Serfs’ Emancipation Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Tibet

Serfs’ Emancipation Day (also known as Serfs’ Liberation Day) is a Tibetan national holiday celebrated annually on March 28 to commemorate what China considers the end of serfdom. Numerous state-level events and ceremonies are conducted on this day, particularly in the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. According to state media, approximately one million Tibetan serfs were liberated by this democratic reform.

The background of Serfs’ Emancipation Day

Since 1720, Tibet had been governed by China. In 1911, following a revolution, Tibet became a de facto independent region, distinct from the rest of China.

However, the shared border between China and Tibet, known as Kham, was long sought after by neighbouring authorities. One-half of this territory was governed by the Chinese government that existed prior to the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, while the other half was administered by Tibetan authorities.

After the establishment of the new Chinese government in 1950, a delegation of Tibetan government officials initiated a dialogue to obtain assurances that the People’s Republic of China would respect Tibet’s territorial integrity. Due to a debate over the proposed location, the presentation was delayed by a few months, but it was eventually conducted at the end of the same year. China however proposed an alternative solution. They would be in charge of Tibet’s defense, commerce, and international relations. In order to preserve the China-Tibet relationship, the Tibetans agreed to these provisions, and the relationship became akin to that of a mentor and benefactor. Later, author and Tibet expert Melvyn Goldstein observed that the objective was not to invade Tibet, but rather to convince Tibetans and the Tibetan government to recognise China’s sovereignty over Tibet. In 1951, after additional negotiations and a Chinese invasion that crossed the Khampa border, Tibet fell under Chinese control.

The Dalai Lama (then-spiritual leader of Tibet) and the People’s Republic of China subsequently repudiated the ‘Seventeen Point Agreement’ signed in 1951, which acknowledged China’s authority over Tibet. In March 1959, the Dalai Lama retreated to India, and Zhou Enlai, the then-Premier of the People’s Republic of China, dissolved the Tibetan government.

He issued an order from the State Council to this effect. The edict also required the suppression of all national uprisings and the confiscation and distribution of rebel property to the serfs. China estimated that over a million of these Tibetan serfs, who reportedly constituted 90% of the population, were liberated from servitude.

In January 2009, fifty years after this political emancipation, the Chinese government established Serfs’ Emancipation Day to commemorate the democratic reform and economic prosperity that China brought to Tibet. The measure to establish this day was submitted for consideration at the second annual session of the ninth Regional People’s Congress. It was approved unanimously by the 382 legislators in attendance, and thus this day was established.

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5 FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT TIBET

Prior to the 1950s, Tibetans had minimal contact with the outside world and their economic development was limited.

It is essentially ‘Bon,’ a form of shamanism that encompasses a belief in gods, demons, and ancestral spirits that are responsive to priests or shamans; with the rise of Buddhism in Tibet, the two religions intertwined and became similar in many ways.

The ancient Tibetans believed that their ancestors were the offspring of a female demon and a primate.

Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth, is located on the border between Tibet and Nepal; it is a significant tourist destination for both nations.

The historic Potala Palace complex in Lhasa served as the Dalai Lamas’ winter residence until 1959; it was subsequently designated a World Heritage site. (and a museum).

SERFS’ EMANCIPATION DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	March 28	Tuesday
2024	March 28	Thursday
2025	March 28	Friday
2026	March 28	Saturday
2027	March 28	Sunday