Image: twmyblog/yahoo
China has stolen so much from Tibet, its land, water and other natural resources such as gas, minerals and ore. Millions of tons of timber have been removed, reducing once verdant forested mountainsides to a lunar-like landscape. Tibet’s historic freedom and independence and its rich culture have been siezed too, leaving this remakable and ancient civilization a pale and eroded image of itself.
Apart from this catalogue of theft China has also appropriated a less well-known aspect of Tibet, a term that may well have been kidnapped from the Tibetan language for propaganda purposes. It has become for many a powerful and convincing symbol of Chinese identity, the very sound of which conveys to the listener an immediate impression of China. Even Tibetans make use of the association, as evidenced by the cartoon below.
Toon copyright of: Tenzin Dhonyoe
Communist China has carefully used this phrase as a diplomatic device, dispatching it around the world to distract attention from its more odious activities by promoting a soft and friendly image. Between 1958 and 1982 it was presented by Beijing as a state gift to over nine countries. It is still peddled by the communist regime, althought it can come with an annual rental cost of over $1, 000, 000.
Expensive Bear For Rent
The linkage of this phrase with China has become so cemented in the public mind that here at tibettruth there is a natural hesitancy to reveal its identity, for fear of reinforcing the artifice. So let’s try a little word association experiment. What image arises when seeing or hearing the following Chinese word: Xiongmao Anything specific?
How about trying this one instead, now close your eyes, take a relaxing breath and share with us what springs-to-mind when you hear or see the term Panda.
Works every time, which is why such powerful magick is employed by communist China, and the reason that it chose a non-Chinese name for this iconic, globally loved creature. That’s right Panda is not a Chinese term, in fact it appears to be Tibetan, unrelated to the Chinese name, Xiongmao, which translates roughly as giant cat-bear.
Although Panda at first glance does not appear in Tibetan dictionaries, one fact is known, within Kham the term Pangda features as a clan name. Indeed one of Kham’s most noteable families, who played an heroic part in the war-of-resistance (during the 1950 and 60s) against Chinese occupation was called Pangdatsang.
Yampel Pangdatsang-One of Kham's Heroic Brothers
Image: tibet album/pitt rivers-british museum
Whether Panda is a corrupt derivation of Pangda (the Tibetan for ‘lap’) given that the natural habitat, and most important and largest territory, of this creature falls within Tibet’ s eastern regions of Kham and Amdo, China’s propaganda use of the Panda can be challenged as yet another example of its exploitative misappropriation of Tibet.
Tibetan Bear Hits The Streets
Image: twmyblog/yahoo
Not that such cynical manipulation seems to concern Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo, which receives December 5th two Pandas on loan from the so-called Bifengxia Panda Base, in what is now described as Sichuan Province, China. Neither the Zoo’s directors nor Scotland’s leader Alex Salmond will be aware that in fact the area (Kham) is actually occupied Tibetan territory, which was invaded and subsequently colonized through mass population transfer. Ironic really given that Mr Salmond, who seems keen to foster ties with China’s Regime, heads a party determined to secure independence from the United Kingdom, and yet appears callously indifferent to the struggle waged by Tibet’s people for their national freedom. Meanwhile, the fragile mountain and forest ecosystem that supports the Panda is being destroyed by China’s lumber industy as it exploits Tibet’s natural resources, another issue both Edinburgh Zoo and the Scottish National Party seem unmoved by as they foster positive relations with China’s tyrants.
It’s time to reclaim the Panda for Tibet!
