Tibet
Tibet
(tɨˈbɛt/;
Tibetan:
བོད་, Wylie:
Bod, [pʰø̀ʔ];
simplified
Chinese: 藏区;
traditional
Chinese: 藏區;
pinyin: Zàngqū;
Mongolian:
Tuvd,
also Tsast
meaning Snowy)
is a plateau
region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas,
in the People's
Republic of China. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan
people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas,
Qiang, and
Lhobas, and is now
also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han
and Hui people.
Tibet is the highest region on Earth, with an average elevation of
4,900 metres (16,000 ft).
Tibet emerged in the 7th century as a unified
empire, but it soon divided into a variety of territories. The
bulk of western and central Tibet (Ü-Tsang)
was often at least nominally unified under a series of Tibetan
governments in Lhasa,
Shigatse, or
nearby locations; these governments were at various times under
Mongol and Chinese overlordship. The eastern regions of Kham
and Amdo often
maintained a more decentralized indigenous political structure, being
divided among a number of small principalities and tribal groups,
while also often falling more directly under Chinese rule; most of
this area was eventually incorporated into the Chinese provinces of
Sichuan and
Qinghai. The
current
borders of Tibet were generally established in the 18th century.
Following the
collapse of the Qing
dynasty in 1912, Qing soldiers were disarmed and escorted out of
Tibet
Area (Ü-Tsang). The region subsequently declared its
independence
in 1913, without recognition by the following Chinese
Republican government. Later Lhasa took control of the western
part of Xikang
Province, China. The region maintained its autonomy until 1951
when, following the Invasion
of Tibet, Tibet became unified into the People's
Republic of China, and the previous Tibetan government was
abolished in 1959 after a failed uprising. Today, the P.R. China
governs western and central Tibet as the Tibet
Autonomous Region; while eastern areas are mostly within Sichuan,
Qinghai and other
neighbouring provinces, as ethnic
autonomous prefectures. There are tensions
regarding Tibet's political status and dissident groups which are
active in exile. It is also said that Tibetan activists in Tibet have
been arrested or tortured.
The economy of Tibet is dominated by subsistence
agriculture, though tourism has become a growing industry in
Tibet in recent decades. The dominant religion in Tibet is Tibetan
Buddhism, in addition there is Bön
which was the indigenous religion of Tibet before the arrival of
Buddhism in the 7th century CE (Bön is now similar to Tibetan
Buddhism) though there are also Muslim
and Christian minorities. Tibetan Buddhism is a primary influence on
the art,
music, and
festivals
of the region. Tibetan architecture reflects Chinese
and Indian
influences. Staple foods in Tibet are roasted barley,
yak meat, and butter
tea.
