Tibet
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Map of Tibet showing the various political delimitations from pre-1911 to present (not definitive). Taken from www.tibetmap.org; click on map for larger version. |
Official Name: Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China |
Flag
The flag of Tibet, also known as the snow lion flag, was introduced in 1912 by the 13th Dalai Lama, who united the army flags of various provinces to design the present one. Since then, it served as the all-Tibet military flag until 1950. The flag continued to be used after the incorporation of Tibet into the People's Republic of China, although its status was unclear. Many in the Communist Party of China felt that the usage of the flag indicated separatism, but the Tibetan government at the time stressed that the flag was an army flag (the Tibetan army continued to exist parallel to People's Liberation Army infantries) and not a national flag. It remains the emblem of the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan government-in-exile headquartered in Dharamsala, India. As a symbol of the Tibetan independence movement, it is banned in the People's Republic of China, including the Tibet Autonomous Region which corresponds to the former area of control of the Tibetan government at Lhasa, as well as other areas in greater Tibet.
Tibet
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a vast, elevated plateau in that spans most of People's Republic of China's Tibet Autonomous Region and beyond. Well-deserving of the nicknames "Roof of the World" and "Land of Snow", this region is defined by one of the highest inhabited plateaus in the world. Tibet adjoins provinces of the People's Republic of China in the north and east (including the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Reigon) and such countries and regions as Myanmar, India, Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal in the south and west. The Himalayas run across the southern boundary of the plateau.
This region is the homeland of two relatively distinct groups: the Central Tibetans, historically a sedentary farming people whose population is primarly settled and is centered around the regional capital of Lhasa; and the Drokpa, who are traditionally tent-dwelling nomads. In addition to these two groups, the Tibetan plateau is home to a diverse range of peoples, including Menba, Lhoba, Mongols, and Hui, as well as Han Chinese. Much of the Tibetan population practices one of the major forms of Buddhism. Additionally, small communities of Muslims known as Kachee may be found in most Tibetan cities.
While the Tibetan economy is based largely on subsistence agriculture, there are growing handicraft and tourism industries, as well as a burgeoning mining industry. In 2006 the Qinghai-Tibet Railway was opened, linking Tibet with the main population centers of China by rail for the first time.
Information and maps above taken from Library of Congress Country Studies and the CIA World Fact Book. Unless otherwise specified, images sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Tibetan Internet Sources
This section contains convenient starting points for exploring web sites related to Tibet. To make this page easier to load and use, we generally have limited the list to those sites which contain substantial collections of links to information on these subjects. The views reflected on any web site linked below do not necessarily reflect the views of the Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center. We provide these links as a service to the public.
The Canada Tibet Committee site includes World Tibet Network News, a daily electronic news bulletin compiled from international news services.
Free Tibet Campaign campaigns for an end to the Chinese occupation of Tibet and for the Tibetans' fundamental human rights to be respected.
The Government of Tibet in Exile is maintained and updated by The Office of Tibet, the official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in London.
Great Outdoor Recreation Pages - Tibet at a Glance provides travel and adventure information and links to Tibet-related sites.
Human Rights Watch: China and Tibet discusses human rights developments and the international community's role.
Save Tibet is an international campaign for Tibet.
Lingnet's Internet Resource Database has a list of languages with numerous web links for each language on culture, news, reference and many others.
Tibetan Studies World Wide Web Virtual Library is maintained by Dr T. Matthew Ciolek, has a search engine and links to related sites by subject.
Tibet Awareness Site provides information on Tibetan culture and politics, as well as information on international campaigns and movements supporting Tibet's sovereignty. This site has not been updated since 2002.
Tibet Fund, founded in 1981, is the principal fund raising organization for the Tibetan people, established to help preserve and promote their unique cultural heritage.
The Tibet Justice Center (TJC), promotes human rights, environmental protection, and peaceful resolution of the situation in Tibet through legal action and education.
Tibet Online, operated by the international Tibet Support Group community, provides information on activities in support of Tibetan self-determination. Lists other related sites, as well.
University of Virgina: Tibet Resources is an archive of Buddhist symbols and information about the Tibetan Collection at the University of Virginia.
Tibet Study Association contains information on the culture, history and tourism. Includes a map of Tibet. The site has not been updated for several years.
The U.S. State Department Human Rights Report 2006: China discusses human rights issues in regions of China including, Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau.