The Westerners' View Of Lhasa(1840—1925)

Tibet is famous for the roof of the world which has a unique geographical landscape and cultural customs,has attracted many Westerners to come to preach and travel.Lhasa,as the capital of Tibet,is even more attractive.It was a special time for westerners to explore Lhasa in the mid-nineteenth century to the early 20 th century.During this time,the land of Lhasa is no longer mysteriousand unknown to westerners but can touch the feel.Westerners saw and heard in Lhasa,to provide us with a new perspective to understand Lhasa.Before the end of the eighteenth century,Tibet was not always closed doors to outsiders.The geographical envrionment is the major factor prevent the westerners come to Lhasa.But the missionaries like Ippolito Desideri,come to Lhasa that preaching and collecting information.The Nepalese inbreak to Tibet,Qing Dynasty sent troops and defeat it,and then is not allowed the westernes to Tibet.The closed society of Lhasa was forced to open that after the Opium War.The Qing Dynasty was complled to sign the unequal Treaty.This makes a large of westerners have an excuse to Lhasa missionaries,travel,trade that can exploring this unknown world and revealing its mysterious,which was rationality and legality.The article launches its study of Lhasa in westerner' view from one thousand eight hundred and forty to one thousand nine hundred and twenty-five,based on travels in western languages.First of all,described the activities of westerners in Lhasa and their impression of Lhasa before one thousand eight hundred and fouty.Secondly,it introduces the activities of missionaries,such as Britain,Russia,France,and so on,to explore the political,economic,cultural and religious beliefs of Lhasa in the eyes of other.Finally,analysis of the influence brought by westerners activities in Lhasa,on the one hand,to collect information,toprovide help for aggression and plunder in western countries.At the same time,to a certain extent reflects the Lhasa society the face of the objective to promote the Lhasa modernizatoin and cultural exchanges.