What’s the deal with Tibet??What’s the deal with Tibet??

OverviewOverview

HistoryHistory Current situation in TibetCurrent situation in Tibet Living in ExileLiving in Exile Why is this featuring at Limmud OzWhy is this featuring at Limmud Oz Tibetan Jewish Youth ExchangeTibetan Jewish Youth Exchange

Where is Tibet? (Ask China)Where is Tibet? (Ask China)

Tibet according to TibetansTibet according to Tibetans

The Golden AgeThe Golden Age

77thth Century – Songsten Gampo Century – Songsten Gampo Independent KingdomIndependent Kingdom Great military powerGreat military power Huge empire in Central AsiaHuge empire in Central Asia Promoted BuddhismPromoted Buddhism Tibetan bride, Nepalese Consort and Tibetan bride, Nepalese Consort and

then Chinese bride – Princess then Chinese bride – Princess Wencheng.Wencheng.

Next KingNext King

King Trisong Detsen (755-97)King Trisong Detsen (755-97) Tibetan army at peakTibetan army at peak Invaded China and several Central Invaded China and several Central

Asian countries.Asian countries. 763 – invaded Chinese capital 763 – invaded Chinese capital

(present day Xian)(present day Xian) Banished Chinese Buddhism from Banished Chinese Buddhism from

Tibet and established Indian form.Tibet and established Indian form.

What goes up must come downWhat goes up must come down

Warring princes, lords and generals Warring princes, lords and generals contending for the thronecontending for the throne

Dark period from 842 – 1247.Dark period from 842 – 1247.

Lest we forget the MongolsLest we forget the Mongols

Mongols invaded most of Asia and parts Mongols invaded most of Asia and parts of Europe, also reached Tibet.of Europe, also reached Tibet.

The ruling Khan converted to Buddhism The ruling Khan converted to Buddhism and invading force withdrew.and invading force withdrew.

A Khan gave recognition of full A Khan gave recognition of full sovereignty over three provinces in sovereignty over three provinces in Tibet. Tibet.

Different lineages ruled Tibet from Different lineages ruled Tibet from 1295 - 16951295 - 1695

Dalai Lama – The Ocean of Dalai Lama – The Ocean of WisdomWisdom

Sonam Gyatso, 1543 emerged as a Sonam Gyatso, 1543 emerged as a great scholar of spiritual wisdom.great scholar of spiritual wisdom.

Founded monasteries, Founded monasteries,

mediated between warringmediated between warring

factions in Tibet and factions in Tibet and

converted another converted another

Khan to Buddhism. Khan to Buddhism.

Priest-Patron relationshipPriest-Patron relationship

1642, 51642, 5thth Lama assumed spiritual and Lama assumed spiritual and temporal authority over Tibet.temporal authority over Tibet.

Established present system of Tibetan Established present system of Tibetan government.government.

Ming Emporer received Dalai Lama as Ming Emporer received Dalai Lama as an independent sovereign and as an an independent sovereign and as an equal.equal.

Dalai Lama influenced Mongols to Dalai Lama influenced Mongols to acknowledge Emperors sway in China.acknowledge Emperors sway in China.

All good things must come to an All good things must come to an end….again!end….again!

66thth Dalai Lama was an embarrassment Dalai Lama was an embarrassment – was not interested in state affairs – was not interested in state affairs and lead a frivolous life.and lead a frivolous life.

After his death (1705), civil war.After his death (1705), civil war. Struggle between various Mongols and Struggle between various Mongols and

Manchu dynasty as to who could Manchu dynasty as to who could exercise their influence over Tibet.exercise their influence over Tibet.

1720 – Manchus victorious.1720 – Manchus victorious.

Manchus in TibetManchus in Tibet

1723 - Troops left Tibet, some officials 1723 - Troops left Tibet, some officials left behind.left behind.

Kham and Amdo incorporated into Kham and Amdo incorporated into ChinaChina

1727 – Troops re-entered due to killing 1727 – Troops re-entered due to killing of Manchu nominee of Tibetan regent.of Manchu nominee of Tibetan regent.

1749 – Invasion of Tibet to increase 1749 – Invasion of Tibet to increase power of Manchu Resident.power of Manchu Resident.

1786 – Ghurkas (Nepal) invaded Tibet. 1786 – Ghurkas (Nepal) invaded Tibet. 1792 – Manchus army enters (again).1792 – Manchus army enters (again).

Our favourite Imperialists - the Our favourite Imperialists - the BritishBritish

Britain had close ties with China.Britain had close ties with China. 1876 – Sino-British convention.1876 – Sino-British convention. Russian contacts in 1900.Russian contacts in 1900. 1904 – British invaded Tibet.1904 – British invaded Tibet. Dalai Lama fled to Mongolia.Dalai Lama fled to Mongolia. China capitalised on the opportunity China capitalised on the opportunity

and interfered once again!and interfered once again!

