Tibet can be split into two main regions: the lake region and the river region. The lake region is home to cultures which rely on agriculture to sustain their way of life, while the river region is inhabited by nomadic societies. Some of the rivers that run through Tibet include the Mekong, Yellow, and Indus rivers.

References:

http://apsorescuecolorado.wordpress.com/category/tibetan-dogs/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet

Economy

Before 1951

Subsistence agricultural and pastoral production

Barley, wheat, potato

Non-agricultural production

Handicraft

Trade

Import

Export

Source: http://www.shangri-la-river-expeditions.com/wchinageo/wchinageo.html

After 1951

Social reform – feudal system abolished

Land and animals distributed

Economic reform

Increased production

Government funding

96% funded by the central government

Education, health care, welfare,

Transportation

Railway – train from Xining to Lhasa

Source: http://www.tibettravelplanner.com/train.htm

Major industries

Agriculture/animal husbandry

Services

Handicrafts

Tourism

2006 – 2.5 million

2012 – 10 million

Source: http://en.tibetol.cn/01/04/02/200903/t289509.htm

Growth

12% GDP annual growth rate

12th Five-year Plan (2011-15)

More than 1 billion yuan

Railway expansion

Development projects

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/30/content_11098770_2.htm

Sources

Goldscheider, Calvin. “Economic Patterns of the Tibet Autonomous Region: The Past and Present.” Case Western Reserve University. N.d. Web. 19 July 2014.

<http://www.case.edu/affil/tibet/moreTibetInfo/documents/TibetEconomy2.pdf>

BBC News. “Tibet Profile.” BBC News Asia. 13 August 2013. Web. 20 July 2014

<http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16689779>

Jiang, Yuxia. “Focus On Tibet.” News.cn. 30 March 2009. Web. 21 July 2014.

<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/30/content_11098770_2.htm>

Tibettravelplanner.com. N.d. Web. 18 July 2014.

<http://www.tibettravelplanner.com/train.htm>

Picture on 1st slide <http://www.shangri-la-river-expeditions.com/wchinageo/wchinageo.html>

Picture on 3rd slide <http://en.tibetol.cn/01/04/02/200903/t289509.htm>

Cultural Geography

Cultures are often shaped by

neighboring countries.

The inaccessibility and remoteness of

Tibet worked to help preserve some of

the regional practices.

Some of these differences include

cuisine, clothing, and religion.

Cuisine

Tibet largely relies on pastoralism, or

raising their yaks; however, they are

able to grow barley and in lower

elevations rice, oranges, bananas,

and lemon.

Tsampa - the staple food.

Balep, Sha Phaley, and Thukpa

are other common foods. Also,

Yak products.

Clothing/Attire

Traditional clothing is usually conservative.

Western clothing has become more common.

Their robes are called chubas. Around their waste is a

belt or girdle which creates a large pocket called an

ampa. This is used to store a number of items.

Hats often vary depending on the district you come

from.

References:

"Administrative Division" Tibet Facts & Figures 2007. China Internet Information Center.

Buckley, Micheal. Major Rivers Sourced in Tibet. <http://www.meltedownintibet.com>

Crowe, D. M. (2013). The “Tibet question”: Tibetan, Chinese and Western perspectives. Nationalities Papers, 41(6), 1100-1135. doi:10.1080/00905992.2013.801946

Fleming, P. (1955). Tibetan Marches. André Migot. Translated from the French. p. 103. E. P. Dutton & Co. Inc. New York

Hussain, D., & Bhushan, B. (2011). Cultural factors promoting coping among Tibetan refugees: a qualitative investigation. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 14(6), 575-587. doi:10.1080/13674676.2010.497131

Migot, André (1955). Tibetan Marches. Translated by Peter Fleming. E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc., U.S.A., pp. 84-86.

Cultural Diversity Religious Uniqueness

Tibetan Buddhism is a combination of Mahayana Buddhism, Tantric Buddhism, Bön and Shamanism.

Navas

Bön and Shamanism:

Comprised of belief that nature was made and filled with good and bad spirits

Shaman are people who may travel into a spirit realm normally in an entranced state

Modern followers now see their deities as either enlightened or still of this world due to Buddhist influence

The Wrathful Deities are meditated upon to understand reality and its harshness as a means of achieving enlightenment

Tantric Buddhism:

A form or reaching enlightenment through the use of earthly materials

A tool for accessing immediate enlightenment

May take years to fully master

Mahayana Buddhism:

The pursuit of self liberation and the removal of all defilements.

