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The Dragon in the Land of Snows: A History of Modern Tibet Since 1947
Based entirely on unpublished primary sources, Tsering Shakya's groundbreaking history of modern Tibet shatters the popular conception of the country as an isolated Shangri-la unaffected by broader international developments. Shakya gives a balanced, blow-by-blow account of Tibet's ongoing struggle to maintain its independence and safeguard its cultural identity while being sandwiched between the heavyweights of Asian geopolitics: Britain, India, China, and the United States. With thorough documentation, Shakya details the Chinese depredations of Tibet, and reveals the failures of the Tibetan leadership's divided strategies. Rising above the simplistic dualism so often found in accounts of Tibet's contested recent history, The Dragon in the Land of Snows lucidly depicts the tragedy that has befallen Tibet and identifies the conflicting forces that continue to shape the aspirations of the Tibetan people today.
574 pages, Paperback
First published March 9, 1999
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November 18, 2020I want to read this for several reasons. Not least because Tibet is a kind of Shangri-La, an almost perfect place high up in the show, with wheels that turn and bells that tinkle and monks in saffron that are taught to envisage women as rotting corpses leaking stinking juices, to free their minds from bodily desires.
Also because there are several unusual groups of people - the tribe of men who think a woman ready to get married and still a virgin is a suspicious, of another group (see Leaving Mother Lake which isn't exactly matriarchal but it's not patriarchal either and girls are encouraged to have a sex life, any kind they want. One night stands or just the one. There must be more groups who also differ from the usual patterns of male dominance. I'd like to know about them and also to know what kind of society allowed them to flourish.
Thirdly, some countries in the world attract non-stop bad publicity as invaders or occupiers of a land not seen as theirs (although that is exactly how most of the world became empires and nations and dissolved and became other ones) but some, like the Chinese occupation of Tibet attract nothing at all. Even though it is enforced with military violence, no one says anything much.
I once questioned Goodreads on why on a dropdown list of countries Tibet was not included - because it's China - but other countries considered occupied were. So not only not saying anything, but taking the Chinese line. I'd like to see what the book has to say about it.
Also because there are several unusual groups of people - the tribe of men who think a woman ready to get married and still a virgin is a suspicious, of another group (see Leaving Mother Lake which isn't exactly matriarchal but it's not patriarchal either and girls are encouraged to have a sex life, any kind they want. One night stands or just the one. There must be more groups who also differ from the usual patterns of male dominance. I'd like to know about them and also to know what kind of society allowed them to flourish.
Thirdly, some countries in the world attract non-stop bad publicity as invaders or occupiers of a land not seen as theirs (although that is exactly how most of the world became empires and nations and dissolved and became other ones) but some, like the Chinese occupation of Tibet attract nothing at all. Even though it is enforced with military violence, no one says anything much.
I once questioned Goodreads on why on a dropdown list of countries Tibet was not included - because it's China - but other countries considered occupied were. So not only not saying anything, but taking the Chinese line. I'd like to see what the book has to say about it.
September 9, 2016
A well-researched and thorough history on the status of Tibet since 1947. The book is written in a rather academic style, so if one is unfamiliar with any history on Tibet it might be easier to start with another book. It is an excellent addition to the diplomatic and political history surrounding Tibet.
April 30, 2019
This is an impressively researched and--no less impressively--objective account of the Chinese seizure of most of Tibet in 1949 and its management of what the People's Republic admits is a "minority population" since. The major defect is that (at least the version I read) stops in the nineties.
A number of points stand out:
* The Tibetans, most of whom had enjoyed autonomy after the disintegration of the Qing Dynasty, were completely unprepared to face the modernizing army of the united People's Republic. The In times of crisis, the Tibetans were prone to consult oracles, as oracles tend to do, made enigmatic pronouncements (Tsering Shakya documents one instance in which the oracle bristled when pressed for clarity). The Tibetan Army's operation were painfully out-of-date; since they travelled with families, as Shakya notes, they were completely unprepared for a defensive retreat and the Chinese cut off their rear with ease.
