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Some informations about Tibet

There is no history of Tibet, but two stories. Or rather, two versions of the same events: the Tibetan and Chinese, two profoundly different ways to decline the smallest facts. It is difficult in such a situation to remain objective. Ecartelé between a Tibetan people who have lost their right to self-determination but also committed strategic errors, and a Chinese government invoking sometimes, in the midst of so many others, arguments based on a reality that we Tibet do not suspected.

The beginning of a disagreement

According to Tibetan history, the first king of Tibet ruled in 127 BC. This is only the seventh century AD that Tibet was unified under King Songtsen Gampo (617-650), from the dynasty of Yarlung. Songtsen Gampo is also important in the history of Tibet was that the Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor in Chinese history. It was under his reign qu'émergea a Tibetan plain.

To give bases to this new state, Songtsen Gampo worked on three fronts: the introduction of legislation, the creation of a system of written language and the provision of a new religion, Buddhism. At the legislative level, Songtsen Gampo is at the origin of the first pieces of legislation Tibetan. These texts were codified by his descendants and gradually formed the structure of the Tibetan state. To equip the Tibetan language of a writing system, He instructed his minister Tumi Sangota to find an alphabet adapted to the Tibetan sounds. Tumi Sangota left for India where he returned with the Sanskrit alphabet still in use. At spiritual finally, at one of its conquests in the direction of India, Songtsen Gampo discovered Buddhism, he decided to introduce Tibet. So during his reign as the religion of Buddha made its entry into the highlands.

Songtsen Gampo was a great strategist and a respected military leader. The Tibetan military conquests were many, and whether the king of Tibet was the unifier of his people, he also created strong ties with neighboring countries, especially Nepal and China. In 634, Songtsen Gampo sent an embassy to the court of the Tang (618-907), mistress dynasty of China. The embassy was aimed to conclude an alliance between Tibet and China through a marriage between Songtsen Gampo and a princess of the Tang court. It is indeed through marriage that the king Tibetan number of forged alliances: he had two wives Tibetan and Nepalese wife. Despite their misgivings, Tang yielded and 641 Princess Wencheng Chinese arrived in Lhasa, ending many years of warlike confrontations in the border areas between the two countries.

But these conflicts s'apaisèrent a time. The son of Songtsen Gampo were fearsome warriors who held for several centuries, between 750 and 1000, numerous caves and strategic oasis on the Silk Road, commercial artery then the largest in Asia. In 755 Trisong Detsen, descendant of Songtsen Gampo, ascended to the throne. His reign marked the climax of military power Tibetan riders highlands invading Chinese capital Chang An in 763, and at the same time the growth of Buddhism in Tibet, Trisong Detsen declarant 783 this religion to religion 'status in Tibet. It brought many Indian wise to translate Buddhist canons and different schools of thought then flourished in the highlands. They said about that time that there were so many in Tibet lamas than valleys.

But the death of Trisong Detsen, the unity of Tibet was put undermined by fierce wars against Ouighours, neighbor and ally of Tibet to China. The successor to Trisong Detsen, Tridé Songtsen (800-817), undertook to sign the first peace agreements between Tibet and China. These agreements effectively formed in 821 under the reign of his son, Trisug Detsen (817-838), the signing of a peace treaty, which took effect in 823. The treaty was intended to demarcate the borders and to proclaim respect for the territorial integrity of each. Its text was engraved in the Tibetan and Chinese languages on three pillars, one located in Lhasa, the second file before the Chinese imperial residence in Chang An, and the third built in the Sino-Tibetan border. At the end the text of the treaty, it was stated: "The Tibetans in Tibet will be happy and will be happy Chinese in China." But the Chinese, although they accept that such a monument today have existed, does not recognize the existence of this peace treaty. And when they mention the inscriptions on the pillars, they obviously do not have the same meaning: "The uncle and nephew are mutually agreed that their countries are one, they seal a treaty high union that will be eternal and will witness the gods and mortals and will always be highly appreciated by future generations. "

Clearly, this treaty marks the beginning of a disagreement between Chinese and Tibetans. According to the Chinese, it is proof that the bonds of unity existed between the two countries, but for Tibetans, these links were commercial and economic, religion and their alphabet are bringing more than India China.

In 842, the death of Trisug Detsen marked the fragmentation of the Tibetan kingdom in countless principalities enemy, and the end of its supremacy in the region. The rise of Buddhism in its monastic jeopardized by the political situation deteriorates and the lack of stability, stopped in central Tibet. But it was maintained in northeastern Tibet, in the province of Amdo. In the same province a few years later, monks came regain lost teaching for relocating in central Tibet. This relocation is what we call in the future the "second" dissemination of Buddhism in Tibet.

