Manor-turned museum tells changes of life in Tibet

lanzi March 29, 2023 67

Manor-turned museum tells changes of life in Tibet

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2023-03-28 23:17:33

0:00
/3:23

* One of the 12 manors in old Tibet, Palha Manor in Gyangze County in the city of Xigaze, southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, is the only one still standing and functioning as a museum.

* On March 28, 1959, people in Tibet launched a democratic reform that ended the region’s feudal serfdom. In 2009, the regional legislature announced March 28 as a day to commemorate the emancipation of about 1 million serfs.

* As the manor, with 57 rooms covering a combined floor area of over 5,000 square meters, has become a protected site of the state, one can intuitively feel the luxurious life of the masters and the tragic fate of serfs.

* In the past 64 years, Tibet has progressed from poverty to prosperity and from autocracy to democracy. The regional GDP reached 213.3 billion yuan (about 31 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022, representing a giant leap from the 1959 figure of a mere 174 million yuan.

LHASA, March 28 (Xinhua) — A serf went down on his hands and knees so the master could step onto his back to mount a horse; a serf’s child, dying of starvation, was given a good beating for being caught stealing food… What happened in an aristocratic manor in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region revealed the miserable lives of serfs decades ago.

One of the 12 manors in old Tibet, Palha Manor in Gyangze County in the city of Xigaze is the only one still standing and functioning as a museum.

This photo taken on March 20, 2023 shows the former site of Palha Manor, one of the 12 manors in old Tibet, in Gyangze County in Xigaze, southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

“The manor was a hell for serfs and a paradise for the masters,” recalled Norbu Tsering, 79, son of a serf in the manor.

On March 28, 1959, people in Tibet launched a democratic reform that ended the region’s feudal serfdom. In 2009, the regional legislature announced March 28 as a day to commemorate the emancipation of about 1 million serfs.

RIGID HIERARCHY

Following the democratic reform in 1959, the Palha family fled overseas, deserting the manor.

As the manor, with 57 rooms covering a combined floor area of over 5,000 square meters, has become a protected site of the state, one can intuitively feel the luxurious life of the masters and the tragic fate of serfs.

Louis Vuitton handbag, Omega watch, Montblanc pen, Scotch whisky, Indian cigarettes, and an ivory mahjong set — those on display were daily items for the Palha family in the 1950s.

There was even a modern gymnasium that stored ping-pong balls, badminton racquets, footballs, and ice skates — luxuries that were rare nearly a century ago.

In the exhibition room on the third floor, there were instruments of torture, such as leather whips, laths and shackles, to punish serfs. Also displayed are trumpets that are made from young virgins’ shinbones for ritual purposes and barley wine cups made of human skulls. The serf owner even built two cells and a cave that contained scorpions, where serfs who dared cause trouble were thrown.

A shocking first-hand account of the cruelty of the manor has been given by late Jewish journalist and writer Israel Epstein in his 1983 book “Tibet Transformed.”

“Women slaves could not give birth in the manor house or its outbuildings, but only outdoors. If three days after childbirth they were not back at work, they were beaten or locked up in the Palhas’ private jail. Sick slaves were ‘forbidden to die’ on the mansion grounds but had to crawl or be carried outside,” he wrote.

Before 1959, the average life expectancy in Tibet was only 35.5 years. The figure rose to 72.19 years in 2021.

“About 95 percent of old Tibet’s population was made up of serfs. They had no means of production or personal freedom and only lived on tilling plots or serving estate holders for survival. The rest 5 percent — officials, nobles, and monks at the upper level of monasteries — lived a fairy-like life,” said tourist guide Phurbu Tsering, whose mother used to be a serf weaving carpets for the family.

EARTH-SHAKING CHANGES

In the past 64 years, Tibet has progressed from poverty to prosperity and from autocracy to democracy. The regional GDP reached 213.3 billion yuan (about 31 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022, representing a giant leap from the 1959 figure of a mere 174 million yuan. The average per capita disposable income of Tibet’s residents was 26,675 yuan in 2022, up 6.91 percent year on year in nominal terms.

