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Difference between revisions of "Kham"

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<poem>
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'''[[Kham]]''' (Tib. {{BigTibetan|[[ཁམས་]]}}, [[Wyl.]] ''[[khams]]''), often translated as '''[[Eastern Tibet]]''', is one of the three main provinces of [[Tibet]] (the others being [[Ü-Tsang]] and [[Amdo]]).
Kham (Tibetan: ཁམས, Wylie: khams, ZYPY: kam; Chinese: 康; pinyin: Kāng), is a historical region covering a land area largely divided between present-day Tibetan Autonomous Region and Sichuan province, with smaller portions located within Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. During the Republic of China's rule over mainland China (1911–1949), most of the region was called Xikang Province (西康省). It held the status of "special administrative district" until 1939, when it became an official Chinese province. Its provincial status was nominal and without much cohesion, like most of China's territory during the time of Japanese invasion and civil war.
 
  
The natives of the Kham region are called Khampas (Tibetan: ཁམས་པ; Wylie: khams pa; Chinese: 康巴; pinyin: Kāngbā).
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==Four Rivers & Six Ranges==
Ethnic groups
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[[Traditionally]], [[Kham]] is said to cover the area known as the '[[four rivers]] and six ranges' (Tib. {{BigTibetan|[[ཆུ་བཞི་སྒང་དྲུག་]]}}, ''[[chushyi gang druk]]'').
Khampas - the inhabitants of Kham
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The '[[four rivers]]' are the  
  
Linguists and anthropologists refer to Kham as the 'Ethnic Corridor of Southwest China', as its vast and sparsely populated territories are inhabited by over 14 culturally and linguistically distinct ethnic groups. For reasons of simplicity, the Chinese government combines the various ethnic groups of Kham together with the Tibetans to form one big nationality, called the "Tibetan Nationality". There are, however, significant differences in traditions and beliefs—even physical appearance—between the peoples of Kham and Lhasa. At least one-third of Kham residents are speakers of Qiangic languages, a family of twelve distinct but interrelated languages that are not closely related to the Khams Tibetan [[Language]].
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{{Nolinking|*Manchu,
  
The people of Kham are reputed warriors.
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*Dzachu,
History
 
  
Kham was traditionally referred to as Chushi Gangdruk, i.e. 'four rivers and six ranges'. The peoples of Kham have endured a tumultuous past, their sovereignty often encroached upon and marginalized by both Tibetans to the West and the Han Chinese to the East.
+
*Drichu, and
  
Kham was never controlled by a single king, but most of the chieftains revered the [[Dalai]] Lamas and often made contact with the Lhasa government. Kham was a patchwork of two dozen or more kingdoms, tribes, and chiefdoms that were constantly at war with each other. Since the collapse of the Tibetan Empire in the mid-9th century, the peoples of Kham had aggressively maintained their independence from invading nations. Local chieftains ruled their respective territories with hereditary titles bestowed by the Chinese government. Chieftains were able to rule with a large degree of independence from both China and Tibet.  
+
*Ngulchu.
  
In 1717, the Mongol Zunghar Khanate invaded Tibet, and a period of internal strife and civil war followed. The Kangxi emperor sent armies into the area by 1720 to defeat the Dzungars, when local Tibetan leaders pledged their allegiance to the Qing Empire. In 1724, the regions of Amdo and Kham were made into the province of Qinghai (Kokonor), with parts of Eastern Kham incorporated into neighboring Chinese provinces.  
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 +
The 'six ranges' are the
 +
 
 +
*Zalmo Range (Tib. {{BigTibetan|[[ཟལ་མོ་སྒང་]]}}, [[Wyl.]] ''[[zal mo sgang]]''),
 +
 
 +
*Tsawa Range (Tib. {{BigTibetan|[[ཚ་བ་སྒང་]]}}, [[Wyl.]] ''[[tsha ba sgang]]''),
 +
 
 +
*Markham Range (Tib. {{BigTibetan|[[སྨར་ཁམས་སྒང་]]}}, [[Wyl.]] ''[[smar khams sgang]]''),
 +
 
 +
*Minyak-rab Range (Tib. {{BigTibetan|[[མི་ཉག་རབ་སྒང་]]}}, [[Wyl.]] ''[[mi nyag rab sgang]]''),
 +
 
