Tibet’s true demographic and sovereign reach spreads far into the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai, Yunnan and Gansu. These photographs, however, were all taken over two visits to the "Tibetan Autonomous Region" in 1993 and 1995. I did see quite a lot, and realised that Tibet is much more than the arid moonscape I had imagined. The rugged eastern regions especially change abruptly after each mountain pass. You can set off in a place where nothing seems to thrive but rocks, to soon find yourself surrounded by a lively mosaic of tended fields, dense forest and scattered timber houses.
I had daydreamed about going to Tibet since I was a child. Stories of the breathtaking beauty of the land, and of the unrestrained friendliness of the Tibetans only piqued this interest. Truth is I was otherwise fairly ignorant about the place beforehand. I don’t speak any Tibetan and not too much more Chinese. So I remain a bit perplexed by much of what I saw.
I was very moved by the simplicity of the Tibetans. They have a way of looking you in the eye - and a warm smile - you don’t forget. Their lives are very tough. Yet I was constantly struck by their unfailing good humour, patient endurance, and devotion to their faith.
Much to the chagrin of the Chinese authorities – who have occupied Tibet since 1950 - religion still figures in every aspect of Tibetan life. It is a land of pilgrims and unshakeable spiritualism. In this sense only the last fifty years of direct and frequently repressive intervention by China has had little effect. In every other Tibet has been transformed, mostly with disastrous results for the Tibetan people. At least 3000 political prisoners have been detained since 1987 - the most famous being the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. He has not been seen since shortly after his recognition, then only four years old, by the Dalai Lama in 1995. China, of course, installed it’s own infant in his place. Meanwhile Tibetans are largely excluded from the great economic achievements claimed by China. They have become an underclass, forced to watch powerlessly as Tibet’s vast natural resources are exploited by a foreign regime.
"Liberation" by the Peoples Republic of China has brought great suffering and loss for many innocent people. Over generations the world has mutely witnessed a tremendous diaspora of Tibetan exiles to refuge settlements in adjacent countries. I don’t intend to go on about that here: the true nature of the Chinese conquest of Tibet is better documented elsewhere (I hope you will be inspired to look at the sites on my links page afterwards). Although I am convinced that recent history simply proves that Tibet is not morally a part of China, these pictures aren’t directly about that. I hope they do convey a sense of the tremendous sympathy and respect I have for these wonderfully kind-hearted people.
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scaryjohn@ozemail.com.au