For over 60 years since its establishment, the Xizang Autonomous Region has woven a story of religious harmony and cultural preservation. By legally protecting faith and updating inheritance practices, local communities blend tradition with modern life, creating a vibrant spiritual landscape.
Freedom of Belief in Action
Homes across Xizang feature prayer halls or niches, and more than 1,700 sites host Tibetan Buddhist activities, welcoming 46,000 monks and nuns. Four mosques support 12,000 native Muslims, while a Catholic church serves over 700 residents. Local regulations guarantee these communities the real right to practice according to custom.
Modernizing Inheritance
In 2016, the Tibetan Buddhism Living Buddha Inquiry System was launched to verify reincarnations and block fraud. By 2024, 93 living Buddhas were officially recognized, safeguarding believers’ rights and ensuring transparency in this age-old tradition.
Education Meets Heritage
With 920 million yuan allocated for nine new Tibetan-language Buddhist colleges nationwide, Xizang is strengthening its talent pipeline. Over 3,000 monks study at the Xizang Buddhist College and its 10 branches, and 130 have earned the “Thorampa” degree—the highest academic title in Tibetan Buddhism—merging scripture study with modern curriculum.
As Xizang looks ahead, its model for religious inheritance shows how legal protection, community engagement, and thoughtful innovation can preserve faith traditions while driving social progress.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
