Tibet, Not Xizang

As far as China is concerned there is no Tibet, only ‘Xizang’.

The Chinese government has eliminated Tibet from foreign-language communications, and has instead replaced it with their own word ‘Xizang’.

Right now, that phrasing is spreading to institutions and governments around the world, and we must put a stop to it.

The extinction of the name Tibet, of the language that Tibetans use to refer to themselves, their country and culture, would be catastrophic. Often phrasing is disregarded or overlooked when speaking about identity, but in truth it is foundational.

For the Tibetan diaspora, the name ‘Tibet’ is a vital part of their identity. It is the lens through which the world sees them, and it is under threat by China.

What’s in a name?

The name of Tibet has roots that stretch back centuries, from the early days of trade with foreign nations and long before Western colonisation of Asia. An exact origin for the name Tibet is hard to place, as it is a word that has evolved over time, through sharing trade, culture, and society with surrounding nations.

With the second syllable of Tibet sounding similar to that of “Bod”, the Tibetan term for Tibet, there is a strong belief that the name evolved from local language, rather than being imposed upon Tibet by any outside source.

By contrast, ‘Xizang’ is a much newer name arising during China’s Qing Dynasty. During this period, China maintained a pseudo-colonial hold over Tibet, and treated Tibetan land as part of its territory. While the origins of ‘Xizang’ are also unclear, what is clear is that it is of Chinese, not Tibetan, origin.

The name ‘Tibet’ has been in use for centuries, with suspected origins in the local Tibetan language and evolved over time.

For Tibetans, the name ‘Xizang’ is nothing short of offensive.

It is colonial language that builds upon the perception China is trying to enforce, that Tibet is and always has been a part of China, and that Tibetans are a Chinese minority group.

By erasing the name of Tibet, China is attempting to remove the language of Tibetan identity, something that the Chinese government sees as a threat. The separateness of Tibetan identity to Chinese identity is a reflection of history, culture, and reality, however to the Chinese government it is undermining the perception of China as a single whole entity and inspiring further separatism.

Governments, institutions, and events

The frontline of China’s attempts to replace Tibet with ‘Xizang’ is through soft power and pressure placed onto institutions and events.

Around the world, the Chinese government sponsors many events, assists in curating many museums, and provides aid to many governments. However, this involvement always comes with a vital caveat: by accepting this Chinese government involvement, governments, institutions, and events become beholden to China’s wishes.

In many cases, this means using the specific phrasing China wants. So when it comes to Tibet, they are pressured into using ‘Xizang’ instead.

Signs at the British Museum in London read “Tibet or Xizang Autonomous Region, China.” These have since been corrected.

Such phrasing has already been seen around the world: at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, at the British Museum, in Paris’ Musée Guimet.

At the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival there was a ‘Xizang Panorama’ screening, featuring Chinese propaganda films about Tibet. However, it is not always so blatant as simply using ‘Xizang’ in place of Tibet.

Museums in Europe have come under scrutiny from Free Tibet and Tibet support groups for using terms that aim to eliminate Tibetan identity from exhibits, with phrases such as the “Himalayan World” replacing that of Tibet. While not as obvious or insidious as replacing Tibet with ‘Xizang’ the overall goal and effect is the same: minimise Tibet to appease the Chinese government.

Time for action

Right now, Free Tibet is working hard on this campaign to determine the best path forward in challenging China’s global influence and informing institutions about the history and importance of Tibet.

We aim to produce resources for journalists, academics, institutions, and legislators about the language around Tibet, and how Tibet should be talked about in official settings.

We aim to work with our supporters to identify instances of ‘Xizang’ being used internationally, so we can effectively fight back against this cultural erasure.

We aim to have governments affirm their commitment to Tibetans, to listen to Tibetan voices, challenge China’s erasure of Tibet, and refuse to bow to pressure from the Chinese government.

The best way you can help right now, is by being ready.

Follow Free Tibet on social media, sign up to our mailing list, and be prepared for when it is time to take action together.