Tibetan ethnic group is a member of the time-honored and culturally advanced Chinese nation.

Due to Tibet's special geographic environment and widespread religious belief, previous scholars paid more attention to the religious aspect in Tibetan culture, while neglecting the existence of the non-religious aspect. Moreover, some foreign researchers even exclude the Tibetan culture from the Chinese culture and deny the universality possessed in Tibetan culture.

Therefore, it is of great significance to probe into the cultural exchanges between the Tibetan and other ethnic groups, the absorption and integration of different ethnic cultures of China, and its ties between Tibetan culture and the overall Chinese culture.

1. Archaeological data indicates that Tibetan culture is generally believed to be originated from Tubo culture since the Tibetan ethnic group came into being in the Tubo Kingdom period.

Early in the 7th century, Sontzen Gampo (617-650) came to throne and established the Tubo Kingdom. Due to the less developed social and cultural levels, the government began to assimilate the advanced cultural achievements from the neighboring regions.

The then two most advanced cultures, Chinese culture in the Tang Dynasty and Indian culture exerted a big influence over that of the Tubo Kingdom through exchanges and social intercourse, from which the Tubo people took a particular interest in the Tang culture.

Large-scale cultural exchanges between the Tubo Kingdom and the Tang Dynasty started from the year of 641 when Sontzen Gampo married Princess Wencheng (641-680). Since then, the Tang culture has been widely absorbed into the Tubo culture. Tubo touched the Tang culture comprehensively for the first time when the rich cultural achievements was brought in by Princess Wencheng, including the statue of Sakyamuni, almanac books, medicine, craftsmen, grains, etc.  All these exchange activities had created favorable conditions for Tubo to assimilate the Tang culture on a large scale. 

Another climax of cultural exchanges between Tang and Tubo came since Princess Jincheng entered Tibet in the year of 710. During this period, the Han officials in Tubo Kingdom made a great contribution to the bilateral cultural ties.

During China's Five Dynasties period(907-979), the rising tea-horse trade also strengthened the political, economic and cultural exchanges between the Han people inland and the Tubo Kingdom. The development of cultural exchanges between the Tibetan and Han ethnic groups since the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) went up to a new stage.

2. Accumulation of Han culture can often be traced in every aspect of Tibetan culture.

1) Religious impact of the Han Buddhism on Tibet during the Tubo period. Some constellation theories in Taoism were also assimilated by Tibetan religious culture.

2) Ethic and moral standards recorded in ancient Tibetan books were quite similar to those of Confucianism.

3) Etiquette including marriage rituals and funerals were introduced to Tibet by Princess Jincheng.

4) Famous ancient books of Tibetan medicine were brought in by Princess Jincheng. And the assimilation of Chinese calendar improved the Tibetan calendar in the 18th century.

5) The art of Han architecture was also seen in Tibetan architectural structures, such as the second floor of Shalu Monastery and some parts of the White Hall of the Potala Palace.

6) Tea, so indispensable in the daily life of Tibetans was introduced to Tibet from inland China.

7) Tibetan operas such as Amdo opera and Sertang opera borrowed ideas from inland operas to enrich their performances. Sculptures and   paintings in Tibet also reflect the traditional styles of inland China, for example, the statues of Sontzen Gampo, Princess Wencheng as well as Sakyamuni.

3. Tibetan culture can only be advanced by further assimilation of other cultures.

The cultural exchanges between the Tibetan and Han ethnic groups are mutual, though the impact and extent of absorption was not always equally weighted. Tibetan culture absorbed much from Han culture at the beginning of its establishment. And the closer its ties got with the Han culture, the deeper the cultural exchanges became. 

Tibet's absorption and selection of Han culture have contributed a lot to the diversity of Chinese culture. The enrichment and development of Tibetan culture make the Chinese culture dazzling with eternal glamour.

However, after the Tibetan Buddhism took shape and made an impact, the Tibetan culture became relatively closed and its development slowed down gradually. With the reform and opening up, Tibet has also undergone social modernization in the 21st century. The retarded cultural development has impeded the advancement of the society. Therefore, it is very imperative to rejuvenate the Tibetan culture by carrying on the tradition of the Tubo Kingdom and absorbing the essence of other cultures to usher in the Tibetan culture to a new historical era.

(Original source from "Forum on Chinese Culture")