My Favorite Cultural Activity

Recently we visited the newly opened Museum of Tibet together with many other students and teachers. I was quite excited, because I heard much about this place, but what I saw was more interesting than what I expected.

(I must admit that I was initially a bit biased based on some information I read prior to the visit. Here is a link for your consideration. )

The museum is divided into two sections – the old Tibet and the harmonious new Tibet. First we naturally went to the old Tibet part. After a short glance at the exhibited objects, it became clear that the old Tibet was a cold, contemptible piece of land occupied by starving serfs. Not only they had the cruel aristocracy and monks to deal with, but almost everyone was missing some part of their body after being tortured by their masters. One could wonder how it is even possible that this self-mutilating society was able to survive this long without the help of China.


My questions were answered soon enough. The hall of new Tibet proved to me that “Tibet was, is and always will be a part of China.” And that is perhaps why Tibetans had not perished during those long centuries of slavery. There was always the Chinese shoulder to lean on. However, only in this century has the Central government truly taken this forsaken province under its wings. It made a striking difference immediately. The photos in the second room were bright and cheerful. Ever since 1951 the people of Tibet have been eating gigantic watermelons. Nowadays, they can also drive trucks in their national costumes. Finally, on the way out I noticed a gigantic photo of the Olympic Torch on Chomolungma and my mind was at peace. All the foreign media information I have been bombarded by was just plain old propaganda. I believe to what I saw with my own eyes – in China's Museum of Tibet.


To those who are interested I recommend reading of the article by Christopher Steiner on Museums and Nationalism or refer back to reading on Imagined Communities (1983) by Benedict Anderson.