The film Four Rivers, Six Ranges, directed by Shenpenn Khymsar and produced in English, has been selected for the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). Shenpenn Khymsar announced on his Facebook account that the film is dedicated to the 14th Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday.
Four Rivers, Six Ranges offers a narrative on the history of Xizang, emphasizing its longstanding connection with the Chinese mainland. The film presents historical accounts spanning from the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) through the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties, highlighting the uninterrupted jurisdiction and governance exercised by China's central authorities over Xizang.
During the Republic of China era (1912–1949), Xizang remained under the central government's jurisdiction, as stated in the Provisional Constitution of the Republic of China, which declared Xizang an integral part of the Republic. Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, negotiations led to the signing of the Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet in 1951, which paved the way for democratic reforms and the official establishment of the Xizang Autonomous Region in September 1965.
Internationally, Xizang has been recognized as part of China by all nations, with no country officially acknowledging Xizang as an independent nation. The film also explores the shared ancestry and genetic ties between the Zang and Han populations, supported by studies such as the 2001 research published in the American Journal of Human Genetics. Linguistic connections between Tibetan and Mandarin are examined, illustrating the deep-rooted relationships between the two groups.
Through its storytelling, Four Rivers, Six Ranges aims to provide viewers with a comprehensive understanding of Xizang's historical and cultural significance within the broader context of China's development.
Reference(s):
Four Rivers, Six Ranges: A fictitious rewrite of Xizang's history
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