1911-12 Chinese revolution1911-12 Chinese revolution

Manchus overthrown in ChinaManchus overthrown in China Tibetans overthrew Chinese and Tibetans overthrew Chinese and

expelled in 1912.expelled in 1912. Apology from Chinese PresidentApology from Chinese President Dalai Lama declared Tibet’s Dalai Lama declared Tibet’s

independenceindependence

The InvasionThe Invasion

1950 – China invaded East Tibet.1950 – China invaded East Tibet. May 1951 – Famous 17 point May 1951 – Famous 17 point

agreement.agreement. September 1951- 20 000 troops September 1951- 20 000 troops

entered Lhasa.entered Lhasa.

1951 - 591951 - 59

Tibetan government continued.Tibetan government continued. Liberating serfs was not a priorityLiberating serfs was not a priority 1955 – ‘Religion is poison’1955 – ‘Religion is poison’ Land reform implemented in Kham and Land reform implemented in Kham and

Amdo.Amdo. 1956 – unrest due to land reform.1956 – unrest due to land reform. 1959 – Lhasa uprising, 1959 – Lhasa uprising, Dalai Lama fleesDalai Lama flees 87 000 Tibetans killed87 000 Tibetans killed

Cultural revolution timeCultural revolution time

Secular education introducedSecular education introduced 6000 monasteries destroyed6000 monasteries destroyed Estimated 1.2 million died?Estimated 1.2 million died?

NegotiationsNegotiations

Early 1980’s with Deng Xiaoping – Early 1980’s with Deng Xiaoping – open invitation for Tibetan refugees open invitation for Tibetan refugees to return from exile.to return from exile.

1989 – Invitation to attend Panchen 1989 – Invitation to attend Panchen Lama’s funeral in Beijing.Lama’s funeral in Beijing.

Now – negotiations have receded.Now – negotiations have receded. Autonomy vs. IndependanceAutonomy vs. Independance

TodayToday

Most religious freedoms officially Most religious freedoms officially restoredrestored

Economic reform, but not politicalEconomic reform, but not political PRC claims improvements from PRC claims improvements from

Tibetan feudalism.Tibetan feudalism. Campaigning for improved human Campaigning for improved human

rightsrights

TodayToday

Demographic changeDemographic change Schooling systemSchooling system Chinese vs. Tibetan languageChinese vs. Tibetan language Cultural, religious and social subjects Cultural, religious and social subjects

at school.at school. ““patriotic re-education”patriotic re-education” UnemploymentUnemployment

Human RightsHuman Rights

Chinese say ‘improvements since 1950’s’Chinese say ‘improvements since 1950’s’ Currently 700 political prisonersCurrently 700 political prisoners Block of Human Rights OrganisationsBlock of Human Rights Organisations Kidnapping of Panchen LamaKidnapping of Panchen Lama Lack of:Lack of:

– Freedom of SpeechFreedom of Speech– Movement and travelMovement and travel– ExpressionExpression– AssemblyAssembly

Where is the Where is the GalutGalut??

India = 85 000India = 85 000 Nepal = 14 000Nepal = 14 000 USA & Canada = 7000USA & Canada = 7000 Bhutan = 1600Bhutan = 1600 Switzerland = 1540Switzerland = 1540 Taiwan = 1000Taiwan = 1000 Europe = 740Europe = 740 Oz and NZ = 220Oz and NZ = 220

Nationalism in ExileNationalism in Exile

LanguageLanguage FlagFlag AnthemAnthem ‘‘Tashi Delek’Tashi Delek’

DharamsalaDharamsala

Little LhasaLittle Lhasa Government in exileGovernment in exile Head of state – DLHead of state – DL Income – voluntary Income – voluntary

tax, business revenuetax, business revenue Indian Registration Indian Registration

CertificatesCertificates

Central Tibetan AdministrationCentral Tibetan Administration

Health services, cultural activities Health services, cultural activities and economic development projects.and economic development projects.

Tibetan Children’s VillagesTibetan Children’s Villages Welfare services for refugeesWelfare services for refugees 2001 – democratically elected PM2001 – democratically elected PM

RefugeesRefugees

1000 per year1000 per year Via NepalVia Nepal IllegallyIllegally

Arduous journeyArduous journey

Now, the Jewish ConnectionNow, the Jewish Connection

Destruction of Destruction of ReligionReligion

Threat to identityThreat to identity Living in ExileLiving in Exile Minority in home Minority in home

land?land? Greater Tibet? Greater Tibet?

Tibetan Jewish Youth ExchangeTibetan Jewish Youth Exchange

Aim: Strengthen identities of Jewish Aim: Strengthen identities of Jewish and Tibetan youthand Tibetan youth

Formed in 2000Formed in 2000 Jewish model of informal educationJewish model of informal education www.tjye.org.ukwww.tjye.org.uk

Longsho – ‘Rise Up’Longsho – ‘Rise Up’

Tibetan Jews?!!Tibetan Jews?!!

ChanichimChanichim

Israeli Friends of the Tibetan Israeli Friends of the Tibetan PeoplePeople

Museum expertiseMuseum expertise Child sponsorshipChild sponsorship Arava projectArava project International Tibet International Tibet

Support NetworkSupport Network http://http://

tibet.realcommercetibet.realcommerce.co.il/.co.il/eng_home.htmeng_home.htm

Thank youThank you