriculture, husbandry and handicrafts. Tsampa
( barley flour), beef, mutton, butter tea and barley beer
are the main food and drinks. As for clothing, Tibetans
wear cloaks made of woolen fabrics or lambskins. They love
ornaments and woman wear striped aprons. Nomads and people
living in the remote areas depend upon their transportation
on yaks, donkeys, horses and yak skin boats. Their marriage
system mainly consists of monogamy. Tibetans don't have
surnames. Their name consists of four or two syllables chiefly
adopted meanings from Buddhist ideas. Festivals in Tibet
are in variety among which the grandest being the Tibetan
New Year, followed by others such as “Wangkor” Festival
and horse races. For the dead, sky burial, water burial,
cremation and stupa burial. Are in practice, but the sky
burial is the most popular of them all.
SCIENCE AND CULTURE IN TIBET
Along with the development of Tibetan history,
Tibetans have created a unique science and culture of their
own, which are important formations of the whole Chinese
culture. The voluminous and magnificent historical documents,
and cultural relics, humanist and folk literature presently
in existence are the fruit of labor and wisdom of the Tibetans,
also a treasure of the ancient Chinese civilization. Great
volumes of sculptures such as “Kagyur” (Translation of Commandments).
“Tengyur” (Translation of Commentaries). “Four Tibetan Medical
Trantras”. “The Happy Feast of Sages”. “Biography of Bhuton”
and “Biography of Milarepa” have been translated into many
languages.
Science and culture in Tibet include technology, medicine,
grammar, logic, Buddhist philosophy, rhetoric, words and
expressions, syntax, drama and astrology. Tibet is known
as the sea of songs and dances; folk songs and dances are
various in style, especially during the “Shoton” Festival
in August each year, everywhere is a scene of jubilation.
RELIGIOUS ATTRACTIONS
Yumbu Lagang:
Situated in Nedong county of Lhoka Prefecture, Yumbu Lagang
is said to be the first palace in Tibetan history and built
in the second century B.C. The palace, facing west, stands
lofty on the top of a hill. Statues of the Three Periods
of Buddha, Tibetan kings Nyatri Tsenpo, Lha Tho-Tho-Ri Nyantsen,
Tri Palpachen, Songtsen Gampo and Trisong Detsen are enshrined
in the palace.
Jokhang Temple:
Situated in the center of the old section of Lhasa, Jokhang
Temple was built in the mid-7th century A.D. and later extended
by successive rulers, it has now become a gigantic architectural
complex. Located in the east, facing to the west, it is
a four storeyed temple with splendid golden roofs. It has
architectural feature of Tang Dynasty and also assimilated
very much features from both Nepalese nd Buddhist temples.
The murals in the temple mainly depict the life stories
of historic characters. The temple houses many historical
relics since Tang Dynasty and statues of King Songtsen Gampo,
Princess Wencheng, Princess Bhrikuti Devi. "Princess
Willow" (a tree), and "The Uncle-Nephew Alliance
Tablet" can be seen that the front gate of the temple.
Drepung
Monastery:
Situated 5 Kms. distance to the western suburb of Lhasa
at the foot of Mt. Ganpoi Uze. Drepung Monastery was founded
in 1416 by Jamyang Choje, a disciple of Tsongkapa, the founder
of Gelukpa Sect. The monastery, occupying an area of 250,000
square metres with a fixed number of 7,700 monks, is the
largest monastery in Tibet. The monastery keeps plentiful
historical relics, Buddhist scriptures, arts and crafts.
Palcho Monastery:
Located in Gyantse town and founded jointly by Kedup Je
of the Gelukpa Sect and Rapten Kunsang of the Sakyapa Sect
in 1418. Palcho Monastery has a special influence over Tibet's
Buddhism owing to its being a unity of three different sects,
the Gelugpa, the Sakyapa and Bhuton Sect, in one single
monastery. The famous Kumbum pagoda stands nine storeys
with its 108 doors and 77 chapels containing clay sculptures
and various murals. The pagoda is said to have 100,000 images,
either sculptured or painted, this also earns its name to
"100,000-Image Pagoda".
Shalu Monastery:
Located within the Shalu village, Shalu Monastery was built
in the year 1,000 by Jetsun Sherab Jungne. The architecture
of the monastery with a feature of completely Chinese Yuan
Dynasty's temple, it is a rare and unique work of art, mixed
feature of Tibetan and Han. The monastery enshrines various
relics such as religious objects, Buddhist scriptures written
on "pattra" leaves, and an important decree of
Pagpa, the Saskya abbot.
Tashilhunpo Monastery:
It is the biggest Gelugpa monastery in the Tsang
region of Tibet. It is located in the town of Shigatse and
was founded by Gedun Drup, a disciple of Tsongkapa, the
founder of the Gelugpa Sect. gedun Drup was later recognized
as the first Dalai Lama. It was formerly built in 1447 and
continuously expanded by the successive Panchen Lamas. The
Ngagpa College (Tantric College), one of its four monastic
colleges, was the residence of the Panchen Lamas. The most
amazing image in this monastery is the statue of the giant
Maitreya (Future Buddha) erected by the 9th PAnchen Lama
in 1914, and took four years for its establishment. This
giant statue stands twenty six metres in height and 275kg
of solid gold, great quantity of precious things such as
pearls, turquoises, corals and ambers have absolved for
its construction. The 4th Panchen Lama's funeral stupa was
built in 1662 and it stands eleven metres high and is covered
with solid gold and silver.
TOPS IN THE WORLD
Qomolangma
Peak (Mt. Everest):
Qomolangma meaning "Goddess" in Tibetan,
is the highest mountain on earth with an altitude of 8848
metres/29025 feet. Mount Qomolangma, known to the western
world as Mt. Everest, stands at south of Tingri county in
southern Tibet, on the border of the central Himalayas,
between China and Nepal, capped with accumulated eternal
snow. The optimum weather on Mount Qumolongma is from April
to June, a golden period for mountaineers. Each year, a
great number brave robust mountaineers come from all over
the world to tour and climb Mount Qomolangma, hoping to
fulfil a life-long wish by climbing and looking out from
the world's highest peak.
Potala Palace:
The Potala, one of the most famous architectural
works of our nation, is erected on top of 
the
Red Hill in Lhasa. The word "Potala" comes from
Sanskrit. In the 7th century, after the Tibetan King Songtsen
Gampo's marriage with Princess Wengcheng of the Tang Court,
the Palace was built for meditation. In the mid-17th century,
it was rebuilt by the 5th Dalai Lama to its present size,
and ever since it became the Winter Palace of the Dalai
Lamas. The construction took fifty years from its beginning
to completion. The Potala is divided into two sections,
namely, the Red Palace and White Palace. The total height
of the Potala is 117 metres which is built in thirteen storeys,
the length of the Palace from east to west has 400 metres
and the breadth from south to north has 350 metres. The
whole building is a structure of stone and timber. The top-most
flat glistens with golden roofs. It is a majestic architectural
work and the cream of Tibetan culture and complex of Tibetan
and Han culture.
