Inhabitants were in existence in Tibet since the latter part of the Paleolithic Age, which is considered as the opening curtain of the Tibetan history. By the Neolithic Age these inhabitants had scattered to a wider range of circle whose result had gradually led to the Tibetan race of the present generation.

In the 7th century a famous Tibetan King named Songtsen Gampo united the whole of the Tibet and established the Tubo Dynasty. In the 7th and 8th centuries respectively two Princesses from the Tang Dynasty had married Tibetan Kings. As a consequence the two peoples, the Hans and Tibetans became closer in relationship and further exchanges took place within political and economical affairs between the Tubo and Tang dynasties which gave creation to a beneficial condition for the development of the Tubo society. Tibet fell into a decentralization period for over three hundred years since the fall of the Tubo Dynasty caused by inner revolt of the common people. During this period the Tubo society took a change over from the slave society to the feudal society. In the mid – 13th century Tibet became subject to the Yuan Dynasty, whose central administration, passed the power to the Sakya for the over lordship of Tibet. In the latter part of the Yuan Dynasty, the Sakya’s rule over Tibet tottered and the Kagyupa Sect overtook the power and established Pagdu Dynasty. At the end of the Ming Dynasty and at the beginning the Qing Dynasty, the 5th Dalai Lama by the help of the Mongolian prince, Gorshi Khan, became the ruler of Tibet and established the Ganden Podrang

Administration which was recognized by the Qing central administration. The Central Administration of China, the Qing Dynasty, gave the over lordship of Tibet to the 5th Dalai Lama and established its representative in Lhasa called the “Amban” to supervise political affairs of Tibet in order to strengthen its control over Tibet. After 1911 Revolution the Republic of China established a working office in Lhasa to exercise its management over Tibet. In May 1951 concerning the method of liberation of Tibet, the 17 – Point Agreement, was signed between the Central People’s Government of China and the Local Government of Tibet that opened a new historical page over Tibet.

Buddhism, with as history of some 1,300 years since its penetration into Tibet, has shaped a unique from “Lamaism”. Tibetan history, culture and religion are mixed together and in filtrate on every aspect of social life. Tibetan religious arts have a distinctive style with adoption of Indian and Chinese Buddhist influence, thus forming itself a pearl of oriental Buddhist art in Chinese Buddhism. Tibetan architecture is rich in shapes, sumptuous and full of noble aspiration. The Potala Palace is built on the top of a hill and penetrates its dome into the sky. It’s the King of Tibetan architectural structures, carvings, murals, “thangkas” and skilled butter sculptures, and a vast accumulation of historical monuments which from a kind of religious art which is developed into a School of Tradition.

People living on the Tibetan plateau, such as Tibetans, Monpas, Lhopas and Moslems, have their own ways of living, marriage, burial or other ceremonies.

Tibetans call themselves “Bodpas”. They have a total population of 3.4 million among which 2.2 million are in the Autonomous Region. Tibetans mainly engage in agriculture, husbandry and handicrafts. Tsampa mainly (barley flour), beef, mutton, butter tea and barley beer are the main food and drinks. As for clothing, Tibetans wear cloaks made of woolen fabrics or lambskin. They love ornaments and women wear striped aprons. Nomads and people living in remote areas depend on their transportation on Yaks, Donkeys, Horses and Yakskin boats. Their marriage system mainly consists of monogamy. Tibetans don’t have surnames. Their names consist of four or two syllables chiefly adopting meaning from Buddhist ideas. Festivals in Tibet are in variety among which the grandest is the Tibetan New Year, followed by others such as’ Wangkor” festival and horse races. For the dead, sky burial, water burial, cremation and stupa burial are in practice, but the sky burial is the most popular of them all.

Along with the development of Tibetan history, Tibetans have created a unique science and culture of their own, which are important formations of the whole Chinese culture. The voluminous and magnificent historical documents, and cultural relics, humanist and folk literature presently in existence are the fruit of labor and wisdom of the Tibetans, also a treasure of the ancient Chinese civilization. Great volumes of scriptures such as “Kagyur” (translation of Commandments),” Tengyur” (Translation of Commentaries) “Four Tibetan Medical Tantras”, “The Happy Feast of Sages” “Biography of Bhuton” and “Biography of Milarepa” have been translated into many languages.

Science and Culture in Tibet include technology, medicine, grammar, logic, Buddhist philosophy, rhetoric, words and expressions, syntax, drama and astrology. Tibet is known as the sea of songs and dances: folk songs and dances are various in styles. Especially during the “Shoton Festival in August each year, everywhere is a scene of jubilation

Situated five-km distance to the western suburb of Lhasa at the foot of Mt. Ganpoi Uze. Jamyang Choje, a disciple of Tsongkapa, founded Drepung Monastery in 1416 and the founder of Gelugpa Sect. The monastery, occupying an area of 250,000 square meters with a fixed number of 7,700 monks, is the largest monastery keeps plentiful historical relics, Buddhist scriptures, arts and crafts.

Maitreya ia a main relics of the Drepung Monastery. It is a Buddha of future, which is said that only seeing it would release one’s suffering.

Situated in Lhasa, Jokhang Temple was built on mid of 7th century AD and later extended by successive rulers, it has now become a gigantic architectural complex. It is a four storeyed temple with splendid golden roofs. It has architectural feature of Tang Dynasty and also assimilated very much features from both Nepalese and Indian Buddhist temples. The murals in the temple mainly depict the life stories of historic characters. The temple houses many historical relics since Tang Dynasty and statues of King Songtsen Gampo, Princess Wencheng, Princess Bhrikuti Devi, “Princess Willow” (a tree), and “The Uncle – Nephew Alliance Tablet” can be seen at the front gate of the temple.