 +
*Pobor Range (Tib. {{BigTibetan|[[སྤོ་འབོར་སྒང་]]}}, [[Wyl.]] ''[[spo 'bor sgang]]''), and
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*Mardza Range (Tib. {{BigTibetan|[[དམར་རྫ་སྒང་]]}}, [[Wyl.]] ''[[dmar rdza sgang]]'').}}
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 +
 
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==External Links==
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*[https://collab.itc.virginia.edu/access/wiki/site/679c2e7e-ca49-462b-0038-a5e0534b709f/kham%20place%20essay.html '[[Kham]] Place Essay' from the [[Tibetan]] {{Wiki|Renaissance}} Seminar; Contributors: Alison Melnick, Chelsea Hall.]
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{{RigpaWiki}}
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{{NewSourceBreak}}
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[[Kham]] ([[Tibetan]]: {{BigTibetan|[[ཁམས]]}}, [[Wylie]]: [[khams]], ZYPY: kam; {{Wiki|Chinese}}: [[康]]; pinyin: [[Kāng]]), is a historical region covering a land area largely divided between present-day {{Wiki|Tibetan Autonomous Region}} and {{Wiki|Sichuan province}}, with smaller portions located within {{Wiki|Qinghai}}, [[wikipedia:Gansu|Gansu]] and {{Wiki|Yunnan}} provinces of [[China]]. During the {{Wiki|Republic}} of [[China's]] rule over mainland [[China]] (1911–1949), most of the region was called {{Wiki|Xikang}} Province (西康省). It held the {{Wiki|status}} of "special administrative district" until 1939, when it became an official {{Wiki|Chinese}} province. Its provincial {{Wiki|status}} was nominal and without much cohesion, like most of [[China's]] territory during the [[time]] of [[Japanese]] invasion and civil [[war]].
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The natives of the [[Kham]] region are called [[Khampas]] ([[Tibetan]]: {{BigTibetan|[[ཁམས་པ]]}}; [[Wylie]]: [[khams pa]]; {{Wiki|Chinese}}: [[康巴]]; pinyin: [[Kāngbā]]).
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 +
=={{Wiki|Ethnic}} groups==
 +
 
 +
{{Wiki|Linguists}} and anthropologists refer to [[Kham]] as the '{{Wiki|Ethnic}} Corridor of [[Southwest]] [[China]]', as its vast and sparsely populated territories are inhabited by over 14 culturally and linguistically {{Wiki|distinct}} {{Wiki|ethnic}} groups. For [[reasons]] of [[simplicity]], the {{Wiki|Chinese government}} combines the various {{Wiki|ethnic}} groups of [[Kham]] together with the [[Tibetans]] to [[form]] one big nationality, called the "[[Tibetan]] Nationality". There are, however, significant differences in [[traditions]] and beliefs—even [[physical]] appearance—between the peoples of [[Kham]] and [[Lhasa]]. At least one-third of [[Kham]] residents are speakers of Qiangic [[languages]], a family of twelve {{Wiki|distinct}} but {{Wiki|interrelated}} [[languages]] that are not closely related to the [[Khams]] [[Tibetan]] [[Language]].
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==History==
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[[Kham]] was [[traditionally]] referred to as Chushi Gangdruk, i.e. '[[four rivers]] and six ranges'. The peoples of [[Kham]] have endured a tumultuous {{Wiki|past}}, their {{Wiki|sovereignty}} often encroached upon and marginalized by both [[Tibetans]] to the [[West]] and the {{Wiki|Han Chinese}} to the [[East]].
 +
 
 +
[[Kham]] was never controlled by a single [[king]], but most of the chieftains revered the [[Dalai]] [[Lamas]] and often made [[contact]] with the [[Lhasa]] government. [[Kham]] was a patchwork of two dozen or more {{Wiki|kingdoms}}, tribes, and chiefdoms that were constantly at [[war]] with each other. Since the collapse of the {{Wiki|Tibetan Empire}} in the mid-9th century, the peoples of [[Kham]] had aggressively maintained their {{Wiki|independence}} from invading nations. Local chieftains ruled their respective territories with [[Wikipedia:Heredity|hereditary]] titles bestowed by the {{Wiki|Chinese government}}. Chieftains were able to rule with a large [[degree]] of {{Wiki|independence}} from both [[China]] and [[Tibet]].
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In 1717, the {{Wiki|Mongol}} Zunghar {{Wiki|Khanate}} invaded [[Tibet]], and a period of internal strife and civil [[war]] followed. The {{Wiki|Kangxi}} [[emperor]] sent armies into the area by 1720 to defeat the {{Wiki|Dzungars}}, when local [[Tibetan]] leaders pledged their allegiance to the Qing [[Empire]]. In 1724, the regions of [[Amdo]] and [[Kham]] were made into the province of {{Wiki|Qinghai}} ([[Kokonor]]), with parts of Eastern [[Kham]] incorporated into neighboring {{Wiki|Chinese}} provinces.  
 
