A Study On Tibetan Policies In The Republic Of China(1912-1949)

The establishment of the Republic of China indicated that China began itstransition from traditional monarchy to modern nation-state, fluctuation exist obviousrelationship between Tibet and central in the period of the Republic of China, thecentral policy to Tibet and initiatives with Tibet action and reaction appearedaccordingly the evolution. Needless to say, in the influence of colonial invasion andthe impact of the western nationalism, and foreign forces of hidden things out, thelocal government of Tibet was generated outward seeking political rely on and evensome "independent" tendency, however, this kind of political opinion during theperiod of the Republic of Tibet politics not only occupy the leading position, strongoppose and resist and always was "introverted" pie and monks class, also does nothave the broad public basis in Tibet society. On the one hand, the centralgovernment’s thought and practice of "Chinese nation" states construction for thepurpose the unification of the country, as well as the Tibet adopted various policiesand measures, the central government and Tibet maintain the normal relationship. Onthe other hand, the political choice and action of Tibetan elite from all walks life inTibet and other Tibetan areas for the unity of the " Chinese nation" states and Tibetfuture, in varying degrees, makes Tibet continued the traditional political affiliationwith central government which has kept since Yuan Dynasty. Therefore, to study theTibetan policies in the period of the Republic of China, must be combined with theTibet central, local and international environment three aspects to discuss, for thecomprehensive.The academic community for relations of Tibet and central government duringthe period of Republic of China has been extensive and in-depth research, research on Tibetan policies, the most attention to the central government’s policies and measuresfor Tibet, often only meet to make data analysis, or the policy is not gain and lossevaluation, rarely has the special research for system of all the Tibetan elites’ actionand reaction in the process of "Chinese nation" state construction in Tibet and otherTibetan areas. However, Tibetan policies and the relationship of central governmentand Tibet during the period of the Republic of China is directly related to the twoaspects of the central government and Tibet local, fragmented and absence is notconducive to grasp the overall context of changes of the relationship between Tibetand the central government. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to study Tibetanpolicies during the period of the Republic of China, combined with the evolvement ofnational theory, and Tibetan elites from all walks in Tibet and other Tibetan areas,how to make political choices and political action in the process of "Chinese nation"states construction, and analysis on their influence and action in the relationship’shistory of Tibet and the central government.This paper from the perspective of ethnology and history, follow the principle of"discuss from historical materials", take the elite study as the breakthrough point, takemodern thinkers, politicians and the Republic of China government’s nationalideology, Tibetan policies and measures as the object of study, and Tibetan elites’political choice and action,such as the political and religious leader in Tibetan area:thethirteenth Dalai Lama,the regent of Rezhen and Dazha in front-Tibet, the ninthPanchen Lama in back-Tibet, Nuona Khutughtu in Khams area,special envoy forTibet:Konchok Jungne and Liu Manqing, Tibetan elite in Khams area, anti-Japanesepolitical activities, Tibetan Improvement Party, to explore various forces’ historicalrole and influence for national unity and Tibetan development in the process of Chinatransforming the traditional empire to the modern nation-state. At the same time, fromthe macroscopic angle of “Chinese nation" states construction’s thought and practice,and Tibetan politics and culture and the external international environment, to exploreTibet policies, national theory, as well as the evolvement rules of relationship betweenTibet and the central government during the period of the Republic of China.