This article examines the representation of Tibetan history in Chinese contemporary Tibetan studies. It does not address the question of the political status of Tibet, and thus does not intend to contribute to the historical analysis of the Sino-Tibetan political relationships. It focuses on the Chinese descriptions of three key moments which have had a significant impact on the Tibetan Plateau: (1) the origin of the Tibetan people, (2) the stabilization of a Buddhist society in Tibet, and (3) the emergence of a national consciousness in modern China. Today, Chinese scholars of Tibetan history usually consider these key moments have contributed to the development of “Chinese” identity. This article argues that Chinese nationalist perspectives on Tibetan history are not only attributable to the political authoritarianism and censorship imposed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but also to the conceptual transformation of the Chinese state between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
The Historical Development of Tibetan “Minzu” Identity through Chinese Eyes: A Preliminary Analysis
Mauro Crocenzi
2019-01-01
Abstract
This article examines the representation of Tibetan history in Chinese contemporary Tibetan studies. It does not address the question of the political status of Tibet, and thus does not intend to contribute to the historical analysis of the Sino-Tibetan political relationships. It focuses on the Chinese descriptions of three key moments which have had a significant impact on the Tibetan Plateau: (1) the origin of the Tibetan people, (2) the stabilization of a Buddhist society in Tibet, and (3) the emergence of a national consciousness in modern China. Today, Chinese scholars of Tibetan history usually consider these key moments have contributed to the development of “Chinese” identity. This article argues that Chinese nationalist perspectives on Tibetan history are not only attributable to the political authoritarianism and censorship imposed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but also to the conceptual transformation of the Chinese state between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
