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CNN World Report

Tibet Struggles With Modernization

Aired June 24, 2001 - 14:51   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: For centuries, the people of Tibet have been dedicated to the preservation of their culture despite a Chinese invasion in 1950. Tibet first opened it doors to outside tourists in 1984.

SHIHAB RATTANSI, CNN ANCHOR: And now there's a growing trend toward modernization.

China Central Television has this perspective on a changing Tibet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LIU CHANGYING, CCTV REPORTER (voice-over): Believe it or not, billiards is one of the most popular pastimes in Tibet now. Soft drinks such as Coca-Cola have been readily available for years. These may be small things, but they show that outside influences have flooded into the capital of Lhasa. Drinking, one of the most important elements in Tibetan culture, has taken on new flavor in this bar.

Its manager said most of the customers here are local people. He said that the bar tries to attract people through its Tibetan characteristics. The decoration and music are all distinctly Tibetan, and counting the customers here, their strategy seems to be working.

The coexistence of the modern and the traditional in Tibet may worry some people, but Tibetan scholar Pan Zan Wangdou (ph) said it is just a natural phenomenon.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): From a historical point of view, the Tibetans are a very open minded people to willing to accept advances in culture. This approach has a long historical tradition.

CHANGYING: He cited the success of the famous Tibetan King Songtsen Gambo as one example. In the seventh century, the king embraced and introduced aspects of culture from the Tang dynasty, India and Nepal. As a result, he united for the first time the many tribe inhabiting the Tibetan plateau, and founded the powerful Tubo kingdom.

However, Pan Zan Wangdou said that during process of embracing the new and the more advanced, the unique features of Tibetan culture must be preserved.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Our culture must continue its growth, so must its people. If people stop growing, there will be no reason to exist. At the same time, we must place emphasis on preserving our own unique Tibetan culture. Otherwise, such development is like a tree without roots.

CHANGYING: The monks' lives in Tibet have also changed. The Jokhang Monastery is the first sacred place Tibetan pilgrims pay homage in . But today, it is often crowded with tourists from all over the world. The monks here are kept busy with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the morning and tourists in the afternoon. As a result, they themselves can only pursue their religious studies in the evening.

NIMA CIREN, JOKHANG MONASTERY (through translator): It certainly hampers our religious study, but it is also a good chance. No matter how good Buddhism and Tibetan culture are, there are always misunderstandings from the outside world. Now, people can come and see for themselves. For us, through chatting with them, we can also learn about outside world.

CHANGYING (on camera): Proud as they are of their unique traditions, the Tibetans are just as willing to absorb new elements to renew and enrich their own culture. Culture is a living, breathing entity, and in order to survive, it has to adapt.

(voice-over): Liu Changying of China Central Television for CNN WORLD REPORT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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