[[File:Guru-rin.jpg|thumb|250px|]]
 
[[File:Guru-rin.jpg|thumb|250px|]]
In the early 19th century, Gombo Namgye raised a rebellion in Nyarong, an area of Eastern Kham. He is reported to have taken control of Eastern Tibet, excepting Amdo. Residents of Derge and the Hor States appealed to both Lhasa and the Manchu government for help against Namgye. China was unable to take action, but Tibetan authorities sent an army in 1863, and defeated Namgye in 1865. Tibet then claimed Nyarong, Derge (or De-ge) and the Hor States north of Nyarong. This appears to have been accepted by the Manchu emperor.  
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In the early 19th century, Gombo Namgye raised a rebellion in Nyarong, an area of Eastern [[Kham]]. He is reported to have taken control of [[Eastern Tibet]], excepting [[Amdo]]. Residents of [[Derge]] and the Hor States appealed to both [[Lhasa]] and the {{Wiki|Manchu}} government for help against Namgye. [[China]] was unable to take [[action]], but [[Tibetan]] authorities sent an {{Wiki|army}} in 1863, and defeated Namgye in 1865. [[Tibet]] then claimed Nyarong, [[Derge]] (or [[De-ge]]) and the Hor States [[north]] of Nyarong. This appears to have been accepted by the {{Wiki|Manchu}} [[emperor]].  
  
Tibetan control of the Batang region of Kham appears to have continued uncontested from an agreement made in 1726 until soon after the invasion of Tibet by Francis Younghusband in 1904, which alarmed the Qing rulers in China. They sent an imperial official to the region to begin reasserting Qing control, but the locals revolted and killed him. The Qing government in Beijing then appointed Zhao Erfeng, the Governor of Xining, "Army Commander of Tibet" to reintegrate Tibet into China. He was sent in 1905 (though other sources say this occurred in 1908)  on a punitive expedition and began destroying many monasteries in Kham and Amdo and implementing a process of sinification of the region:  
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[[Tibetan]] control of the Batang region of [[Kham]] appears to have continued uncontested from an agreement made in 1726 until soon after the [[Wikipedia:Invasion of Tibet (1950–1951)|invasion of Tibet]] by {{Wiki|Francis Younghusband}} in 1904, which alarmed the Qing rulers in [[China]]. They sent an {{Wiki|imperial}} official to the region to begin reasserting Qing control, but the locals revolted and killed him. The Qing government in {{Wiki|Beijing}} then appointed [[Zhao]] Erfeng, the Governor of [[Xining]], "{{Wiki|Army}} Commander of [[Tibet]]" to reintegrate [[Tibet]] into [[China]]. He was sent in 1905 (though other sources say this occurred in 1908)  on a punitive expedition and began destroying many [[monasteries]] in [[Kham]] and [[Amdo]] and implementing a process of sinification of the region:  
  
    "He abolished the powers of the Tibetan local leaders and appointed Chinese magistrates in their places. He introduced new laws that limited the number of lamas and deprived monasteries of their temporal [[Power]] and inaugurated schemes for having the land cultivated by Chinese immigrants.
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:    "He abolished the [[powers]] of the [[Tibetan]] local leaders and appointed {{Wiki|Chinese}} magistrates in their places. He introduced new laws that limited the number of [[lamas]] and deprived [[monasteries]] of their {{Wiki|temporal}} [[Power]] and inaugurated schemes for having the land cultivated by {{Wiki|Chinese}} immigrants.
    Zhao's methods in eastern Tibet uncannily prefigured the Communist policies nearly half a century later. They were aimed at the extermination of the Tibetan clergy, the assimilation of territory and repopulation of the Tibetan plateaus with poor peasants from Sichuan. Like the later Chinese conquerors, Zhao's men looted and destroyed Tibetan monasteries, melted down religious images and tore up sacred texts to use to line the soles of their boots and, as the Communists were also to do later, Zhao Erfeng worked out a comprehensive scheme for the redevelopment of Tibet that covered military training reclamation work, secular education, trade and administration."  
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:    Zhao's methods in [[eastern Tibet]] uncannily prefigured the {{Wiki|Communist}} policies nearly half a century later. They were aimed at the extermination of the [[Tibetan]] {{Wiki|clergy}}, the assimilation of territory and repopulation of the [[Tibetan]] plateaus with poor peasants from {{Wiki|Sichuan}}. Like the later {{Wiki|Chinese}} conquerors, Zhao's men looted and destroyed [[Tibetan]] [[monasteries]], melted down [[religious]] images and tore up [[sacred]] texts to use to line the soles of their boots and, as the {{Wiki|Communists}} were also to do later, [[Zhao]] Erfeng worked out a comprehensive scheme for the redevelopment of [[Tibet]] that covered {{Wiki|military}} training reclamation work, {{Wiki|secular}} [[education]], trade and administration."  
  