“Life has undergone earth-shaking changes, which is a world away from the past,” said Norbu Tsering, whose family was given land, livestock, and production tools following the democratic reform.

Norbu Tsering feeds a horse at home in Gyangze County in Xigaze, southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

The serfs of Palha Manor built houses nearby and made a village named Bainjig Lhunbo, where concrete roads and Tibetan-style two-story buildings have been in place.

Norbu Tsering lives in one of the buildings covering a floor area of over 500 square meters. Apart from the farming income from their 2-hectare field, his family has a dumper truck serving construction sites. Among his three grandchildren, the oldest is in university, with the other two receiving free education in senior high and elementary school.

Tibet is the first provincial-level region in China to provide 15 years of publicly funded education, from kindergarten all the way up to senior high school. By contrast, there was not a single proper school, and the illiteracy rate among young people exceeded 95 percent in old Tibet.

The changes in Tibet are a vivid epitome of China’s reform and development. Chinese modernization is the only correct choice for building a strong country and advancing national rejuvenation, said Yan Jinhai, head of the regional government, in a speech marking the historical movement that ended serfdom in Tibet 64 years ago.

Norbu Tsering plays the Zhanian musical instrument at home in Gyangze County in Xigaze, southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

In the past 10 years, Yan said, Tibet has achieved high-quality development, maintained rapid economic growth, and heavily invested in education, medical care, culture, housing, employment, and social security. Tibet has shaken off absolute poverty and kept on pace with the whole country in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

“My wish now is to live longer and enjoy the life I currently have,” Norbu Tsering said.  (Video reporters: Cao Bin, Tenzing Nima Qadhup, Sun Fei; video editors: Miao Zhuang, Mu Xuyao, Hong Yan)  ■

Copyright©2000-2023XINHUANET.com All rights reserved.

More Stories

Hichilema launches massive United Capital Fertilizer expansion

lanzi October 23, 2026 0
1000827908

20 Women, 15 Youths, Five Persons with Disabilities: Inclusion Takes Its Seat in Parliament

lanzi October 13, 2026 0
1000823615

I Love the City of Lusaka

lanzi October 8, 2026 0

67 thoughts on “Manor-turned museum tells changes of life in Tibet”

  4. Конторы выступают как лицензионные организации, которые предлагают спортивные прогнозы на популярные турниры.
    Главная функция букмекера — выставить котировки на любое исходы игры, показывающие шансы определённого варианта.
    Останавливаясь на оператора нужно проверять на наличие разрешения, имидж и функциональность интерфейса.
    Стабильный контора обеспечивает прозрачные выплаты, большую роспись и быструю обратную связь пользователей.
    проверенные бк

    Reply

  14. Торжество становится важнейшим этапом в жизни каждого.
    Этот день символизирует образование общей истории.
    Этот день сближает двух близких возлюбленных перед близкими и гостями.
    http://www.izumrudnoe-sport.ru/iskusstvo-prazdnovat-ili-kak-vybrat-format-dlya-vazhnogo-sobytiya/
    Празднование позволяет молодым открыто заявить о любви и дать обещания.
    Это событие остаётся воспоминанием на всю жизнь, поддерживая любовь двух людей.

    Reply

  29. Bezpečné sázení je považováno za princip, jenž má za cíl zachovat hazard jakožto způsob odpočinku, a ne jako spouštěč problémů.
    Tato koncepce vyžaduje stanovení osobních limitů pro čas a sázky, stejně jako uvědomění raných signálů rizikového hraní.
    https://uzbek-tilida.com/user/Dijatylem/
    Závěrem podporuje informovaná rozhodnutí a napomáhá účastníkům mít sebekontrolu nad vlastním chováním.
    Cílem této koncepce je především ochránit mentální zdraví a ekonomickou bezpečnost každého uživatele.

