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Title: A History of Modern Tibet, 1913-1951: The Demise of the Lamaist State by Melvyn C. Goldstein ISBN: 0-520-07590-0 Publisher: University of California Press Pub. Date: September, 1991 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 (5 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: No sign of Shangri-La
Comment: Melvyn Goldstein's goal is not to prop up one side of the other in this debate; instead, he gives an account the past and the process that led to "the demise, in 1951, of the de facto independent Lamaist State." He posits that even though external actors gave rise to the fall of independent Tibet, in-house dynamics produced the state of affairs that enabled peripheral actors, mainly China, to succeed. Principal among the factors causative to Chinese military triumph was the fact that Tibet was not geared up for fighting. Tibet's religious leadership obstinately resisted the military transformation that might have enabled Tibet to resist Chinese domination. The point is now moot. This is played out in some length in its theatrical renditions in movies such as: Jean-Jacques Annaud's "Seven Years in Tibet" and Martin Scorsese's "Kundun" (both also available on Amazon.com). Truth be told, it was actually built-in to the Tibetan ontological framework of passivity and extreme isolation (somewhat self-imposed) that lead to its not being prepared for the Chinese onslaught. Through no fault of theirs events took the shape they did.
The book is broken up into two distinct parts - the opening part focusing on the 13th Dalai Lama and the period following his death and the next part dealing with the Taktra Regency (1941-1950) and the critical events of 1951. Goldstein sees the work as bridging: "two diametrically opposing views of Tibet's political status... The pro-Tibetan school argues that Tibet had been an independent state conquered by the Chinese Communists and was wrongly incorporated into the Chinese state. The pro-Chinese school sees Tibet as a traditional part of China which split from it as a consequence of British machinations after the fall of the Manchu dynasty, but which was rightly reunited with China in 1951" (xix). Goldstein, an anthropologist by schooling, does what he does best by submitting huge quantities of data, and suffers from the fact that he does not critically analyze the date in relation to the key issue of status. Status being what he himself brought on as his central thesis.
Goldstein's tale of political proceedings in Tibet during this, the twentieth century is by far more wide-ranging than any until that time, published; whether it is really more accurate or representative, or subject to politically expediency, is one of the questions brought up by his merely penning the book. He goes into great detail on what he refers to as the "serf" system in Tibet which is seen to be a misnomer by most Tibetans. On of the most disturbing issues relating to this massive missive is that Goldstein fails to mention the number of Tibetans in Tibet who suddenly died after having been "compelled to accept Chinese sovereignty" which has been projected to have been as much as 1.2 million (out of a population of around 6 million). This series of problematical events is also known by another expression, used by the International Commission of Jurists in 1960 in their denunciation of the Chinese actions in Tibet: "genocide." For more details on this and some of the other issues Goldstein may have missed, you can refer to "In Exile from the Land of Snows: The Definitive Account of the Dalai Lama and Tibet since the Chinese Conquest" by John F. Avedon (also available on Amazon.com).
I have to give Goldstein kudos though for placing complexity where there was none previously. This book shatters some of our closely held notions of Tibet as some form of Shangri-La. It may not have been his intent but Goldstein (as well as Avedon) clearly point out how betrayed or ignored Tibet was by Britain and America for geopolitical and selfish shortsighted reasons. The tome is an amazing look at the complexity and the range/extent of internal (for a lack of a better word) infighting that existed. Internal rivalries such as those between the monasteries resulting form their own internal infrastructure may have been one of the major causes and Goldstein makes an unwitting argument for internal sovereignty. The book is long and is meant for those who are interested (as no book this long will sustain a reader unless there is initial interest) but should always be critically examined and compared against other studies about Tibet. For Goldstein's lack of romanticizing of Tibet, I give him 5 stars.
Miguel Llora
Rating: 5
Summary: Hard to surpass in the field of Tibetan history
Comment: Mr. Goldstein's book is informative, detailed, and well-researched. The author provides the reader with numerous maps and photos and presents the subject of Tibet and its de facto independence in an un-biased manner. His background in the culture was useful in explaining the customs and politics of Tibet. Tibet's external issues, mainly with China and Britain, are well balanced with the internal goings on of the government. Goldstein blends all this together to make sense of the status of the Land of Snows during this time period. However, for the most part, this is a political history, rather than a social history. That is, Goldstein does not give much time to issues outside the political realm of Tibet. Much time is spent on the central government and its so-called Three Seats (monasteries). He presents the evidence (government records, first-hand accounts,etc.) to show Tibet's status. To find a flaw in Mr. Goldstein's book would be to say that although it gave much detail and explanation, it needed more of that "human touch" with a sprinkle of emotion to give a feeling of the average Tibetan in the period 1913-1951. Those who would like to learn more about Tibet's government before the invasion of the Chinese Communists will definately appreciate this book. It is unsurpassed in its content. For general Tibet reading, I recommend "Tibet: the Road Ahead", by Dawa Norbu; "The Voice that Remembers", by Ama Adhe; and absolutely "Tears of Blood" by Mary Craig.
Rating: 5
Summary: A must read history of Tibet
Comment: This book is a definitive history of Tibet covering a crucial period. Goldstein writes an extremely readable book. He covers a large time period using primary sources and interviews with the characters involved. He limits his analysis of the events and lets the readers examine the evidence. He gives evidence of the Tibetan government's faults as well as the abandonment of Tibet by the international community. This book is a must read for anyone trying to understand the current efforts of the Tibetan government in exile. 'Orphans of the Cold War: America and the Tibetan Struggle for Survival' by John Kenneth Knaus is also an excellent book that covers the US government's involvement with Tibet and gives extra insight to the information given by Goldstein.
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Title: The Dragon in the Land of Snows: A History of Modern Tibet Since 1947 by Tsering Shakya ISBN: 0140196153 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 03 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: The Snow Lion and the Dragon: China, Tibet, and the Dalai Lama by Melvyn C. Goldstein ISBN: 0520219511 Publisher: University of California Press Pub. Date: April, 1999 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Imagining Tibet : Perceptions, Projections, and Fantasies by Thierry Dodin, Heinz Rather ISBN: 0861711912 Publisher: Wisdom Pubns Pub. Date: 15 September, 2001 List Price(USD): $28.95 |
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Title: Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism by John Powers ISBN: 1559390263 Publisher: Snow Lion Pubns Pub. Date: February, 1995 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: In Exile from the Land of Snows RI by John Avedon ISBN: 0060977418 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 31 December, 1997 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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