In 1910, the Qing government sent a military expedition of its own to establish direct Chinese rule. They deposed the [[13th Dalai Lama]] in an imperial edict and instigated a search for a new incarnation. The [[Dalai Lama]] then fled to British [[India]] in February 1910. While in [[India]], the [[Dalai Lama]] became a close friend of Charles Alfred Bell, a British diplomatic officer stationed in Sikkim and a critic of Great Britain's policies in the region. "By going in and then coming out again, we knocked the Tibetans down and left them for the first comer to kick," wrote Bell later. The situation was soon to change, however, as, after the fall of the Qing dynasty in October 1911, Zhao's soldiers mutinied and beheaded him.  
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In 1910, the Qing government sent a {{Wiki|military}} expedition of its own to establish direct {{Wiki|Chinese}} rule. They deposed the [[13th Dalai Lama]] in an {{Wiki|imperial}} {{Wiki|edict}} and instigated a search for a new [[incarnation]]. The [[Dalai Lama]] then fled to {{Wiki|British}} [[India]] in February 1910. While in [[India]], the [[Dalai Lama]] became a close [[friend]] of {{Wiki|Charles Alfred Bell}}, a {{Wiki|British}} diplomatic officer stationed in [[Sikkim]] and a critic of Great Britain's policies in the region. "By going in and then coming out again, we knocked the [[Tibetans]] down and left them for the first comer to kick," wrote [[Bell]] later. The situation was soon to change, however, as, after the fall of the {{Wiki|Qing dynasty}} in October 1911, Zhao's soldiers mutinied and beheaded him.  
  
The [[13th Dalai Lama]] fled to British [[India]] in February 1910. The same month, the Chinese Qing government issued a proclamation deposing the [[Dalai Lama]] and instigating the search for a new incarnation.  
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The [[13th Dalai Lama]] fled to {{Wiki|British}} [[India]] in February 1910. The same month, the {{Wiki|Chinese}} Qing government issued a proclamation deposing the [[Dalai Lama]] and instigating the search for a new [[incarnation]].  
 
[[File:Guru-Naistega.jpg|thumb|250px|]]
 
[[File:Guru-Naistega.jpg|thumb|250px|]]
The official position of the British Government was it would not intervene between China and Tibet and would only recognize the de facto government of China within Tibet at this time.  Bell, in his history of Tibet, wrote of this time that "the Tibetans were abandoned to Chinese aggression, an aggression for which the British Military Expedition to Lhasa and subsequent retreat [and consequent power vacuum within Tibet) were primarily responsible".  Later, Britain defined the Indo-Tibetan border at the 1914 Simla Accord with the McMahon Line. China's delegation refused to agree to the line and still claims the land India received from Tibet as South Tibet, although the McMahon line remains the de facto border.
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The official position of the {{Wiki|British}} Government was it would not intervene between [[China]] and [[Tibet]] and would only [[recognize]] the {{Wiki|de facto}} government of [[China]] within [[Tibet]] at this [[time]][[Bell]], in his history of [[Tibet]], wrote of this [[time]] that "the [[Tibetans]] were abandoned to {{Wiki|Chinese}} [[aggression]], an [[aggression]] for which the {{Wiki|British}} {{Wiki|Military}} Expedition to [[Lhasa]] and subsequent [[retreat]] [and consequent power {{Wiki|vacuum}} within [[Tibet]]) were primarily responsible".  Later, Britain defined the Indo-Tibetan border at the 1914 Simla Accord with the McMahon Line. [[China's]] delegation refused to agree to the line and still claims the land [[India]] received from [[Tibet]] as [[South]] [[Tibet]], although the McMahon line remains the {{Wiki|de facto}} border.
  