* The Chinese claim to Tibet is based on it being part of historical greater China. The odd thing about that is that, aside from the long periods of Tibetan self-rule, the major periods of Chinese sovereignty over Tibet came during dynasties that were not themselves Han Chinese: the Yuan and the Qing, the latter of which exercised little formal administrative control. Oddly enough, when faced with finding the reincarnation of the Panchen Rimpoche, the PRC resorted to a Qing procedure.
* I had always thought that part of the PRC's need for Tibet was to give a purpose to excess Han sons (as the British operated their empire for economics and pride, but also to give younger Britons something to do). But--at least in Shakya's account, the claim is based on the dubious historicity of dynastic China, which is an odd thing for a Marxist regime to do, the motive being pride in the feudalistic past rather than achieving the classless paradise. They have company in this pride business, since the Russians won't give up parts of Central Asia, nor the Turks, Syrians or Iraqis allow Kurds their independence. (To address my own country's acquisitive habits would overwhelm this space).
* The Tibetans have had the misfortune of not just the PRC's dramatic shifts in philosophy toward what they call "minorities" (going slow, then fast, then setting loose the Red Guards, then opening the economy, then cracking down on protest; in this, Mao, when alive, comes across as a kind of oracle himself, detached and presenting himself to make enigmatic pronouncements, but of course often lethal). It has not profited from changes in Indian leadership or changes in Western approaches. Although the United States funded some rebels in the fifties, generally Tibet came in third or worse in the U.S. policy concerns, getting intermittent attention while Korea or Vietnam or rapprochement with the PRC was the main focus.
* Lost in all this is the impression that the Tibetans entered this drama as a feudalistic and theocratic state, and--as Shakya points out from time to time--the concerns of Lhasa are not always those of the people who worked on the monasteries' and other landholders' estates. And some of that inequality seems to have ameliorated. But it cannot be denied that whatever improvements have occurred came at the cost of Tibetan independence and self-determination, and was marred by erratic policies based on the myths of Han Chinese nationalism and doctrinaire interpretations of Marxist theory. There are a few who demonstrate real courage in this complex tragedy: the occasional Chinese administrator who tried to mitigate the oppression; the late Panchen Rinpoche, who at first embraced the Chinese, but then subjected them to withering criticism; and the Dalai Lama, who, although his politics were not without mistakes, was thrust into this position as an adolescent, and has grown into the international spokesman for an otherwise voiceless people. It would have been interesting to seem his struggle against the feudalists of an independent Tibet. Or perhaps he would not have become the figure that he has become.
A number of points stand out:
* The Tibetans, most of whom had enjoyed autonomy after the disintegration of the Qing Dynasty, were completely unprepared to face the modernizing army of the united People's Republic. The In times of crisis, the Tibetans were prone to consult oracles, as oracles tend to do, made enigmatic pronouncements (Tsering Shakya documents one instance in which the oracle bristled when pressed for clarity). The Tibetan Army's operation were painfully out-of-date; since they travelled with families, as Shakya notes, they were completely unprepared for a defensive retreat and the Chinese cut off their rear with ease.
* The Chinese claim to Tibet is based on it being part of historical greater China. The odd thing about that is that, aside from the long periods of Tibetan self-rule, the major periods of Chinese sovereignty over Tibet came during dynasties that were not themselves Han Chinese: the Yuan and the Qing, the latter of which exercised little formal administrative control. Oddly enough, when faced with finding the reincarnation of the Panchen Rimpoche, the PRC resorted to a Qing procedure.
* I had always thought that part of the PRC's need for Tibet was to give a purpose to excess Han sons (as the British operated their empire for economics and pride, but also to give younger Britons something to do). But--at least in Shakya's account, the claim is based on the dubious historicity of dynastic China, which is an odd thing for a Marxist regime to do, the motive being pride in the feudalistic past rather than achieving the classless paradise. They have company in this pride business, since the Russians won't give up parts of Central Asia, nor the Turks, Syrians or Iraqis allow Kurds their independence. (To address my own country's acquisitive habits would overwhelm this space).