The Mongolian influence in Tibet

The story became more complicated at the beginning of the thirteenth century, with the Mongolian domination in Asia. Genghis Khan (1167-1227), Mongolian warlord formidable left to the conquest of Asia. In 1206, he came to power in Mongolia, and in 1233, six years after his death, the Mongol horsemen troops took possession of Kaifeng, the capital of the Jin Dynasty of China (936-1234). At the same time, assaulted the Mongols Tibetan border were increasingly violent and Tibetans, but to their spiritual development and disarmed, could not cope. That is why in 1240, Sakya Pandita, head of the Buddhist school of Sakyapa then very powerful, went to the court of Prince Mongolian Godan allegiance to him and put Tibet under its military authority. In 1271, Qubilai Khan, a descendant of Genghis Khan, founded the dynasty of China Yuan (1271-1368). According to the Chinese, Khan then gave control of Tibet in the Yuan, then highlands an administrative region of China. This version has obviously always been challenged by Tibet which declares that Tibet and China were two separate entities within the Mongolian Empire. Qubilai Khan, regarded as the protector of religions within his empire, became not only the protector of Buddhism but also a disciple of the Tibetan lamas.

It is very important to understand the report, which came into being at that time between the Tibetan spiritual leaders and the heads of Mongolian warriors and political because it is one of the keys to the interpretation of Tibetan history. This report is known Chöyön, expressing the relationship between religious and benefactor, spiritual master and protector time. This relationship, which strongly unites the Mongols Tibetans (to the point where Altan Khan, the great Mongolian conqueror, was the one who gave the title of Dalai Lama to the leaders of the Buddhist school then very powerful Gelukpa) was unfortunately victim of history , leaving little by little spiritual inspiration for not become a relationship to vassal lord.

The period of Mongol domination over China and Tibet is extremely important. Historians of the Chinese Communist Party will also trace the origin of Chinese rule over Tibet. This is according to them under the Yuan Dynasty and the Mongol influence that Tibet was part of China. In the White Paper of the Chinese government on Tibet, it is said that the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) inherited the last of the Yuan dynasty right to rule over Tibet. But Tibetans argue that there is no historical evidence proving the authority of the Ming on Tibet. On the contrary, "they wrote, relationships relâchèrent quickly under this dynasty, the Ming giving less interest in Tibet and its spiritual master, the Dalai Lama.

The Manchu domination

Under the Qing that the relationship between Tibet and China will radicalisa. In the sixteenth century, the decadent empire Ming was the object of threats mandchous. In 1634, Hung Taiji defeated the last Mongolian Khan, finally pushing the people to the North and marking the fall of the Ming dynasty. Or the Mongols did s'avouèrent not defeated, and the Manchu emperor Kangxi was even forced to seek the assistance of the Dalai Lama, holder of a strong authority over the Mongols, so that they cease their murderous raids at the borders.

Despite this cooperation, the Manchu tried to consolidate their power in Tibet and their troops entered several times in the highlands. In 1793, the Manchu in Lhasa sent a contingent of cadres of the imperial administration (ambans) with the task of organizing the then Tibetan administration headed by the Kashag (Cabinet of Ministers) and Kalons (ministers). Views differ on the role of ambans. According to Beijing they "guided" the Kashag and had decision-making powers very extensive, Kalons, Tibetan ministers, to submit to their orders. In addition, they managed external affairs of Tibet and had a duty to endorse the choice of reincarnations of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama. They are now considered by the Chinese authorities as proof of Chinese sovereignty over Tibet. But the current Dalai Lama supports another version which says that the ambans were only there to inform the Qing of the situation in Tibet and supervise Chinese garrisons to keep the Mongolian troops at a distance. They never played any role in the activities and decisions of the Kashag, "he says. Some researchers now believe that Tibet was under the Manchu dynasty, a Chinese protectorate wave, but the Tibetan officials continued to govern their country with their own laws and their own leaders.

With the end of the Manchu dynasty, China disintegrated. The empire was in decline, torn between many rivalries lordly putting the country burst into flames. From that moment, the power of China on Tibet was more than symbolic. Or Tibet commit at this time a mistake that had serious consequences. Happy to be released vague Chinese, it did not unaware of the new regional threat represented by the colonial powers such as Britain, and does not prepared to combat them.