In 1932, an agreement signed between Chinese warlord Liu Wenhui and Tibetan forces formalized the partition of Kham into two regions: Eastern Kham, which was administered by Chinese forces, and Western Kham, which was administered by Tibet. Eastern Kham subsequently became the actual area of control of China's Xikang province. The border between eastern and western Kham is the Yangtze River - Dri Chu in Tibetan and Jinsha Jiang, or Chang Jiang respectively, in Chinese.
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In 1932, an agreement signed between {{Wiki|Chinese}} warlord Liu Wenhui and [[Tibetan]] forces formalized the partition of [[Kham]] into two regions: Eastern [[Kham]], which was administered by {{Wiki|Chinese}} forces, and {{Wiki|Western}} [[Kham]], which was administered by [[Tibet]]. Eastern [[Kham]] subsequently became the actual area of control of [[China's]] {{Wiki|Xikang}} province. The border between eastern and {{Wiki|western}} [[Kham]] is the {{Wiki|Yangtze River}} - Dri Chu in [[Tibetan]] and Jinsha Jiang, or [[Chang]] Jiang respectively, in {{Wiki|Chinese}}.
  
Tenpay Gyaltsan, a Khampa who was 5 years old, was selected as the fifth Jamyang Hutuktu in 1921.  
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Tenpay Gyaltsan, a [[Khampa]] who was 5 years old, was selected as the fifth Jamyang [[Hutuktu]] in 1921.  
  
The Kham Pandatsang family led the 1934 Khamba Rebellion against the Tibetan government in Lhasa. The Kuomintang Republic of China government reached out to the Khampas, whose relationship with the Dalai Lama's government in Lhasa were detereorating badly. The Khampa revolutionary leader Pandatsang Rapga founded the Tibet Improvement Party to overthrow the Tibetan government and establish a Tibetan Republic as part of China. In addition to using the Khampa's against the Tibetan Government in Lhasa, the Chinese Kuomintang also used them against the Communists during the Chinese Civil War.
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The [[Kham]] Pandatsang family led the 1934 Khamba Rebellion against the [[Tibetan]] government in [[Lhasa]]. The {{Wiki|Kuomintang}} {{Wiki|Republic of China}} government reached out to the [[Khampas]], whose relationship with the [[Dalai Lama's]] government in [[Lhasa]] were detereorating badly. The [[Khampa]] {{Wiki|revolutionary}} leader Pandatsang Rapga founded the [[Tibet]] Improvement Party to overthrow the [[Tibetan]] government and establish a [[Tibetan]] {{Wiki|Republic}} as part of [[China]]. In addition to using the Khampa's against the {{Wiki|Tibetan Government}} in [[Lhasa]], the {{Wiki|Chinese}} {{Wiki|Kuomintang}} also used them against the {{Wiki|Communists}} during the {{Wiki|Chinese}} Civil [[War]].
  
The Kuomintang formulated a plan where 3 Khampa divisions would be assisted by the Panchen Lama to oppose the Communists.  
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The {{Wiki|Kuomintang}} formulated a plan where 3 [[Khampa]] divisions would be assisted by the [[Panchen Lama]] to oppose the {{Wiki|Communists}}.  
  
Kuomintang intelligence reported that some Tibetan tusi chiefs and the Khampa Su Yonghe controlled 80,000 troops in Sichuan, Qinghai, and Tibet. They hoped to use them against the Communist army.  
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{{Wiki|Kuomintang}} [[intelligence]] reported that some [[Tibetan]] tusi chiefs and the [[Khampa]] Su Yonghe controlled 80,000 troops in {{Wiki|Sichuan}}, {{Wiki|Qinghai}}, and [[Tibet]]. They hoped to use them against the {{Wiki|Communist}} {{Wiki|army}}.  
  
The Chinese Kuomintang (Nationalists) also enlisted Khampas to join their military.  
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The {{Wiki|Chinese}} {{Wiki|Kuomintang}} ({{Wiki|Nationalists}}) also enlisted [[Khampas]] to join their {{Wiki|military}}.  
 
