I remember reading Lowell Thomas's book Out of This World to Forbidden Tibet which came out in 1954. Even in the 1960s when I read it as a teenager, it was clear that the subtext was the Cold War. It wasn't about Tibet, it was about China and the US. The Dalai Lama was cast as a sympathetic figure because of his opposition to a common enemy. Tibet was a feudal theocracy back then, and even I, as a high school student, knew enough about feudalism and traditional agriculture to know that the book glossed over the realities.
Last year I was in Bhutan, and while I admired the traditional agriculture, the temples and so on, I was pleased to see electrical power lines running to out of the way farm hamlets and people threshing rice with a lawn mower like gas powered gizmo. On my way there, the airport line in Bangkok was full of Bhutanese stocking up on small electric appliances. Bhutan is a client state of India and has fewer pretensions than Tibet which may work in its favor.
Related and supporting the information here: See Michael Parenti's website article "Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth" (2007) http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html
Many Tibetologists are unable or unwilling to address issues of power and governance in traditional Tibetan society and culture, almost as though Tibetan Buddhism, as popularized by the Dalai Lama, obviates such analysis.
Thank you for the article, Miss Esha. I was just speaking with my father about Tibet and wondering why the West is very insistent on pushing independence for Tibet. I found it nonsensical as me and my family visited the place a few years ago, with the tour guide (a local Tibetan man) telling us how things are better and much accessible than it was. Your article certainly made sense to certain things. I even went to Weibo to check on things, and found this article about the percentage of serf and very clear pictures of them as well. I thought you might be interested in it.
First link basically explains that only less than 5% were serf owners while 95% were serfs for generations. Second link shows contrasts of 1950s vs current Tibet.
You might see many resistance against your piece, accusing you of spreading Chinese propaganda and yelling over any explanation you try to give. But know that there are people whose eyes you have opened, whose perspective you broadened today with this article.
Thank you for spreading the truth, or at the very least a less biased, rose tinted version of history.
This entire article and it’s references are strongly biased and one-sided. If you have no self respect, human values and ethics within yourself as well as to others then you can create false stores with every old pictures and clips you got. I know the Man in the video who praises China’s occupation of Tibet, because this is solely for his occupation. Standing for China is his Bread & Butter. You know what I saying? If one is rightful and give himself or herself freedom to explore and decide then, he or she will surely spit to China’s illegal occupation of Tibet.
I have read, can't remember where, that Tibet was an expansionist warrior state during an early warming period (Roman?). In particular, Tibetan warriors accoutered much like armored cavalry, ranged far afield to rule over an area much larger than the mountains which comprise Tibet today.
As always, history is written by the victors for their own benefit.
She reads some newspaper ad magazines and starts to describe the history of Tibet it this kind of a joke millions of people were killed by Chinese it is crystal clear in the history and if you want more proof in the modern world then what about the uighurs concentration camps why people of Uighur cannot have their basic fundamental rights why are CCP interfering someone else rights why are they always down to harm others there is a saying in Tibet « If you cannot help others atleast don’t harm them » and it is as simple as that I will be happy and proud if I could change ones perspective before girl like you starts to destroy
U idiot think before you write baseless accusations maybe none of your family is under CCP or else you would know what does suffer means people like you are sold bloody damn disgrace in the name of humanity Chinese have ruined millions life’s of people and you are one of them
You have talked a lot about the serfs and corvee labors as if it only happened in Tibet and have never happened to any part of the world. If we take a look back to most recent last two centuries, serfs were even more common to the entire western world. Even today you can see how China is forcing Xing-Jiang Muslims and Tibetans to the labor camps. Why CCP China is not giving free access to these news medias to cover the news and informations about these forceful labor camps. What you can say about this? Aren’t you taking aback in seeing these thing in 21st century? You still want to mute and fool yourself as if you you never knew or heard of it.
How can you justify that Tibet was not an independent country before 1959? Is this particular article a worthwhile enough to publish to show how Tibet was a part of China?
This whole " perspective" issue reminds me of an excerpt from "Contrary Notions" https://gyazo.com/d5202adf016970ec256e708cd34deafc
some people really need to review their own habit of calling anything they don't like as comnunist propaganda
Very interesting reading. It adds another view point to how we have glamorized the Dalai Lama and other Religious figures from around the planet.
