TIBET is located in the southwestern part of China. It borders on the Sinkiang Uighur Autonomous　Region in the north, Chinghai Province in the northeast　and Szechuan Province in the east. To its south and　west are India, Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal. It has a　total area of more than 1.5 million square kilometres. It lies on an average of 4,000 metres above sea level. Together with that part of Chinghai Province south of　the Tsaidam Basin, it forms the "Chinghai-Tibet　Plateau." Known as the "Roof of the World," this is　the world's highest and largest plateau. The Himalaya　in the southern part of Tibet is the highest and longest　mountain range in the world. The Jolmo Longma　(Mount Everest), rising 8,882 metres above sea level in　the centre of the Himalayas, is the world's highest　mountain.

The three areas of Tibet--the Chamdo area, Chientsang (Yu) and Houtsang (Tsang), are inhabited by　1,200,000 people, more than 90 per cent of whom are　Tibetans.

The eastern part of Tibet is called the Chamdo area　with Chamdo as its centre. After its liberation by the　People's Liberation Army in October 1950, the People's　Liberation Committee of the Chamdo Area was established in Chamdo with offices in Dinching and Bomi. The committee has 22 dzong (see below) under it.

The central area of Tibet is known as Chientsang　(Yu). Its capital Lhasa on the north bank of the Lhasa　River is the political, religious, cultural and economic　centre of Tibet. On the Potala hill in the northwestern　suburbs towers the imposing 13-storey Potala Palace, the abode of the Dalai Lama. There are three famous　monasteries in Lhasa--the Daipung, the Sera and the　Gahdan. The Norbu Lingka in the western suburbs is　the Dalai Lama's summer abode.

To the west of Chientsang is Houtsang (Tsang). Its　capital Shigatse, situated at the junction of the Tsangpo　and the Nyanchhu Rivers, is the political, economic and　cultural centre of the western part of Tibet. The　Trashilhunpo in Shigatse is the abode of Panchen　Erdeni. It is also the site of the Panchen Kanpo Conference Committee.

Tibet is rich in natural resources. Its main agricultural areas lie in the broad valleys of the Tsangpo River　and its tributaries, the Lhasa and Nyanchhu Rivers in　southern Tibet. Qingke (highland barley) is Tibet's　main crop. Other crops include wheat, rice and maize.

Animal husbandry has an important place in the　Tibetan economy. The main pasture lands are on the　northern Tibetan plateau. Here graze yaks, sheep, goats, horses and camels.

Contrary to general belief in the past, Tibet is very　rich in mineral resources.　Preliminary prospecting　shows that there are more than 30 minerals including　coal, iron ores, copper, salt and borax.

Timber forests of Chinese firs, pines cypresses and　other trees are also an important source of Tibet's wealth. Most of these are virgin forests.

Tibet also grows many varieties of medicinal herbs.

Carpets made of yak and sheep's wool and incense　are the best known handicraft products in Tibet.

The following is a brief explanation of certain commonly used Tibetan names and terms:

Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdeni

In Tibet, religious leaders are at the same time political leaders. According to historical tradition in the　Tibet region, there are two political-religious leaders: the Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdeni.　In Mongolian, Dalai means "ocean," implying that his wisdom is as　great as the ocean. The title of the Dalai Lama began with　the Third Dalai (his two predecessors received the title　of Dalai Lama retroactively).　 After the Third Dalai, Sonam Gyatso, went to Chinghai to propagate the faith　on the invitation of the Mongolian chieftain Altan Khan　(Anda Khan) in 1575, the third year of the reign of　Emperor Wan Li of the Ming dynasty, he was honoured　with the title of Dalai Lama. The title of Dalai Lama　was officially conferred on the Fifth Dalai by the Emperor Shun Chin of the Ching dynasty in 1653.

In Sanscrit, Panchen means profound wisdom and　great learning. Erdeni is a title of honour. The title　"Panchen Erdeni" was first conferred by Emperor　Kanghsi of the Ching dynasty in 1717. The Dalai Lama　lived in Lhasa, and Panchen Erdeni in Shigatse.

According to Tibetan annals, the First Dalai and　the First Panchen were the disciples of Tson-kha-pa, founder of the Yellow Sect of Buddhism in Tibet. After　his death, Tson-kha-pa was reincarnated in the Dalai and　Panchen Lamas, who became his successors. Since then, when the Dalai or Panchen Lama dies, people are sent　out to find the infant into whose body his spirit has　passed, according to Tibetan belief, and the infant so　found becomes his successor.

The present Dalai Lama is the Fourteenth Dalai, and　Panchen Erdeni is the Tenth Panchen.

Lamaism and Lama

After Buddhism was brought to Tibet in the 7th　century it was permeated with elements of the indigenous religion. It was generally called Lamaism to　show that it differed from ordin, ary Buddhism.