[[File:Hall-GURU-mandala.jpg|thumb|250px|]]
 
[[File:Hall-GURU-mandala.jpg|thumb|250px|]]
The Chinese Kuomintang also sought the Khampas help in defending Sichuan from Japan during World War 2, since the temporary capital was located there.  A Khampa member of the Mongolian Tibetan Academy was Han Jiaxiang.  
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The {{Wiki|Chinese}} {{Wiki|Kuomintang}} also sought the [[Khampas]] help in defending {{Wiki|Sichuan}} from [[Japan]] during [[World]] [[War]] 2, since the temporary capital was located there.  A [[Khampa]] member of the {{Wiki|Mongolian}} [[Tibetan]] {{Wiki|Academy}} was Han [[Jiaxiang]].  
  
300 "Khampa bandits" were enlisted into the Kuomintang's Consolatory Commission military in Sichuan, where they were part of the effort of the central government of China to penetrated and destabilize the local Han warlords such as Liu Wenhui. The Chinese government sought to exercise full control over frontier areas against the warlords. The Consoltary Commission forces were used to battle the Communist Red Army, but were defeated when their religious leader was captured by Communist forces.  
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300 "[[Khampa]] bandits" were enlisted into the Kuomintang's Consolatory Commission {{Wiki|military}} in {{Wiki|Sichuan}}, where they were part of the [[effort]] of the central government of [[China]] to penetrated and destabilize the local Han warlords such as Liu Wenhui. The {{Wiki|Chinese government}} sought to exercise full control over frontier areas against the warlords. The Consoltary Commission forces were used to battle the {{Wiki|Communist}} [[Red Army]], but were defeated when their [[religious]] leader was captured by {{Wiki|Communist}} forces.  
  
The Republic of China government also used Khampa traders to operate secret transports between different places.  
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The {{Wiki|Republic of China}} government also used [[Khampa]] traders to operate secret transports between different places.  
  
Kesang Tsering was sent by the Chinese to Batang to take control of Xikang, where he formed a local government. He was spread there for the purpose of propagating the Three People's Principle to the Khampa.  
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Kesang Tsering was sent by the {{Wiki|Chinese}} to Batang to take control of {{Wiki|Xikang}}, where he formed a local government. He was spread there for the purpose of {{Wiki|propagating}} the Three People's [[Principle]] to the [[Khampa]].  
  
In 1950, following the defeat of the Kuomintang rulers of China by communist forces in the Chinese Civil War, the People's Liberation Army entered western Kham. Western Kham was then set up as a separate Qamdo Territory (昌都地区), then merged into Tibet Autonomous Region in 1965. Meanwhile, Xikang province, comprising eastern Kham, was merged into Sichuan province in 1955. The border between Sichuan and Tibet Autonomous Region has remained the Yangtze River. The northernmost region of Kham, Yushu, has been a part of Qinghai province since the 18th century.
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In 1950, following the defeat of the {{Wiki|Kuomintang}} rulers of [[China]] by {{Wiki|communist}} forces in the {{Wiki|Chinese}} Civil [[War]], the {{Wiki|People's Liberation Army}} entered {{Wiki|western}} [[Kham]]. {{Wiki|Western}} [[Kham]] was then set up as a separate Qamdo Territory (昌都地区), then merged into {{Wiki|Tibet Autonomous Region}} in 1965. Meanwhile, {{Wiki|Xikang}} province, comprising eastern [[Kham]], was merged into {{Wiki|Sichuan province}} in 1955. The border between {{Wiki|Sichuan}} and {{Wiki|Tibet Autonomous Region}} has remained the {{Wiki|Yangtze River}}. The northernmost region of [[Kham]], Yushu, has been a part of {{Wiki|Qinghai}} province since the 18th century.
</poem>
 
  
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{{W}}
  
 
{{W}}
 
[[Category:Buddhist Terms]]
 
 
[[Category:Tibet]]
 
[[Category:Tibet]]

Latest revision as of 15:44, 31 December 2014

M2011.jpg

Kham (Tib. ཁམས་, Wyl. khams), often translated as Eastern Tibet, is one of the three main provinces of Tibet (the others being Ü-Tsang and Amdo).

Four Rivers & Six Ranges

Traditionally, Kham is said to cover the area known as the 'four rivers and six ranges' (Tib. ཆུ་བཞི་སྒང་དྲུག་, chushyi gang druk). The 'four rivers' are the

  • Manchu,
  • Dzachu,
  • Drichu, and
  • Ngulchu.