The Tibet issue in international struggles

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Tibet was the challenge of rivalry between China, Russia and England. The British, then present in India, saw in the highlands an outlet trading even more attractive it opened a route to China. They made several attempts to approach the Tibetans with them and sign a trade agreement, but they remained silent. The British found in China then another interlocutor with whom they signed in 1876 accords were Chefoo. These agreements, which allowed England to open five new ports in China, did not a priori Tibet. But at the end of the text was written a paragraph stating that the China issue in Britain passports to enter Tibet. By signing this agreement, the British were the first to endorse an authority of China on Tibet. When they learned of its existence, Tibetans held agreements Chefoo to be invalid, but without actually taking aware of the importance of their role in the region and especially its demands that the geographical position submitted. Two other agreements were signed between Britain and China, in which the British continued to recognize China's sovereignty over Tibet. The first was signed in Calcutta in 1890 and aimed to establish the borders between Tibet and Sikkim, and the second, called Tibet Trade Regulation, was signed three years later, allowing the British to install a commercial agent and southern Tibet to export of Indian tea and other goods in Tibet.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, beyond his desires of Commerce, England began to fear the growing influence of the Russians in the region. Lest Tibet falls into their hands, the British took the lead in 1904, their troops, conducted by Sir Younghusband, came on August 3 in the capital city of Tibet. The thirteenth Dalai Lama Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933) ran into Mongolia. Tibet launched several appeals for help to the Qing court, but they remained silent, perhaps because of the troubles they knew at the time. But today, the Chinese Communist historians admit that it was a mistake to China in defending "his" territory!

On September 7, 1904, authorities Tibétaines were forced to sign an agreement with the British, called "Convention of Lhasa." In the agreement, Tibet's commitment to seek permission from Britain before signing any agreement with a foreign power. If this was an obvious loss of independence, the fact that this agreement has been signed bilaterally with Britain is now one of the main pillars on which to base Tibet to demonstrate its independence increased.

As soon as she knew the existence of this agreement, China denounced the maneuvers British: "The English should not conclude a treaty with Tibet, because such an agreement flies to China's suzerainty" (Tibet dead or alive, Pierre - Antoine Donnet). To calm the anger of China, Britain found a compromise by the signing, on April 27, 1907 of a Sino-British agreement in which mention was made of the right of China to preserve the territorial integrity of Tibet. Although the Tibetan authorities immediately declared void this clause, the vise is resserrait on their country. Indeed, in August the same year was Anglo signed a treaty that recognized the one China suzerainty over Tibet, and urged the two signatory countries not to violate the territorial integrity of Tibet nor to interfere in its external affairs . This treaty to cut short any possible source of conflict between Russia and China but rather undermined the independence of Tibet by giving a seat to impulses of China. In 1908, troops of the Chinese General Zhao Erfang invaded eastern Tibet. Two years later, despite the intercessions the thirteenth Dalai Lama income expressly Mongolia, Zhao Erfang entered Lhasa. This incursion of the Chinese army in Tibet marked a turning point in relations between Beijing and Lhasa. Shipments earlier Chinese troops responded to a need for external protection of Lhasa. They were "invited" by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government. But this time, the emperor of the Qing tried to establish by force the authority in Tibet. He did not, however, time to settle permanently in Tibetan areas since the Qing empire collapsed under the blows of the Chinese Revolution in 1911, barely a year later. The Dalai Lama returned to Lhasa then moved from where it broke all ties with his country Beijing. He sent all foreign residents and the three thousand men of the Chinese army on the ground Tibetan and proclaimed the independence of Tibet. But little accustomed to diplomatic and political maneuvers modern, and despite the signing of agreements with other powers, Tibetan leaders did not explicitly recognize the independence of their countries through third countries, as did, for example Mongolia . This was the most serious mistake committed by the government of Tibet, and that would have terrible repercussions.

Tibet and the Republic of China

To avoid a new incursion and China develop its external aid Tibet with its neighbors signed a series of treaties and agreements such as the "Treaty of Friendship and Alliance" signed with Mongolia on January 11, 1913. That same year, Tibet was clothed attributes of an independent nation, putting into circulation its own currency, its own stamps posts, and making its flag fly in Lhasa.

But a flag is not enough for the independence of a nation. Today Tibet base its claims on the various bilateral agreements that we have seen previously, but the most important element that can now prove his independence is the Simla Conference, which began in India in 1913. This tripartite conference joining Britain, Tibet and China on the issue of the borders between the three countries (India was then a British colony). The boundaries Tibetan was recognized at this conference by the British plenipotentiary Henry MacMahon and China, for its part, undertook to respect the full autonomy of Tibet, which, however, it retained a "suzerainty". There was therefore no question of sovereignty, and the text was signed by the three parties on April 27, 1914. But the next day the Chinese authorities rejected the agreement, say they still null and void. The borders at this conference have been until now a source of conflict, first between China and Tibet, and after the invasion of Tibet and its integration with China, between Beijing and New Delhi. This conflict even degenerated into open war between the two Asian giants in 1962, Tibet did playing the role of état-tampon.

Notes: I thank Paul Ribes who helped me to better understand the history of Tibet and its interactions, many with Chinese history.


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