Lama means "supreme," or "sage," according to the　Lamaist canons. An honourable title for the monks in　Tibet, it applies to the ordinary ecclesiastic as well.

Living Buddha

A Living Buddha is a lama of the upper strata　After political and religious rule is merged into one　entity, Living Buddhas have always been the political　leaders of Tibet. With the rise of the Yellow Sect, which　advocates celibacy, the system of "reincarnation" replaced　the system of father to son succession. Living Buddhas　are divided into the following ranks:

1. The Dalai and Panchen are the highest Living　Buddhas, and the political and religious leaders of Tibet.

2.　"Gyalpo-trulku" are grand Living Buddhas, second in rank only to the Dalai and Panchen. "Gyalpo" means "king," and "trulku" "reincarnation." There are only four or five Living Buddhas of this rank.

They received the title of Hutuktu from the Ching court.

3. There are a large number of ordinary Living Buddhas who have their own monasteries and manors and exercise immense power in their own areas.

There are some minor Living Buddhas who also have their own small monasteries and estates.

Kanpo

Kanpo has the following three meanings:

1. Lamas who have a profound knowledge of the scripture and have mastered the canons of the faith:

2. Leaders of the monasteries and

3. High-ranking ecclesiastical officials who are part　of the retinues of the Dalai, Panchen and other grand　Living Buddhas.

The Yellow Sect and White Sect

The Yellow Sect and the White Sect are two different　schools of Lamaism in Tibet.

The Yellow Sect, founded by Tson-kha-pa (1357-1419)in the early Ming dynasty, is now the largest religious　body of Lamaism. His "Jangchhub Lam-rim" (The　Graded Path) is today the basic scripture of the Yellow　Sect, which began to hold the reins of the local Tibetan　government in the early Ching dynasty with the Dalai　Lama and Panchen Erdeni as its leaders. In addition to　the three chief Buddhist monasteries of Lhasa (Daipung, Sera and Gahdan) and the Trashilhunpo Monastery in　Houtsang, which are the centres of the Yellow Sect, monasteries affiliated to it are found throughout Szechuan, Chinghai, Kansu and other regions inhabited by Tibetans; among the larger ones are the Kungtehlin Monastery, the Rabchen Monastery, the Gumbum Monastery in　Chinghai and the Labrang Monastery in Kansu.

The White Sect is more specifically known as the　"Dagyudpa Sect," meaning oral preaching. It was　founded by Marpa (1012-1095) in the Sung dynasty. The　Phamodrupa school of the White Sect once succeeded the　Sakya Sect in the political control of all Tibet. Its main　monasteries include the Trigung, the Taglung, the Palpang　and others. Lamas of the "Dagyudpa Sect" wear a white　gown, hence the name "White Sect."

Titles in the Former Local Administrative and Military Organizations in Tibet

Ggaltsab: meaning regent. After a reincarnation, the Dalai Lama is too young to assume his office, so a　regent exercises political and religious power on his　behalf. The regent returns the government and religious　seals to the Dalai Lama when he grows up.

SiIun: more generally known as sitzub, meaning　political minister, the highest-ranking administrative　official under the Dalai Lama.

Kasha: the local government of Tibet, the supreme　administrative organ under the Dalai Lama. In Tibetan, ka means "order" and sha means "mansion"; kasha　means the "place where orders are issued."

Kaloon: the highest-ranking political officials in the　kasha.

Drondrungkhang: the Secretaries' Office of the kasha, composed of two kadrung (secretaries) and three kadron　(messengers or adjutants) in charge of correspondence, records and transmitting messages.

Chidzong or Chichkab: a fairly large administrative　area in Tibet; each chidzong has several or dozens of　dzong (counties) under its jurisdiction.

Dzong: equivalent to a county, the basic administrative unit in the Tibet region.

Zhika: has two different meanings: 1. an administrative unit on the same level as a dzong, but smaller in　size; 2. a manor.

Tzikhang: the personnel and auditing department, accounting for the local financial expenditures and revenue of the Tibet region and in charge of the training of the younger generation of temporal aristocrats, and of all appointments, promotions and demotions of temporal officials.

Yigtsang: meaning the secretariat, in charge of the　monasteries and religious affairs in Tibet, the keeper of　the seals of the Dalai Lama, in charge of his correspondence　and documents, of the training of the ecclesiastical officials, their transfers to new posts, promotions and demotions.

Tzezimchhunggag: the office of the retinues of the　Dalai Lama.

Chikyab Kanpo: meaning the general kanpo, under　whom are the retinues and officials directly serving the　Dalai Lama.

Magchikhang: headquarters of the Tibetan army.

Magchi: commander of the Tibetan army.

(This article appears on page 19, No. 18, 1959)