* The Tibetans have had the misfortune of not just the PRC's dramatic shifts in philosophy toward what they call "minorities" (going slow, then fast, then setting loose the Red Guards, then opening the economy, then cracking down on protest; in this, Mao, when alive, comes across as a kind of oracle himself, detached and presenting himself to make enigmatic pronouncements, but of course often lethal). It has not profited from changes in Indian leadership or changes in Western approaches. Although the United States funded some rebels in the fifties, generally Tibet came in third or worse in the U.S. policy concerns, getting intermittent attention while Korea or Vietnam or rapprochement with the PRC was the main focus.
* Lost in all this is the impression that the Tibetans entered this drama as a feudalistic and theocratic state, and--as Shakya points out from time to time--the concerns of Lhasa are not always those of the people who worked on the monasteries' and other landholders' estates. And some of that inequality seems to have ameliorated. But it cannot be denied that whatever improvements have occurred came at the cost of Tibetan independence and self-determination, and was marred by erratic policies based on the myths of Han Chinese nationalism and doctrinaire interpretations of Marxist theory. There are a few who demonstrate real courage in this complex tragedy: the occasional Chinese administrator who tried to mitigate the oppression; the late Panchen Rinpoche, who at first embraced the Chinese, but then subjected them to withering criticism; and the Dalai Lama, who, although his politics were not without mistakes, was thrust into this position as an adolescent, and has grown into the international spokesman for an otherwise voiceless people. It would have been interesting to seem his struggle against the feudalists of an independent Tibet. Or perhaps he would not have become the figure that he has become.
September 16, 2013
A lengthy but a comprehensive book on contemporary Tibet from the invasion till present.
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November 17, 2020From the beginning, this was clearly a meticulously researched, structured work striving for as much completeness as possible. I have nothing but respect for that. Unfortunately I realized quickly I do not have enough background context and detailed interest to read this for pleasure. DNF and only noted here for myself, should I forget and want to come back to it.
October 4, 2022
Really loved Shakya's modern history of Tibet. I thought Shakya did a great job of telling a story. Highly recommend!
November 13, 2010
A left leaning Tibetan throughly debunks the propaganda of both PRC colonialism and the feudal conservatives in exile.
If you read one book on modern Tibetan history,make it this one.
If you read one book on modern Tibetan history,make it this one.
December 25, 2022
This book came highly recommended and was a treasured gift.
This book was a wonderful journey through the Tibetan heartland. The life, beliefs of a people who remained in isolation and oreserved their way of life for so long. His description of the meadows, the practices invokes a longing and brilliant imagery. Following the account of an American Missionary who comes to learn the ways of a people he initially had come to convert.
While we are taken on a journey to these lands, the simmering tension is brought to the fore as the Republicans are thrust away by the communists, the 'peasant army'. The same leaders, now in a new uniform resort to subversion, forced conversion.
Soon, the writing picks up pace and we are brought to the battlefield from the meadows. As a people undergo an exodus and we are brought to the Brahmaputra valley and eventually back to USA as the inhabitants of the meadow scramble to stay together and continue their life. A yearning lingers as their life as well as their culture has been uprooted and the seeds dispersed.
This book was a wonderful journey through the Tibetan heartland. The life, beliefs of a people who remained in isolation and oreserved their way of life for so long. His description of the meadows, the practices invokes a longing and brilliant imagery. Following the account of an American Missionary who comes to learn the ways of a people he initially had come to convert.
While we are taken on a journey to these lands, the simmering tension is brought to the fore as the Republicans are thrust away by the communists, the 'peasant army'. The same leaders, now in a new uniform resort to subversion, forced conversion.
Soon, the writing picks up pace and we are brought to the battlefield from the meadows. As a people undergo an exodus and we are brought to the Brahmaputra valley and eventually back to USA as the inhabitants of the meadow scramble to stay together and continue their life. A yearning lingers as their life as well as their culture has been uprooted and the seeds dispersed.
March 24, 2023
The Dragon in the Land of Snows provides a comprehensive background on Tibet's modern history, a recount of the events that unfolded after the 1959 invasion. As a Tibetan American, growing up I knew very little of my people's history. I've heard stories here and there from the Tibetan community in exile, and heard of stories from Western media, however nothing as detailed and supported with primary sources like this book. Tsering Shakya's position as a historian, and truth-teller lays a foundation of trust for individuals like myself who are seeking truth, regardless of whether it fits with the popular narrative.
