Historic and ethnic Tibet was divided by China so that the Tibetan provinces of Amdo and most of Kham were annexed by Chinese provinces. U-Tsang and part of Kham are now governed under the “Tibet Autonomous Region.

When the iron eagle flies and horses run on wheels, the Tibetan people will be scattered over the earth and the Dharma will go to the land of the red man." -- Tibetan Prophecy

A Short History of Modern Tibet

Tibet was once one of the world's most remote and stable civilizations. But the later part of the 20th century brought far-reaching changes in every corner of the globe. Tibetan lands are vast and remote. Tibetan intentions were peaceful and her peoples were ill prepared for a hostile invasion with a modern arsenal. Tibet has remained at the mercy of Chinese military might and a repressive political regime.

Although the situation has remained grim, Tibetans are not without hope. Human rights groups and an ever-growing circle of international supporters continue to fight for Tibetan autonomy, release of Tibetan political prisoners (including nuns and monks) and the liberation of Tibet. Please visit our links page to see how you can become engaged and help with the struggle.

1949: Chinese Invasion

In 1949, on order from Communist Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, Chinese troops invaded and quickly defeated Tibet's small army. Most countries considered the invasion and occupation unjust. They voted in the United Nations for Tibet's right to self-determination. However, China's forces have never left. The Dalai Lama initially left Tibet, then returned and attempted to negotiate with the Chinese over a ten-year period.

1959: Destruction

In March of 1959, a mass Tibetan uprising against the Chinese was brutally crushed. The Dalai Lama, spiritual and political leader of Tibet, and 80,000 Tibetans fled to India and Nepal where they remain in exile. In the following years and during the Cultural Revolution (1966 to 1976) thousands of monasteries and temples were plundered and destroyed. Tens of thousands of Tibetans were sent to labor camps and never seen again. The closing of traditional trade routes and markets, and forced agricultural policies, led to mass starvation and poverty.

1960-1970's: Resistance and Oppression

A guerilla resistance movement was somewhat successful, with support from the CIA, but after Nixon’s visit to Beijing this program was ended and the Tibetan resistance was crushed. After Mao's death, wholesale destruction came to an end, but oppressive police state tactics continued. To this day, China still denies Tibetans their basic political, cultural and economic rights while continuing to exploit Tibet's fragile environmental resources.

1980's-Today: Normalization and Reconstruction inside Tibet

While oppressive tactics by the Chinese continued, a growing number of Chinese settlers began to migrate into Tibet to take advantage of economic opportunities. China began to spend more and more money to develop infrastructure and new industries. Some monasteries were partially rebuilt, though mostly for tourism purposes as the practice of Buddhism was seen as a hotbed of resistance to Chinese control. A small but growing tourist program allowed Westerners to visit in groups and independently for the first time in Tibet's history.

In Lhasa, the capital city, many old and historic neighborhoods have been razed and replaced with modern buildings. However, Tibetans have been exempted from most of this economic development and find themselves increasingly marginalized in their own country. Today, the first railway connecting Lhasa to the rest of China is nearly complete and will certainly drive new development.

1960-1980's: Tibetan's in Exile

Since 1960, the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, initially led by the Dalai Lama and now by a democratically elected body, has fostered the growth of an extensive number of cultural and economic institutions in an effort to sustain their unique traditions while Tibet remains occupied by Chinese forces.

1980-1990's: The International Support Movement

In 1987, following the Dalai Lama's presentation of a Five-Point Peace Plan to the U.S. Congress, Tibetans began to demonstrate openly against the Chinese occupation. These actions brought numerous crackdowns and a period of brutal martial law lasting 13 months. However, this also increased international awareness about the real situation in Tibet.

In 1989, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his unswerving commitment to non-violence. Meanwhile, the refugee community in India has continued to attempt to reconstruct and preserve the many ways of Tibetan culture that had suffered immeasurably in Tibet.

After the Dalai Lama declared 1991 as the "International Year of Tibet" to celebrate the country's unique history and culture, a growing number of cultural, political and humanitarian programs established themselves around the world.

In the 1990's, many Tibetans began to migrate to Western countries where they have established small communities. The now explosive growth of interest in Tibetan Buddhism also created an extensive network of meditation and cultural centers throughout the West.

Today and Tomorrow:

Hope for a free Tibet has been renewed by people from around the world who have spoken out for Tibetan freedom to their governments, fellow citizens and the Chinese. Representatives of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile have renewed a low level of dialogue with the Chinese Government, and many countries including the U.S. have pressured China on human rights issues and a satisfactory negotiated settlement.

While China's growing economic power has appeared to compromise the leverage of these efforts, there is a growing interest and awareness among young Chinese people about Tibet. As the world continues on it's current path of change, Tibetans keep the hope that it may soon be their turn as well.

Learn More About Tibet and Related Organizations

Explore our "Support Groups" section for a list of "Tibet Support Groups" which includes a wide range of political, cultural, religious and humanitarian related programs.