Oral history interview with Tian Bao (official), 2000

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Title: Oral history interview with Tian Bao (official), 2000
Abstract: Oral history interview with Tian Bao (Tib. Sangs-rgyas-ye-shes, 1917-2008; also Sangye Yeshe or Sangye Yeshi); on his joining at the age of 17 and experience during the Long March of the People's Liberation Army in Sichuan, including Xikang or the Tibetan traditional region of Khams, in 1936. Also discusses the efforts of the Communists in Tibet in the 1950s, and Tian Bao's role in assisting the Da lai Lama to travel to Beijing, reforms, and how Mao retained until the 1980s all of Dalai Lama's positions for him if he were to return, but finally the Dalai Lama was a traitor. His views on religion and the improved mutual relations between Tibetans and other nationalities across the plateau. Footage also includes photographs of Tian Bao when he was in Sichuan and with country leaders. Last section contains unusal and closeup footage of official celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of Ganzi (Tib. Dkar-mdzes) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, with People's Liberation Army soliders in formation, Tibetan men and women in traditional dress, official speeches on unity of the nationalities, etc.
Collection Name: Sino-Tibetan Oral History Project
Subjects: History; Khams pa (Tibetan people); Long March, China, 1934-1935; Political customs and rites; Propaganda, Chinese; Nineteen fifties; Sichuan Sheng (China); Garze Zangzu Zizhizhou (China); Changdu Diqu (China); Tian, Bao; China. Zhongguo ren min jie fang jun; Mao, Zedong, 1893-1976
Format: video recordings; oral histories
Genre: Interviews
Date: 2000
Physical Description: 2 video files (Part 1: 63 minutes; Part 2: 63 minutes)
Note (Language): Interview was conducted in Sichuan in Chinese language, with some English translation.
Note (Biographical): Tian Bao (Tib. Sangs rgyas ye shes, or Sangye Yeshe or Sangye Yeshi), was born in Batang (Tib. 'Ba' thang) in 1917. He is one of the most well-known Tibetan young recruits to Chairman Mao's Long March, which reached the Sino-Tibetan borderlands. In 19 50(?), he was one of the leaders in the 18th Army of the People's Liberation Army, when it stood poised to overtake Chamdo (Tib. Chab mdo). Tian Bao was subsequently appointed governor of Tibet in the 1950s. He died in 2008.
Note (Funding): Digitized with funding by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute.
Language: English; Chinese
Library Location: C.V. Starr East Asian Library, Columbia University
Browse Location’s Digital Content
Catalog Record: 7202483
Also In: Tibetan Studies Special Collections at Columbia University
Copyright Status: In Copyright
Persistent URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8-8h6e-3q61