Cultural diversity promotes harmony

　　Tashi Dawa (China)

　　It has been 33 years since the Tibetan Federation of Literature and Art Circles was established in October 1981. Over the past 33 years, Tibetan literature and art have thrown off the shackles of obsolete mind and culture and assumed new ideas and content of the times. Tibetan literature and art circles have created far more works and had far more global influence than any time in Tibetan history. With an increase in cultural exchanges and the development of modern media, Tibetan literature and art have spread beyond the plateau to gain wider recognition.

　　Tibetan literary production has been a huge accomplishment over the past 33 years. Since the foundation of the Tibetan Federation of Literature and Art Circles, the production of Tibetan literature has greatly boomed as a host of promising young writers have entered into literary circle with their works reflecting on Tibetan history and reality, leading to the second “Golden Age” since the peaceful liberation of Tibet. In the “Golden Age,” a new style of poems, dubbed “Snow and Wildness,” caught on, and the shift to realism and new-age documentary writing began to prevail. This period witnessed the emergence of a rich array of literary works exhibiting the moral of the age, unique style and Tibetan vibe, and saw the coming of large numbers of talented and prolific writers.

　　Ethnic Tibetan writers have published more than half of books published by writers in Tibet. According to a rough estimate, Tibetan writers have published more than 100 books at home and abroad, including novels, prose, reportage, poems, as well as mythology and fairy tales. The 1980s of the 20th century, in particular, was the start of the flowering of Tibetan contemporary literature. Blessed with novelists, such as Tashi Dawa, Se Bo, Ma Yuan and Yixi Danzeng, Tibetan literature has thrived and produced scores of literary works written in Tibetan and Chinese, including The Only Man Who Survived, Tumultuous Sham-bha-la, Asexual God, Pine Otolith Headware (written in Tibetan), Secrets of Zhaisu Residence (written in Tibetan and Chinese), Passing by Tibet, and High Sky and Thick Soil. Many outstanding works have been translated into English, Japanese, French and German among other foreign languages and gained critical success, for instance, Female Living Buddha (translated into English), The Only Man Who Survived (translated into French), and Tibet, the Soul Fastened to Knot of Leather Strap (translated into German). Emerging writers, such as Ge Yang, Baima Nazhen, Nima Panduo, Tsering Luobu and Bandan have provided a new perspective on an evolving and charming Tibet with their works.

　　The creation of Tibetan literature and art has flourished over the past 30 years. The boom of Chinese literature and art as a whole has prompted Tibetan writers and artists to draw on all other forms of arts, leading to a diversity of creation methods and artistic techniques. Talented artists, excellent works and literary publications have come up in succession. Statistics show that Tibetan literature and art circles have created more than 400 works of literature and art over the past 33 years. More than 600 works and plays, and more than 400 people won awards during international, national and regional competition. Some works have been translated into foreign languages to gain wider readership.

　　Tibetan culture and art circles have invariably met cultural demands of the people over the past 33 years. The Tibetan Federation of Literature and Art Circles has insisted on creating literature and art for people, from people and by people and tried to get close to reality, life and people. Projects, including “Sending Joy to the Countryside,” “Sending Books and Paintings to the Countryside,” and “Bring Warmth and Love to the Countryside” have been initiated by the federation in order to enrich the cultural life of the people of all ethnic groups. Through those projects, literary and art workers find a good arena to display their talents in serving the people.

　　For the past 33 years, Tibet has engaged in extensive cultural exchanges. As Tibet’s door opens wider to the outside world, cultural exchanges have played a significant role in promoting Tibet as well as Tibetan culture, literature and art. Over the past 33 years, the Tibetan Federation of Literature and Art Circles has been very active in taking advantage of all channels to organize troupes, host exhibitions, publish books, receive visiting troupes and delegations, and conduct cultural exchange. More than 20 art exhibitions and exchanges have been held overseas. In September 2013 alone, five Tibet-theme art exhibitions opened in Beijing, including the New-School Tibetan Paintings Exhibition held in Beijing Cultural Palace of Nationalities, the “Sacred Mountains and Divine Water” Art Exhibition held in Tongzhou District, the “Han Shuli Came to Tibet, 40 Years Later” Art Exhibition held in the National Art Museum, the “Harmonious and Beautiful Land” Art Exhibition was held in Beijing Art Academy, as well as the “Harmonious and Beautiful Tibet” Art Exhibition jointly sponsored by the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee and Tibet.cn in the National Theater, which aroused public interest and curiosity in Tibetan art. The Photographers Association hosted the “China Tibet Photo Exhibition” in Nepal for three times. In 2011, several dozen cultural events celebrating the 90th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, the 100th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911 and the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet were held in Beijing and Lhasa, drawing wider public attention than previous events. Outstanding Tibetan artists, represented by Tseitain Zhoima, have gained global recognition with their excellent artistry. Through exhibitions and exchanges, those artists have demonstrated the unique charm of Tibetan art and at the same time they contributed to the enrichment and advancement of Tibetan literature and art under the influence of foreign art.

　　Tibetan literature and art circles have kept growing over the past 33 years with many talented and accomplishing artists coming to the fore. The Hui, Lhoba and Moinba ethnic groups in Tibet have their own writers and artists, and thus greatly supplemented Tibetan literature and art circles mainly dominated by ethnic Tibetans. In the meanwhtime, Tibetan literature and art organizations have started from scratch. Since the 1980s, seven prefecture-level cities in Tibet have founded their federations of literature and art. In April 2011, Tibetan procuratorial organ planned to establish its federation of literature and art. In August 2011, Bomi County inaugurated its first county-level federation of literature and art circles in Tibet. In September 2011, Xainza County in Nagqu area founded its federation of literature and art circles. To date, 10 Tibetan literature and art associations have comprised more 1,000 members, and there are nearly 2,000 professional literary and art worker. Dozens of people have won awards in various art and literary competitions, including the Lu Xun Literary Prize, the Golden Rooster Award, the Flying Goddess Award, the Plum Blossom Award, the Peony Award, the Five First Projects Award initiated by the CPC Publicity Department and Tibet government，the Courser Award, the National Art Award, the International Photography Golden Award, the Everest Literature and Art Award, and the Tseitain Zhoima Fund Prize. A few federation members assume important posts, such as CPPCC members.

　　Tibetan cultural and art have built many brands over the past 33 years. Since 2008, the Tibetan Federation of Literature and Art Circles has jointly hosted the China Tibet Everest Photography Exhibition in three years, which drew record visitors. The federation has opened the Great Beauty Tibet Gallery in Song Village in Beijing, a compound dedicated to increasing communication among Tibetan artists, as part of efforts to promote Tibetan culture.

　　History is written by man, and created by man. Today, Tibetan literature and art circle are embracing diversity and artists are writing, and also creating the history of Tibetan literature and arts.

　　(Tashi Dawa, Chairman of the Tibetan Federation of Literature and Art Circles)