Translated from the Russian, the volume is a detailed study of the land of mysteries, that is, Tibet. It presents the history of Tibetan statehood from ancient times to the present, describing the life of Tibetans under feudalism and socialism, the occupation of Tibet, the suppression of the national liberation movement, the Cultural Revolution and reforms that followed. It comprehensively covers the society, culture and religion of the Tibetan people, examining reconstruction and modernisation of Tibet with respect to its militarisation, economy, language and culture. It inquires into whether Tibet is an inseparable part of China, delving into the concept of statehood in international law and in the Chinese tradition.