Overview of Tibet History

The name of Tibet was confirmed officially in Qing Dynasty. Tibet has been called as other names before, such as Tu Bo called in Tang – Song Dynasties, Wu Sizang called in Ming Dynasty, the Tsang called in early Qing Dynasty and named Tibet later. After the establishment of People's Republic of China, the name of Tibet has been changed into Tibet Autonomous Region.

China is a united multi-ethnic country which contains Tibet Autonomous Reign. Before the record of BC, Tibet people have already contacted with Han People (people of Han nationality) a lot. After years, numbers of tribes gradually unified together becoming the Tibetan nationality that known by us now.

Overview of Tibet History - Tu Bo Dynasty

In the early 7 century AD, Chinese history developed into a new stage. During the year of 618 – 907 of Tang Dynasty, China has unified the Zhongyuan area (in ancient China, Zhongyuan area originates from Qinghai Province and Ningxia Autonomous Region in west and to the sea of east, north to Liaoning province and south to Nanling Mountain) ending the war. At the same time, the hero of Tibetan Songtsen Gampo unified all of the tribes in the Tibet area and established the State of Tu Bo; the capital is Luo Suo (Lhasa City). During the period of reign of Songtsen Gampo, he successfully married the Princess Wencheng in 641 AD (princess Wencheng was the granddaughter of Emperor Taizong's of Tang Dynasty). When princess Wencheng moved into Tibet, she took a statue of Sakyamuni and many Chinese books, and introduced some advanced production techniques such as Chinese medicine, calendared predictions, spinning and weaving, paper making, milling and so one. In the meanwhile, Songtsen Gampo sent some students to go to Chang'an (Xi'an City) to learn poems and characters. Thus, during this time, Tibetan contacted with Han people with culture, economy and polity etc, establishing the kindred between them.

In 710 AD, the Princess Jincheng of Tang Dynasty married with the emperor Chidai Zhudan (Mes-ag-tshoms, the 36th emperor) of Tu Bo, introducing the brocade, technology and some classic books, even the Buddhist Scriptures. During the year of 822-823, the officials of the State of Tu Bo entered into an alliance with the officials of Tang Dynasty at Lahsa city. This meeting has been called "Changqing League", for the year of Changqing of Tang Dynasty. There are three pieces of steles of "Alliance between Tang and Tu Bo Dynasties.

Overview of Tibet History - Separate Regime in Tibet Region

In 842 AD, the State of Tu Bo divided into some parts of power because of the internal strife. The split situation has been sustained for over 400 years.

Overview of Tibet History - Unified Tibet in China in the Middle 13th Century

At the beginning of 13th century, the leader of Mongolian nationality established the State of Mongolia and determined the "Yuan Dynasty" as the title of current dynasty (as the name of China, such as Tang Dynasty or Ming Dynasty). Later in 1279, the State of Mongolia has unified Tibet into China area. From now on, Tibet has become an administrative division of China. In the years of 1268, 1287 and 1334, the central government of Yuan Dynasty has recorded the population of Tibet area and built a road to Dadu (Beijing in current day).

In 1354, the clique of "Phagdru Kagyu" by the leader Xiangqu Quzan founded a local authority combining politics and religion. In the year of 1368 of Ming Dynasty, the central government conferred the powerful tribes the titles of "Wang" "Fa Wang" "Guanding National Master" etc. The emperor of central government confirmed the successor of the throne. In the meanwhile, the Gelug (a name of a clique) spread quickly in Tibet including the living Buddha of Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama. The third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso has sent large numbers of goods to central government of Ming Dynasty.

In 1644, the Qing Dynasty replaced the Ming Dynasty, Tibet area has got more strict governance. Tibet has become more institutionalised and impartial. In 1653, the emperor Shunzhi of Qing Dynasty confirmed the fifth Dalai the title of "Dalai Lama" and deigned large numbers of goods. In 1713, the emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty bestowed the fifth Panchen Living Buddha Lobsang Yeshe the name of Panchen Erdeni, and confirmed the title of "Panchen Lama". From then on, Dalai Lama controlled most area of Tibet and Panchen Erdeni controlled the other region of Tibet.

In 1793, the central government of Qing Dynasty published a famous constitution to manage the officials in Tibet and the successor of Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama, military defense fiscal levy foreign diplomacy etc. This constitution has been used for more than 100 years.

Since 1911, China history goes into revolution stage, but Tibet is still managed by Chinese Government. Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama are becoming more and more legal in politics and religion, deigning by China central government.

In 1949, The People's Republic of China has been founded. Chinese central government adopted the proper policy of "Peaceful Liberation" according to Tibet history and current situation. In 1951, May 23rd, Chinese central government signed an agreement of "Seventeen Agreement" with local government representative of Tibet helping to liberate Tibet. According to the agreement, Chinese government managed all foreign affairs for Tibet.

In 1954, Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdeni took part in the first China National People's Congress in Beijing together. Dalai Lama has been elected as the National People's Congress vice chairman, Panchen Lama has been elected as the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

After years of steady development, Tibet Autonomous Region has been formally established in September 1965.