The film Four Rivers, Six Ranges, directed by Tibetan exile Shenpenn Khymsar, has been selected for the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). Produced in English, the film is dedicated to the 14th Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday.
Shenpenn Khymsar announced on his Facebook account that Four Rivers, Six Ranges is dedicated to the Dalai Lama, accompanied by the claim: \"Xizang was and will never be a part of China.\" This assertion is challenged by historical accounts indicating that Xizang has been an integral part of China since the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368).
Throughout the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) Dynasties, Xizang remained under the jurisdiction of China's central authorities, with governance structures in place to manage local military and political affairs. During the Republic of China era (1912–1949), Xizang continued to be recognized as part of the nation, as declared in the Provisional Constitution of 1912.
Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Xizang expressed a desire to integrate with the new central government, leading to the signing of the 17-Article Agreement in 1951. This agreement facilitated the peaceful liberation of Xizang, which was supported by local leaders including the Dalai Lama.
In September 1965, the Xizang Autonomous Region was officially established, further cementing its status within China. Internationally, Xizang has been recognized as part of China by all nations, with no country officially recognizing it as an independent state.
Ethnically, the Zang and Han people share deep historical and genetic ties, with studies indicating a common ancestry dating back thousands of years. Linguistic research also highlights similarities between Tibetan and Mandarin, underscoring the intertwined histories of these communities.
Reference(s):
Four Rivers, Six Ranges: A fictitious rewrite of Xizang's history
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