This book provided a better context of the impact of the Chinese cultural revolution in Tibet, and the atrocities and suffering experienced by Tibetans during that time. It also highlighted the communist parties attempt to appease and eventually their need to crush the spirit of the Tibetan people, and other minorities to contain "separatist groups". I couldn't help but compare China's imperialist tendencies to that of America, and Britain, etc. It's all part of a greater systemic sickness for power and control. In a conflicting way I grew to appreciate certain Chinese leaderships like Deng Xiaopeng who made attempts to empathize with Tibetan cultural connection with Buddhism, and to modernize Tibetans without marginalizing them during the urbanization of Tibet.
I'm thankful for Tsering Shakya's work, for making it accessible for the world so that people may know the real truth of our history. I'm excited to continue to learn more about my history.
This book provided a better context of the impact of the Chinese cultural revolution in Tibet, and the atrocities and suffering experienced by Tibetans during that time. It also highlighted the communist parties attempt to appease and eventually their need to crush the spirit of the Tibetan people, and other minorities to contain "separatist groups". I couldn't help but compare China's imperialist tendencies to that of America, and Britain, etc. It's all part of a greater systemic sickness for power and control. In a conflicting way I grew to appreciate certain Chinese leaderships like Deng Xiaopeng who made attempts to empathize with Tibetan cultural connection with Buddhism, and to modernize Tibetans without marginalizing them during the urbanization of Tibet.
I'm thankful for Tsering Shakya's work, for making it accessible for the world so that people may know the real truth of our history. I'm excited to continue to learn more about my history.
March 29, 2022
An excellent history that, whilst clearly sympathetic to the Tibetan narrative, doesn’t shy away from highlighting the divisions and sometimes missteps of both the Tibetans and their global sympathisers that enabled the wholesale destruction of a culture and the subjection of a people by the CCP. This serves as a timely reminder of the authoritarian, expansionist nature of the party which is on display in HK, the South China Sea, the BRI and the continuing efforts of various United Front bodies around the world.
September 5, 2022
Very comprehensive and well organized with multilateral versions of the situation. The author covered Tibetan inside struggles as well as Sino Indian relations in this historical period. The ebbs and flow of western interest and actual political calculations are acutely presented. Explains much of the developments with a keen eye on the regional economy as well as lay-monastic dynamics in Tibet. His command of several languages and documents present a much needed textbook for all interested in Asia in the 20th and 21st century.
January 28, 2019
An impeccably detailed history of Tibetan-Chinese relations from 1947 to 1990.
Though it can read a little drily, it is an impressive piece of scholarship, shedding light on the secretive political machinations at play between the two countries. Tsering’s analysis is lucid and compelling. Essential reading.
Though it can read a little drily, it is an impressive piece of scholarship, shedding light on the secretive political machinations at play between the two countries. Tsering’s analysis is lucid and compelling. Essential reading.
January 22, 2018
It is a big book but enjoyable. Slow read as a lot of history details. The author made a big research on the contemporary history of Tibet and it shows that he feels for his country. If you read one book on history of Tibet, make it this one
August 7, 2019
Wonderful book. Detailed and passionate account of events of Tibet. Writing is lucid and elaborate.
November 21, 2025
Very interesting however, the author sometimes assumes some prior knowledge
August 23, 2014
This is a really intensive tell-all book that covers modern Tibetan history, which is usually glossed over in every work on Tibet with the same epithet: China invaded Tibet in 1950, the Dalai Lama escaped Tibet for India in 1959, and the Tibetan homeland has been under foreign horrifying rule ever since. A review from Jonathan Mirsky puts it correctly saying, "It will irritate both Chinese and Tibetan chauvinists as it explodes their myths, misunderstandings, and propaganda." I could not put it better myself.