Helping other sentient beings to achieve Nirvana

In Tibet, vegetarianism is not required due to low resource diversity

Navas

Sources Cited:

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/snapshot02.htm

http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/bon.htm

http://bonchildren.tonkoblako-9.net/en/jewel2/01.tan

http://buddhism.about.com/od/vajrayanabuddhism/a/tantra101.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Yantra

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/tibet-txt.htm

http://buddhistartnews.wordpress.com/category/united-states/page/41/

Navas

Often times, protests led by Bhuddist monks against China’s rule in Tibet turn violent. Protesters often clash with police throughout Western China, Nepal, and India. Tibetans and their supporters have turned to the international community for help. And they have made petitions for China to restart talks with the Dalai Lama.

Altukhov

Some Chinese officials have opened some fake accounts on Twitter to spread lies about the Tibetan protester and Tibetan people. The tweets – written in English and Chinese – attack political leaders' meetings with the Dalai Lama, advertise rail links between China's east coast and Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, and link to videos of Tibetans dancing in "exotic dress" on state-run television.

Altukhov

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama returned to Dharamsala from Delhi after teaching at Ladakh

his 33rd Kalachakra teachings. Around 200,000 followers from 73 countries attended the Kalachakra

held from July 3 to 14, 2014. During the course of the teachings, the Dalai Lama called for religious and

social harmony among different communities in Ladakh, and spoke to mediapersons at Gaggal Airport.

The Dalai Lama expressed concern over the ongoing violence in various parts of the world.

Altukhov

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/china-must-allow-independent-investigation-tibetan-protest-clashes-2012-01-24

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/22/free-tibet-fake-twitter-accounts-china-propagandists

http://dalailama.com/gallery#ad-image-1

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/tweets-07212014163726.html

Sources Cited:

Altukhov

There was a “no objection letter” to have the cremation in Nepal

Retracts Permission for a cremation for a “prominent spiritual figure in Tibetan Buddhism.” Retracted because of directives from the Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu.

The name of the monk is Shamar Rinpoche, 62 died of a heart attack – in a New York Times article.

Current Events

Nepal Retracts Permission For Cremation

Peter Smith

Activist Talks about House Arrest

Tsering Woeser – A writer who tends to criticizes policies of the Communist Party of China. She was placed under house arrest after receiving a dinner invitation at the U.S. Embassy.

At the time of the house arrest, she was going to attend an award ceremony in the United States.

The U.S. Embassy in Nepal was going to look into the house arrest that prevented Tsering Woeser from attending the diner.

Tsering Woeser in Inner Mongolia Pictured via Associated Press

Peter Smith

Protest Singer under House Arrest

A popular Tibetan singer named Gebe arrested in the Sichuan Province after performing a concert. Has been seen since 2012.

One of 11 musicians that have been in state custody.

Gebe writes & promotes songs that “asserts Tibetan national and cultural identity” along with challenging the Chinese (Communist) Rule in Tibet.

Photo of GeBe

No date giving for the above photo.

http://freetibet.org/about/political-prisoners-gaybay

Peter Smith

Citations

SHARMA, BHADRA. "Nepal Retracts Permission for Tibet Monk’s Cremation.“ The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 July 2014. Web. 20 July 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/world/asia/nepal-retracts-permission-for-a-t ibetan-lamas-cremation.html>.

Wong, Edward. "Tibetan Activist on Her Latest House Arrest." Sinosphere Tibetan Activist on Her Latest House Arrest Comments. The New York Times, 15 July 2014. Web. 20 July 2014. <http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/15/tibetan-activist-on-her- latest-house-arrest/>.

Qin, Amy. "Tibetan Protest Singer Is Said to Be Under Arrest." Sinosphere Tibetan Protest Singer Is Said to Be Under Arrest Comments. The New York Times, 28 May 2014. Web. 20 July 2014. <http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/28/tibetan-protest- singer-is-said-to-be-under-arrest/>.

First Slide Sources:

http://www.diamondway-buddhism.org/karmapa-in-germany-shamar-rinpoche/

http://jubilaeum.diamondwaybuddhism.org/?page_id=222

Peter Smith