    Reply

  48. Вручать презенты — это важный способ показать заботу и укрепить связь.
    Презент позволяет человеку осознать свою ценность для окружающих.
    Помимо этого, дарение презентов развивает личную привязанность между людьми.
    В итоге, искренний знак внимания делает общение теплее и укрепляет добрые традиции.
    https://a4.gucci1.ru/fXwosdmL0UbQ/

    Reply

  66. Responsible gaming means a disciplined approach to digital betting that prioritizes control at the center.
    Responsible i-gaming prompts players to set firm boundaries for spending and to schedule frequent time-outs away from betting.
    https://logigroup.uz/index.php?subaction=userinfo&user=ybaweduses
    Responsible gaming further supports openness by encouraging adults to recognize early signs related to harmful gambling and to ask for assistance when needed.
    As a result, sustainable online gambling seeks to ensure betting safe and within personal limits rather than letting gaming become a source for stress.

    Reply

  67. Металлический прокат выступает фундаментом в производства, ведь обеспечивает прочность сооружений.
    Данный материал повсеместно задействуется при возведении инфраструктуры, и в производстве техники.
    Благодаря разнообразию сортов материал обеспечивает возможность воплощать нестандартные проектные проекты.
    http://bashtanka.pp.net.ua/forum/3-591-1
    Помимо этого материал важен для изготовления промышленного оборудования и различных направлений промышленности.
    В конечном счёте этот материал служит фундаментальным элементом в устойчивого функционирования промышленности.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may have missed

Farming in Africa

The People’s Forum is just around the corner, Derrick .

lanzi October 24, 2026 0

Hichilema launches massive United Capital Fertilizer expansion

lanzi October 23, 2026 0

绝妙集团公布50亿美元投资计划​作者：海伦·博瓦利亚（Hellen Bwalya）​绝妙集团有限公司（Wonderful Group of Companies Limited）通过其子公司赞比亚联合资本化肥有限公司（United Capital Fertilizer Zambia Company Limited），在其工业园区举行的奠基仪式上，正式启动了一项跨越2025年至2030年的50亿美元中长期工业投资宏伟计划。集团首席执行官黄耀弛先生在致答谢词时强调，该举措巩固了集团致力于提升赞比亚经济潜力、农业发展和就业水平的长期承诺。本次活动展示了多项价值数亿美元的制造业扩建及基础设施升级项目，旨在将赞比亚打造成中东非地区的核心工业强国。​在这项50亿美元的投资承诺中，园区内大规模的化工与化肥厂建设处于核心地位。继投资6.8亿美元的一期尿素生产厂竣工并投入运营后，集团正在稳步推进投资3.00亿美元的农化磷肥厂建设，预计将于第一季度投产，用于生产专用二铵（DAP）化肥。进一步的扩建计划还包括投资16亿美元的二期尿素项目和投资7.00亿美元的磷肥扩建项目，同时集团还将努力吸引更多绿色与高新技术投资者入驻运营。​为了支持这一工业增长并优化大宗运输物流，绝妙集团宣布了多项基础设施升级计划，包括升级连接当地矿山并穿过该工业园区的区域铁路网络、将蒙格维路（Mungwi Road）的部分路段改造为双向四车道，以及拓宽通往蒙布瓦路（Mumbwa Road）的连接线。这些基础设施项目将在完成内部财务手续后，通过政府与社会资本合作（PPP）模式实施，以畅通交通流量并缩短物资交付时间。黄耀弛先生对关键金融合作伙伴表达了谢意，向由艾莎银行（Absa Bank PLC）和赞比亚国家商业银行（ZANACO Bank PLC）牵头的银行银团为相关建设提供资金支持致以深切感谢。​在澄清公司身份时，黄耀弛先生指出，尽管早期外界存在误解，但绝妙集团和联合资本化肥公司均是值得骄傲的赞比亚本土企业。他强调，管理层中仅有两名中国籍员工，且均未直接参与日常运营，企业的行政控制权与管理权完全掌握在赞比亚本地人手中。黄耀弛先生重申了集团的承诺，并对赞比亚实现自产自销、对外出口以及引领东非和南部非洲工业未来的能力表达了坚定信心。

lanzi October 22, 2026 0
1000834934

Wonderful Group unveils $5B plan

lanzi October 22, 2026 0
f04cdadc-5961-4a38-862b-e1f2c410ad24 (1)

Liquid Intelligent Technologies expands affordable connectivity and SME solutions across Zambia

lanzi October 22, 2026 0