Tibet: The Former Center of Lamaism Now Part of China

Tibet — the "Roof of the World" — was the historic center of Lamaism (Tibetan Buddhism) before its incorporation into the People's Republic of China.

Historical Status

• 1913–1951: De facto independent (after Qing collapse), recognized by few states. Theocratic government under the Dalai Lama.
• 1951: Seventeen Point Agreement → PRC sovereignty, Tibetan autonomy promised.
• 1959: Failed uprising → Dalai Lama flees to India. Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) established 1965.

Geography & Significance

• Area: 1.22M km² (TAR) — 1/8 of China. Avg elevation 4,500 m.
• Capital: Lhasa (3,650 m) — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple.
• Religion: Tibetan Buddhism (Gelug, Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya). Monasteries: Sera, Drepung, Ganden, Tashilhunpo.
• Dalai Lama: 14th (Tenzin Gyatso) in exile since 1959. Spiritual leader; succession disputed.

Current Context

• PRC administers TAR + Tibetan areas in Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan.
• Demographics: ~3.6M Tibetans in China (2020); ~150K in exile.
• Issues: Religious freedom, cultural preservation, Han migration, resource extraction, self-immolations (protest).
• Tourism: Permits required for foreigners. Lhasa, Everest Base Camp (N side), Mount Kailash pilgrimage.

Tibet remains the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism — a civilization shaped by high-altitude adaptation, monastic scholarship, and a unique synthesis of Indian Buddhism, Bon, and indigenous culture — now navigating existence within a modern nation-state.