Tibetan ancient books meet new opportunities for development


Recently, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued the "Opinions on Promoting the Work of Ancient Books in the New Era" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"), which put forward specific requirements for promoting the work of ancient books in the new era, and also clear guidelines for the development of work on ethnic ancient books. The issue of the opinions means that Tibetan ancient books meet new opportunities for development.


Tibetan ancient books and documents, as the main carrier of Tibetan culture, show the wisdom of China’s all ethnic groups, especially the Tibetans in exploring, understanding and utilizing natural things on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and even the world. The books and documents recorded the history of consolidating the frontiers, defending territorial integrity, safeguarding national unity and ethnic solidarity, and the exchanges and integration among various ethnic groups; recorded the history of senior eminent monks in Tibet going to Beijing to worship the emperors to strengthen the relationship with the central government. The books and documents are important textbooks for promoting the sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism, advocating the love of the country and religion, and benefiting the country and the people; and also first-hand materials for recording natural laws, human activities, disease prevention, soul soothing, environmental protection, and production and life of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; and even literature basis for interpreting the formation and development of the pluralistic unity of the Chinese nation, and Tibet’s being an inseparable part of China since ancient times. The books and documents include the core concepts, traditional virtues and humanistic spirits of the Chinese excellent traditional culture, thus serving as an important basis for supplementing and preserving history, educating people, as well as establishing a correct view of the nation, enhancing the sense of identity and pride of the Chinese nation, and forging a strong sense of community of the Chinese nation. 


Under the guidance of the "Opinions", through sorting out the core concepts, traditional virtues, and humanistic spirits of Chinese excellent traditional culture contained in the Tibetan ancient books, we can protect and utilize them to serve the cultural construction of Tibet as well as the construction of China’s cultural soft power. At the same time, the historical data on the exchanges and integration of various ethnic groups can guide people of all ethnic groups in Tibet and Tibet-related prefectures and counties to establish a correct view of the history of the Chinese nation. The history and culture of border areas in ancient Tibetan books and archives can serve for defending the southwest border security of China, national unity and ethnic solidarity. What’s more, the books and documents on Tibetan medicine, astronomical calendar, architecture and science and technology can help us inherit scientific culture, promote the inheritance, innovation and development of Tibetan medicine, and improve people's health and well-being.


It is necessary to put more efforts in Tibetan ancient books’ investigation, excavation, arrangement, publication, exhibition, translation and foreign exchange. The construction of an academic exchange platform for Tibetan ancient books and literature professionals should be strengthened, and the historical facts of the exchanges and integration of various ethnic groups in the books and documents should be fully excavated, so as to play a greater role in forging a strong sense of community of the Chinese nation in the new era, and telling Chinese stories well.