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首页 > 专题荟萃 > 2014年 > 第四届西藏发展论坛 > 议题二 西藏文化的传承与保护

Culture and Development

时间:2014-08-08 | 来源: | 作者:

  Culture and Development

  Guy Hallet(Belgium)

  Mr Chairman, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

  I would like to offer reflections on the Inheritance and Preservation of Tibetan Culture in the context of Opportunities and Challenges for the Development of Tibet.

  My contribution is in two parts: the first is philosophical and the second consists of practical suggestions for benefiting what is special about Tibet and the people of Tibet.

  Allow me by way of introduction to say a word about my own identity.

  I am European. I am Belgian. I belong to the Flemish speaking population of Belgium, known as Flemings. My Mother was French.

  The Flemings are part of Belgian society and culture.

  At the same time Flemings are part of the larger mosaic that is European culture.

  Flemish language, literature, poetry, song, art, design, and cuisine are all hallmarks of Flemish culture, a culture nurtured by a shared Christian religious faith. The stimulus in the minds and hearts of Flemish people is driven by their Christian faith.

  If you have not yet tasted Belgian chocolate, this Belgian art form awaits you!

  In my reflection on the Preservation of Tibetan Culture I would like the inherent treasures of individual Tibetans to be seen by them, and by the whole of society in China, as assets to be developed for the common good of all people in the People’s Republic of China.

  The development of the natural human assets of people in Tibet is the mission of this Forum.

  China, including Tibet, is the cradle of many ancient civilisations with their particular religious traditions and cultures.

  More educated Europeans appreciate the socio-philosophical teachings of Confucius, Taoism and Shintoism. We Europeans are aware that this mosaic in China’s people is complicated by pseudo cultures such as New Age, Reiki, Fensgshui, which are present in Europe.

  This observation leads me to my first point, that existing Tibetan culture, as well as other cultures present in Chinese society, must be preserved.

  In practice the inherent talents of the people of Tibet must find their expression, for their own good and for the common good of all people in China.

  These expressions of inherent human gifts are essential for individual happiness.

  Putting these expressions at the disposal of others will seed, sooner or later, new economic activities, and, yes, trade.

  There is more to the use of cultural assets than their use for the economy and for trade. They are what make the people of Tibet human and interesting in themselves.

  Since the beginning of time a creative spirit has been at work in every human being. This creative spirit is at work in every human culture, in the culture of the people of Tibet as well as of those in the rest of China.

  I believe that deep within the nature of each Tibetan, of each citizen of China, the individual human spirit is at work conditioning their individual vision of the world and of their personal relationship with the world and with their fellow human beings.

  My second point is that the people of Tibet must be encouraged to evolve what each person understands to be good and beautiful in the expression of their culture.

  In practice such encouragement can be provided within the family and within the school.

  The conditions, for the pursuit of what is good and beautiful in the expression culture, are areas of life in Tibet in particular, and in China generally, from which Europeans can learn much. 

  In the religious traditions of the people of Tibet, and generally in China, we Europeans see a people, who attach importance to silence and contemplation, honesty, simplicity, asceticism, frugal living, a thirst for learning and philosophical enquiry, love of nature, compassion, devotion to parents and respect for elders, and solidarity in community.

  During recent decades society in Tibet, and again in China generally, has been transformed socially and economically, mostly for the better. This extraordinary improvement in the lives of people in China is a matter for congratulation and for praise.

  People around the world gaze in wonder of achievements now taking place in China.

  Thus it is vital to the moral health of all people in China that their cultural wellbeing should grow correspondingly.

  This statement brings me to my third point, the inner maturity of each person in Tibet as well as in China must be nurtured by their individual religious attachment. My concern here is for the attitude that each person adopts to their individual mastery of their own culture and their enjoyment of their material success, without falling to the temptation of corrupt practices.

  Freed from worries about material existence, and with more time for cultural expression, individual Tibetans, and their co-citizens in China, can contemplate the meaning of their own existence.

