Compared to the dark and backward feudal serfdom age, traditional Tibetan culture has been effectively inherited in Tibet and other Tibetan-inhabited areas, and modern education has been developing fast in the past 50 years, according to Tibetologists in northwest China's Gansu Province.

Reality has shown that Tibetan culture did not extinct. Instead, it has prospered as a bright pearl in the treasure house of the Chinese and world culture. Therefore, the claim of some "Tibet Independence" cliques and anti-China forces that Tibetan culture has been "eliminated" and "assimilated" can not hold water. 　

 
Dainzin of the Tibetan ethnic group attends class of the Tibetan language at No. 1 Primary School in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, in this undated photo.(Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)

The Tibetologists made these remarks following the release of the White Paper titled "Fifty Years of Democratic Reform in Tibet" by China's Information Office of the State Council on Monday.

The paper indicates that before 1959, serfs and slaves, who accounted for over 95 percent of the total population in Tibet, had no means of production or personal freedom. Moreover, receiving education was considered a priority under the monopoly of monasteries and nobles. Ordinary people had no opportunity to receive education.

He Feng, president of Qinghai University for Nationalities who has been studying for a long time Tibetan society, history, culture and education, said that in terms of the development of Tibetan culture and education in Tibet and other Tibetan-inhabited areas throughout China, Tibetan culture has never been "eradicated" or "assimilated." On the contrary, it has been well protected and developed.

"Nowadays, receiving education is not a priority in Tibetan-inhabited areas any more, but a right of everyone."

 
Working staff members of the Tibetan language frequency of China National Radio (CNR) takes group photo after a press conference in Beijing, China, on Feb. 28, 2009.  (Xinhua Photo)

 

"Facts in the past 50 years demonstrate that Tibetan culture has achieved new development on the basis of inheriting its tradition and persevering Tibetan characteristics," he said. "

He went on to say, "The development has not only thoroughly changed the situation in which a handful of feudal serf owners and senior religious figures monopolized Tibetan culture, but also made Tibetan people the principal part of inheriting, developing and sharing Tibetan culture."

Qinghai Province is the second largest Tibetan-inhabited area, next only to Tibet Autonomous Region. To make the compulsory education universal among Tibetan kids, almost all Tibetan autonomous prefectures in Qinghai have made the nine-year compulsory education universal, featuring both Han and Tibetan teaching. Textbooks are also written in Tibetan. Meanwhile, making the compulsory education universal is a top priority for local governments, which shows the Central Government's concern for Tibetan children's education.

 
An ethnic Tibetan monk walks in front of a giant "thangka", a sacred painting on cloth, to be displayed on a hill outside a monastery in Tongren, northwest China's Qinghai province Monday, Feb. 2, 2009. (Photo: China Daily)

"This is more obvious in Tibet. All primary schools in rural and pastoral areas in Tibet conduct both Han and Tibetan teaching. Moreover, while guaranteeing Tibetan's right to receive higher education, the Central Government also designed Tibetan test papers for the national college entrance examination. Tibetan examinees can be enrolled with lower scores compared to those in other parts of China. Universities also provide preparatory education. All these measures are designed to enable more Tibetan students to enjoy the right to higher education."

He took Qinghai University for Nationalities for another example. As a university training ethnic professionals especially Tibetan ones, it opened the first major of Tibetan Language and Literature after its founding in 1949. The Tibetan Department is the first one in China specializing in the Tibetan language and literature teaching and research. While speeding up training Tibetan teachers or experts, it also invites religious figures like living Buddhas and eminent monks to give lectures.

Moreover, some courses like mathematics, physics and history are also taught in both Han and Tibetan to meet the needs of Tibetan students. The university also introduced courses that are taught only in Tibetan with Tibetan textbooks, for instance, Tibetan language and culture, Tibetan logics, science of religion and historical documents.

"From primary schools to postgraduate universities, the preferential policy formulated by the government has fully guaranteed the right of all Tibetans to receive education. This can be seen by all As long as Tibetan students want to study, they will not encounter any obstacles," said He.

"Looking from the cultural aspect, Qinghai University for Nationalities has witnessed China's emphasis on Tibetan culture since the democratic reform was launched 50 years ago," added the president.

For example, published in 1989 was a book titled "Collections of Tibetan Literary Works in all Ages" by the 10th Panchen. It is a collection of the excellent literary works by Tibetans in previous times and contains investigation and annotation to some of the works. It is the first collection of literary works published along with the development of Tibetan culture. The course on the Tibetan classical literary by Qinghai University for Nationalities is a national elite course that is only taught in the Tibetan language.

"Take thangka, a representative of traditional Tibetan culture, for another example. The making of thangka was only restricted to monasteries and folks, with the skill passed down to men only, not to women. Now, the art has become a specialized course of our university and it recruits students from all over China. Both male and female students can learn it now," said He.

"The ballad singers of Tibetan classic, Life of King Gesar, the world's longest heroic epic, were considered vagrant artists. Now, study of King Gesar has enjoyed key support and assistance of the Central Government. Moreover, the Qinghai University for Nationalities has set up an institution specializing in the research of King Gesar. By now, it has collected more than 300 versions and published about 80 books both in Tibetan and Han. A lot of these works have been translated into English, Japanese and French."

"Isn't this the best proof that the traditional Tibet culture is well protected and developed?" said He.