Could Confucius Resolve the ‘Tibet Question’?

Abstract

The last three decades have seen a resurgence of Confucian thought and philosophy in the political, intellectual, and popular spheres in China. What impact could this have on the ‘Tibet Question’, which has also gained salience in recent years? Could the Confucian way of thinking help to generate a discourse about Tibet that is culturally more attuned to Chinese sensibility than the Westphalian and Western models that have so far dominated discussion on this subject? Considering how Confucius – whose legacy has undergone a strong revival in recent decades, with a key initiative in China’s global cultural outreach bearing his name – handled similar issues in his time, this chapter delves into how his conceptions of ‘authoritative conduct’ and ‘humane authority’ (amongst others) may inform an understanding of the problem and the search for a solution? The chapter goes on to examine different aspects of the ‘Tibet Question’ in the light of ancient Confucian teachings as also the contemporary political and social advocacy of Confucianism. Finally, the chapter outlines a ‘Confucian resolution’ that might surprise both the Party faithful as well as Dalai Lama adherents, but might just be workable in the political and social context of modern China.