  In practice dialogue with other religious groups, such as with Christian and Muslim communities in China, can inform the public authorities in evaluating the meaning of religious faith and tradition for nourishing cultural activity and innovation, for humanizing the whole of Chinese society. 

  So this is my fourth point, that dialogue between the public authorities in Tibet, and in Beijing, and religious groups is necessary for the proper nourishment of cultural activities.

  My suggestion is that the public authorities should be pro-active in involving Confucian, Taoist, Buddhist, Muslim and Christian groups in preserving the cultural inheritance of all people in China.

  By involving religious groups cultural activities can be nurtured, and the risk of their stagnation and decline avoided.

  To sum-up what I have said so far: the rich variety of cultural activity  in Tibet calls for the right interface with religious faith and with faith communities, as a stimulant to the interior needs of each human being.

  Now for the second part of my contribution, namely the practical.

  I would like to turn our minds to opportunities for nurturing cultural activities in Tibet.

  Pro-active nurturing of what is special about Tibet and about the people of Tibet can preserve cultural heritage in all is diversity and beauty.

  At this point I propose that the authorities in Beijing should step-up the opening of new communications and the availability of publications to make known what the people of Tibet offer to the wider world, in terms of their human treasures and their rich cultural activities.

  Not only within China but also outside China, it would be beneficial to make known the quality of life in Tibet and the characteristics of the people of Tibet.

  The aim must be that of seeding interest in the people of Tibet and in investing in their future, a future that can associate them with people of other traditions and cultures.

  In the process the people of Tibet will gain qualitatively and materially.

  More and more people will desire to visit Tibet and to study life and culture, and to identify possible new ventures.

  Young Europeans could be encouraged to visit Tibet and to learn the Chinese language embracing children as well.

  Tibet should be open not only for tourism but also for alpinism, for winter sports, for the study and research of flora and fauna.

  For Europeans, horse racing is the sport of kings! Is there a future for horse racing and equine competition in Tibet?

  Is there a future for interethnic sporting competition in China, say football and athletics, for intra-Chinese competitive games?

  Tibet has the ideal terrain and climate for research and development of motor vehicles for operation at high altitude and in a harsh climate.

  Why not create a Chinese National Automotive Research and Development Centre in Tibet?

  Why not create the ultimate automotive adventure: The Beijing-Lhasa-Beijing Annual Winter Motor Rally?

  What is the potential for setting-up in Tibet fashion studios and laboratories for the development of new textile designs? Tibetan carpet design is well known in Europe!

  How feasible is it to set-up agricultural research centres in Tibet for farming and animal husbandry at high altitudes?

  What types of academic enquiry would be welcomed by the Tibetan authorities for cooperation with Belgian universities?

  What types of high school exchange could be promoted?

  What types of specialized industrial fairs should be promoted in order to serve the needs of different sectors of the existing and new economy in Tibet?

  What types of trade fairs could be mounted anywhere in the world in order to promote the culture, services and products of the people of Tibet?

  With the support of Beijing, people in Tibet can confirm their existence in the world and for the world!

  The qualities of the people of Tibet must be made known just as we Flemings have done, through our promotion of our own skills and through trade with China!

  So this is my final point.

  We want Tibetan creativity to be esteemed in the minds of people.

  I dare to say that the people of Tibet are a mystery for most Europeans.

  We need a systematic opening-up to one another – through practical and attractive initiatives.  

  By way of conclusion let me leave you with three thoughts:

  1 People in Tibet must feel challenged to put their cultural inheritance at the disposal of others, using the instruments which are vehicles for its preservation and development.

  2 People in Tibet must be encouraged to draw on their internal spiritual strengths in caring for their cultural inheritance.

  3 By focusing on the value of the human person in Tibet the organisers of this Forum are responding to the appeal by President Xi Jin-Ping, at the 12th National People’s Congress, for persons of religious faith to contribute new thinking on the values of the Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China.

  In this spirit, it has been a privilege to contribute to the work of the Forum.

  (Guy Hallet,the assistant to the minister of state Jaak Gabriëls)

  

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