The 'six ranges' are the


External Links

Source

RigpaWiki:Kham







Kham (Tibetan: ཁམས, Wylie: khams, ZYPY: kam; Chinese: ; pinyin: Kāng), is a historical region covering a land area largely divided between present-day Tibetan Autonomous Region and Sichuan province, with smaller portions located within Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. During the Republic of China's rule over mainland China (1911–1949), most of the region was called Xikang Province (西康省). It held the status of "special administrative district" until 1939, when it became an official Chinese province. Its provincial status was nominal and without much cohesion, like most of China's territory during the time of Japanese invasion and civil war.

The natives of the Kham region are called Khampas (Tibetan: ཁམས་པ; Wylie: khams pa; Chinese: 康巴; pinyin: Kāngbā).

Ethnic groups

Linguists and anthropologists refer to Kham as the 'Ethnic Corridor of Southwest China', as its vast and sparsely populated territories are inhabited by over 14 culturally and linguistically distinct ethnic groups. For reasons of simplicity, the Chinese government combines the various ethnic groups of Kham together with the Tibetans to form one big nationality, called the "Tibetan Nationality". There are, however, significant differences in traditions and beliefs—even physical appearance—between the peoples of Kham and Lhasa. At least one-third of Kham residents are speakers of Qiangic languages, a family of twelve distinct but interrelated languages that are not closely related to the Khams Tibetan Language.

History

Kham was traditionally referred to as Chushi Gangdruk, i.e. 'four rivers and six ranges'. The peoples of Kham have endured a tumultuous past, their sovereignty often encroached upon and marginalized by both Tibetans to the West and the Han Chinese to the East.

Kham was never controlled by a single king, but most of the chieftains revered the Dalai Lamas and often made contact with the Lhasa government. Kham was a patchwork of two dozen or more kingdoms, tribes, and chiefdoms that were constantly at war with each other. Since the collapse of the Tibetan Empire in the mid-9th century, the peoples of Kham had aggressively maintained their independence from invading nations. Local chieftains ruled their respective territories with hereditary titles bestowed by the Chinese government. Chieftains were able to rule with a large degree of independence from both China and Tibet.

In 1717, the Mongol Zunghar Khanate invaded Tibet, and a period of internal strife and civil war followed. The Kangxi emperor sent armies into the area by 1720 to defeat the Dzungars, when local Tibetan leaders pledged their allegiance to the Qing Empire. In 1724, the regions of Amdo and Kham were made into the province of Qinghai (Kokonor), with parts of Eastern Kham incorporated into neighboring Chinese provinces.

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In the early 19th century, Gombo Namgye raised a rebellion in Nyarong, an area of Eastern Kham. He is reported to have taken control of Eastern Tibet, excepting Amdo. Residents of Derge and the Hor States appealed to both Lhasa and the Manchu government for help against Namgye. China was unable to take action, but Tibetan authorities sent an army in 1863, and defeated Namgye in 1865. Tibet then claimed Nyarong, Derge (or De-ge) and the Hor States north of Nyarong. This appears to have been accepted by the Manchu emperor.

Tibetan control of the Batang region of Kham appears to have continued uncontested from an agreement made in 1726 until soon after the invasion of Tibet by Francis Younghusband in 1904, which alarmed the Qing rulers in China. They sent an imperial official to the region to begin reasserting Qing control, but the locals revolted and killed him. The Qing government in Beijing then appointed Zhao Erfeng, the Governor of Xining, "Army Commander of Tibet" to reintegrate Tibet into China. He was sent in 1905 (though other sources say this occurred in 1908) on a punitive expedition and began destroying many monasteries in Kham and Amdo and implementing a process of sinification of the region:

"He abolished the powers of the Tibetan local leaders and appointed Chinese magistrates in their places. He introduced new laws that limited the number of lamas and deprived monasteries of their temporal Power and inaugurated schemes for having the land cultivated by Chinese immigrants.
Zhao's methods in eastern Tibet uncannily prefigured the Communist policies nearly half a century later. They were aimed at the extermination of the Tibetan clergy, the assimilation of territory and repopulation of the Tibetan plateaus with poor peasants from Sichuan. Like the later Chinese conquerors, Zhao's men looted and destroyed Tibetan monasteries, melted down religious images and tore up sacred texts to use to line the soles of their boots and, as the Communists were also to do later, Zhao Erfeng worked out a comprehensive scheme for the redevelopment of Tibet that covered military training reclamation work, secular education, trade and administration."