Written by a Tibetan living in exile and teaching at some of the premier British and Canadian universities, Tsering Shakya paints an extremely well-researched and descriptive history of Tibet's case for independence as well as the Chinese developments of the country post-invasion. He never outright refutes China's position, but does an excellent job showing how their case for Tibet as an "integral part of the motherland" is constructed bullshit (and for evidence of Tibet's position as an independent non-Chinese culture, you could look... well, anywhere) and ultimately falls short of the Communist Party's goal of communist paradise on the Plateau.
Again, not for the lay-follower as it can be dry at times and is very in-depth. That said, for those who need a more balanced look at Tibetan history (or of H.H. the Dalai Lama XIV, who is often portrayed as a wonderful angel and benevolent god-king who does no wrong) this is an exceptional work.
Written by a Tibetan living in exile and teaching at some of the premier British and Canadian universities, Tsering Shakya paints an extremely well-researched and descriptive history of Tibet's case for independence as well as the Chinese developments of the country post-invasion. He never outright refutes China's position, but does an excellent job showing how their case for Tibet as an "integral part of the motherland" is constructed bullshit (and for evidence of Tibet's position as an independent non-Chinese culture, you could look... well, anywhere) and ultimately falls short of the Communist Party's goal of communist paradise on the Plateau.
Again, not for the lay-follower as it can be dry at times and is very in-depth. That said, for those who need a more balanced look at Tibetan history (or of H.H. the Dalai Lama XIV, who is often portrayed as a wonderful angel and benevolent god-king who does no wrong) this is an exceptional work.
February 13, 2013
A thoroughly researched dissertation-like book on the history of Sino-Tibetan relations. In the highly charged and politicized topic that is Tibet, the author retains credibility as a relatively objective historian when describing the political machinations, personal conflicts, humanitarian atrocities all while refraining from being polemic. Like all history, Tibet's is driven by individual personalities, and one is able to get a sense of how people (including politicians on the Tibetan side) affected the course of Sino-Tibetan history. Anyone wishing to understand the Tibet issue should read this book.
January 18, 2012
A thoroughly researched account of modern Tibet and the forceful Chinese annexation of it. Tsering Shakya does a marvelous job of explaining and highlighting the many aspects, as paradoxical as can be, that has gone into the construction of Tibet's status today. There is enough in here to infuriate anyone, but for some, his honesty, based on poignant questions and comprehensive evidence, may be startling. For a deeper understanding of modern Tibet, pick this up and read it. Nevermind the scant spelling or grammatical errors; they are few and far between.
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October 4, 2015A frighteningly detailed history of Tibet since 1947. Shakya is an Oxford educated historian who sought to find the truth about his homeland since the Chinese invaded and muddled the relationship between the two. Shakya, though Tibetan, does well sifting through conflicting sources to paint an intimate picture of modern Tibet. Compared to his contemporaries, Shakya's account is extremely balanced: he is quick to note when the Tibetans were foolish or rash, and when the Chinese were legitimately well intentioned.
June 17, 2009
One of the better books on modern Tibetan history. Almost completely free of the bias that is rampant in regard to the subject. It does tend to barrage the reader with a multitude of dates, names, and places and because of this it can be quite dry. Despite this fact (or maybe because of it) I find that I constantly go back to this in my studies, if only peruse the footnotes for a primary source.
July 9, 2008
A modern history of Tibet told from the Tibetan perspective. Particularly good on giving the historical background of Tibet's agreement with China in 1951 and the circumstances of its breakdown eight years later. Wanes toward the end.
July 4, 2007
This was a really great, informative book, but it is a little tough to get through.
September 26, 2007
A surprisingly readable account of Tibetan history. You don't have to have a particular interest in Tibet to enjoy this book.
May 20, 2008
This was a tough read with a lot of dates/names to remember. It did give me some great references for further reading on the history of Tibet and the Chinese invasion.
Want to read
December 5, 2011A must read for every Tibetan! If you haven't then you have to read this as we know without a deep understanding of the past of Tibet, it is difficult to know how to move forward.
February 18, 2016
The truth about Tibet is hard for both sides to face.
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November 30, 2017Really, a groundbreaking work by a great Tibetan historian, so painstaking and educating.
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