Tibet: History, Culture, and Religion

Dive into the many facets of Tibet and learn why this ancient land is not the “Shangri-la” so often portrayed in the West. Neither is it a mystical place full of happy, meditating monks and carefree nomads, nor an odd jumble of spiritualism mixed with pseudo-psychology. This is your introduction to the real Tibet—a complex intersection of multifaceted geopolitical concerns.

China annexed Tibet in 1951, and has designated it the Tibet Autonomous Region since 1965. From the Chinese government’s perspective, the region is semi-autonomous but by no means independent. Look deeper into the many negotiations between the Dalai Lama, as the Tibetan leader, and China, and why the Dalai Lama finally felt he had no choice but to lead his government in exile.

Learn about the history of the Gelug tradition, which started in 1359 with a drop of blood from the umbilical cord of a monk named Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa. Discover how Tsongkhapa went on to become the first of about 100 leaders of the Gelug sect, and why the New Kadampa Tradition opposes the traditions of the current Dalai Lama.

Discover the creation story of the Tibetan people—probably one of the earliest creation stories to include a pre-Darwinian idea of evolution. Learn about the ancient texts in the Magao Caves at Dunhuang. These texts remain untranslated and undeciphered, sealed off for unknown reasons since the 11th century. What could these texts reveal about the early Tibetan dynasties?

Learn about the Tibetan Epic of Gesar, considered to be the longest piece of literature in the world, at an estimated one million lines. In 2009, the Epic of Gesar was added to UNESCO’S Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. You’ll also discover the trickster Aku Tonpa, another popular folklore character, many of whose lessons can be compared to Buddhist ethics.

The Tibetan language did not exist in standard written form until the 7 century when King Songtsen Gampo directed its creation so he could better give orders. Learn how his admiration of Indian scholasticism paved the way for the translation of Indian Buddhist texts into Tibetan, allowing for the spread of Buddhism throughout the land and the role that Chinese Buddhists played.