In 1910, the Qing government sent a military expedition of its own to establish direct Chinese rule. They deposed the 13th Dalai Lama in an imperial edict and instigated a search for a new incarnation. The Dalai Lama then fled to British India in February 1910. While in India, the Dalai Lama became a close friend of Charles Alfred Bell, a British diplomatic officer stationed in Sikkim and a critic of Great Britain's policies in the region. "By going in and then coming out again, we knocked the Tibetans down and left them for the first comer to kick," wrote Bell later. The situation was soon to change, however, as, after the fall of the Qing dynasty in October 1911, Zhao's soldiers mutinied and beheaded him.

The 13th Dalai Lama fled to British India in February 1910. The same month, the Chinese Qing government issued a proclamation deposing the Dalai Lama and instigating the search for a new incarnation.

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The official position of the British Government was it would not intervene between China and Tibet and would only recognize the de facto government of China within Tibet at this time. Bell, in his history of Tibet, wrote of this time that "the Tibetans were abandoned to Chinese aggression, an aggression for which the British Military Expedition to Lhasa and subsequent retreat [and consequent power vacuum within Tibet) were primarily responsible". Later, Britain defined the Indo-Tibetan border at the 1914 Simla Accord with the McMahon Line. China's delegation refused to agree to the line and still claims the land India received from Tibet as South Tibet, although the McMahon line remains the de facto border.

In 1932, an agreement signed between Chinese warlord Liu Wenhui and Tibetan forces formalized the partition of Kham into two regions: Eastern Kham, which was administered by Chinese forces, and Western Kham, which was administered by Tibet. Eastern Kham subsequently became the actual area of control of China's Xikang province. The border between eastern and western Kham is the Yangtze River - Dri Chu in Tibetan and Jinsha Jiang, or Chang Jiang respectively, in Chinese.

Tenpay Gyaltsan, a Khampa who was 5 years old, was selected as the fifth Jamyang Hutuktu in 1921.

The Kham Pandatsang family led the 1934 Khamba Rebellion against the Tibetan government in Lhasa. The Kuomintang Republic of China government reached out to the Khampas, whose relationship with the Dalai Lama's government in Lhasa were detereorating badly. The Khampa revolutionary leader Pandatsang Rapga founded the Tibet Improvement Party to overthrow the Tibetan government and establish a Tibetan Republic as part of China. In addition to using the Khampa's against the Tibetan Government in Lhasa, the Chinese Kuomintang also used them against the Communists during the Chinese Civil War.

The Kuomintang formulated a plan where 3 Khampa divisions would be assisted by the Panchen Lama to oppose the Communists.

Kuomintang intelligence reported that some Tibetan tusi chiefs and the Khampa Su Yonghe controlled 80,000 troops in Sichuan, Qinghai, and Tibet. They hoped to use them against the Communist army.

The Chinese Kuomintang (Nationalists) also enlisted Khampas to join their military.

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The Chinese Kuomintang also sought the Khampas help in defending Sichuan from Japan during World War 2, since the temporary capital was located there. A Khampa member of the Mongolian Tibetan Academy was Han Jiaxiang.

300 "Khampa bandits" were enlisted into the Kuomintang's Consolatory Commission military in Sichuan, where they were part of the effort of the central government of China to penetrated and destabilize the local Han warlords such as Liu Wenhui. The Chinese government sought to exercise full control over frontier areas against the warlords. The Consoltary Commission forces were used to battle the Communist Red Army, but were defeated when their religious leader was captured by Communist forces.

The Republic of China government also used Khampa traders to operate secret transports between different places.

Kesang Tsering was sent by the Chinese to Batang to take control of Xikang, where he formed a local government. He was spread there for the purpose of propagating the Three People's Principle to the Khampa.

In 1950, following the defeat of the Kuomintang rulers of China by communist forces in the Chinese Civil War, the People's Liberation Army entered western Kham. Western Kham was then set up as a separate Qamdo Territory (昌都地区), then merged into Tibet Autonomous Region in 1965. Meanwhile, Xikang province, comprising eastern Kham, was merged into Sichuan province in 1955. The border between Sichuan and Tibet Autonomous Region has remained the Yangtze River. The northernmost region of Kham, Yushu, has been a part of Qinghai province since the 18th century.

Source

Wikipedia:Kham