I remember reading Lowell Thomas's book Out of This World to Forbidden Tibet which came out in 1954. Even in the 1960s when I read it as a teenager, it was clear that the subtext was the Cold War. It wasn't about Tibet, it was about China and the US. The Dalai Lama was cast as a sympathetic figure because of his opposition to a common enemy. Tibet was a feudal theocracy back then, and even I, as a high school student, knew enough about feudalism and traditional agriculture to know that the book glossed over the realities.
Last year I was in Bhutan, and while I admired the traditional agriculture, the temples and so on, I was pleased to see electrical power lines running to out of the way farm hamlets and people threshing rice with a lawn mower like gas powered gizmo. On my way there, the airport line in Bangkok was full of Bhutanese stocking up on small electric appliances. Bhutan is a client state of India and has fewer pretensions than Tibet which may work in its favor.
Related and supporting the information here: See Michael Parenti's website article "Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth" (2007) http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html
Many Tibetologists are unable or unwilling to address issues of power and governance in traditional Tibetan society and culture, almost as though Tibetan Buddhism, as popularized by the Dalai Lama, obviates such analysis.
Thank you for the article, Miss Esha. I was just speaking with my father about Tibet and wondering why the West is very insistent on pushing independence for Tibet. I found it nonsensical as me and my family visited the place a few years ago, with the tour guide (a local Tibetan man) telling us how things are better and much accessible than it was. Your article certainly made sense to certain things. I even went to Weibo to check on things, and found this article about the percentage of serf and very clear pictures of them as well. I thought you might be interested in it.
(Source: https://weibointl.api.weibo.cn/share/144829456.html?weibo_id=4487441274834223
https://weibointl.api.weibo.cn/share/144829521.html?weibo_id=4487462317004174)
First link basically explains that only less than 5% were serf owners while 95% were serfs for generations. Second link shows contrasts of 1950s vs current Tibet.
You might see many resistance against your piece, accusing you of spreading Chinese propaganda and yelling over any explanation you try to give. But know that there are people whose eyes you have opened, whose perspective you broadened today with this article.
Thank you for spreading the truth, or at the very least a less biased, rose tinted version of history.
mind blown... thank you!
Fascinating!! Many thanks!
Interesting read. Is there a source for the picture of the shackled serf in the stairs? Couldn't find a clear one via Google Image search
This entire article and it’s references are strongly biased and one-sided. If you have no self respect, human values and ethics within yourself as well as to others then you can create false stores with every old pictures and clips you got. I know the Man in the video who praises China’s occupation of Tibet, because this is solely for his occupation. Standing for China is his Bread & Butter. You know what I saying? If one is rightful and give himself or herself freedom to explore and decide then, he or she will surely spit to China’s illegal occupation of Tibet.
This is total propaganda trash, intended to justify the Chinese ongoing genocide of the Tibetans! Sad to see it paraded here still, after 70 years!
I have read, can't remember where, that Tibet was an expansionist warrior state during an early warming period (Roman?). In particular, Tibetan warriors accoutered much like armored cavalry, ranged far afield to rule over an area much larger than the mountains which comprise Tibet today.
As always, history is written by the victors for their own benefit.
She reads some newspaper ad magazines and starts to describe the history of Tibet it this kind of a joke millions of people were killed by Chinese it is crystal clear in the history and if you want more proof in the modern world then what about the uighurs concentration camps why people of Uighur cannot have their basic fundamental rights why are CCP interfering someone else rights why are they always down to harm others there is a saying in Tibet « If you cannot help others atleast don’t harm them » and it is as simple as that I will be happy and proud if I could change ones perspective before girl like you starts to destroy
U idiot think before you write baseless accusations maybe none of your family is under CCP or else you would know what does suffer means people like you are sold bloody damn disgrace in the name of humanity Chinese have ruined millions life’s of people and you are one of them
You have talked a lot about the serfs and corvee labors as if it only happened in Tibet and have never happened to any part of the world. If we take a look back to most recent last two centuries, serfs were even more common to the entire western world. Even today you can see how China is forcing Xing-Jiang Muslims and Tibetans to the labor camps. Why CCP China is not giving free access to these news medias to cover the news and informations about these forceful labor camps. What you can say about this? Aren’t you taking aback in seeing these thing in 21st century? You still want to mute and fool yourself as if you you never knew or heard of it.
How can you justify that Tibet was not an independent country before 1959? Is this particular article a worthwhile enough to publish to show how Tibet was a part of China?