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Tibetan culture well preserved, never assimilated
2009-03-30 05:34

  Tibetan culture and its ethnic characteristics have been well preserved and they have never been assimilated by Han people, said a Tibetologist, who lived and worked in Tibet for 26 years, on Friday, March 27.

  Liu Wei said at an online interview with Xinhuanet, "the biggest difference between China and other countries is that China is made up of 56 ethnic groups. It is totally different from the concept advocated by the West that one ethnic group should be one independent country. That is why many westerners are big supporters of the Dalai Lama. In their mind, Tibet is a country. If so, there would be 56 countries, which is ridiculous."

  Liu Wei (left), a Tibetologist and also a senior reporter of Xinhua, is interviewed at Xinhuanet on Friday, March 27, 2009. Liu lived and worked in Tibet for 26 years. 

  Tibetans have never been Hanalized, neither its people nor its culture, said the Tibetologist, who has profound affection for Tibetan people and its culture.

  "Take the Tibetan language for example," Liu expounded." The regional government has issued regulations concerning the use of the language. All signboards of shops in Lhasa must be written in both Chinese and Tibetan characters."

  Tibetan language is the official language and it must be used at all official occasions. Both Chinese and Tibetan are used in schools and programs on radio, TV and movies in the region are all bilingual."

  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.

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)
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  There are also Tibetan language newspapers and magazines. A number of Tibetan-Chinese-English dictionaries have been put into use. In nowadays Tibet, there is even a special publishing house featuring Tibetan classic works.

  A Tibetan official, who was a serf in old Tibet, told Liu " whether you are Han people or Tibetan people, we are of the Chinese people."

  "I totally agree with what he said," said the Tibetan expert.

  Liu lived and worked in a Tibetan village along with Tibetans in the 1970s. Now he still keeps close touch with his landlord who is more than 80 years.

  "His family sends me special local products on every festive occasion and I also call them to send my wishes. The affection among us can not be described in words.

  "For me, I like Tibet, Tibetan people, its culture as well as its life style. I regard Tibet as my second hometown. I would like to be part of it if I could."

Fourty-one-year-old Cering (rear) teaches his apprentice to draw tangka, traditional Tibetan scroll paintings, in Qamdo, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 26, 2009.  (Xinhua Photo)
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