Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 23: Around 800 Tibetan activists and supporters gathered in front of the Musée Guimet on Saturday to protest the recent terminology change in the museum’s exhibitions, which replaced “Tibet” with “Xizang,” a Chinese name for the country.
The demonstration came after reports that two Parisian museums had altered their terminology regarding Tibet. The Musée du quai Branly had replaced “Tibet” with “Xizang Autonomous Region,” the romanised version of the Chinese term, in its catalogue of Tibetan artefacts. Similarly, the Musée Guimet renamed its exhibition spaces related to Tibet as the “Himalayan world.”
Six Tibetan NGOs in France had earlier sent formal letters to both museums, seeking meetings to discuss the implications of the terminology changes. While the Musée du quai Branly agreed to meet with the groups, the Musée Guimet did not respond, prompting the protest to be centered at its premises.
Protesters carried banners that read “Tibet belongs to Tibetans” and “World leaders should not succumb to Chinese pressure,” accusing the museums of contributing to China’s efforts to erase Tibetan history by using the term “Xizang.” The demonstrators vowed to continue their protests until both museums reverted to using the term “Tibet.”
Tibetans worldwide expressed solidarity via social media for the cause, where they denounced the terminology change as a blatant attempt to rewrite history. Many have called on cultural institutions to uphold historical truth and resist political pressure from Beijing.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the political leader of the Central Tibetan Administration, also spoke out against the change. In a letter sent to French officials and the directors of both museums on September 14. Tsering argued that the use of “Xizang” was part of a broader Chinese strategy to diminish Tibetan identity. He urged the museums to restore the term “Tibet” in their exhibits to reflect historical accuracy.
The Tibet Museum of the Central Tibetan Administration echoed these concerns, issuing a statement labeling the museums’ decisions as an alarming distortion of history and an attack on Tibet’s cultural identity. Tenzin Topchen, the museum’s director, called on the Musée Guimet and Musée du quai Branly to correct the terminology and ensure that Tibetan heritage is accurately represented.
Tibetans and supporters in France have been actively protesting the museums’ changes, organizing petitions, contacting museum directors, and spreading awareness across social media platforms. Many see the actions of these museums as symptomatic of China’s broader effort to control the global narrative around Tibet and its cultural legacy.
