Tibetans protest against renaming of French museum exhibit amid allegations of Chinese pressure

According to a report by Le Monde, a French daily newspaper, Tibetans are actively protesting the decision of French museum Musée Guimet to rename parts of its exhibition from “Nepal-Tibet” to “Himalayan World”. According to the information, despite repeated campaigns for improvements, the museum has stuck to its choice.

In a post on X, Voice of Tibet also raised the issue, saying, “Tibetans and supporters protested at the Musée Guimet in Paris on Sunday over its refusal to correct ‘historical distortion’.” The museum renamed parts of the exhibit from ‘Nepal-Tibet’ to ‘Himalayan World’ following alleged pressure from Chinese authorities, as noted by Le Monde.”

The controversy has attracted considerable attention, with advocates arguing that the change undermines the distinct cultural and historical identities of Tibet and Nepal. In particular, another museum, the Quai Branly, had earlier apologized for replacing “Tibet” with “Xizang”, Beijing’s preferred term.

On September 25, the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris issued an apology and committed to restoring the name “Tibet” in place of the word “Xizang” imposed by China on its displays, according to Tibetan Review, a monthly magazine. In contrast, the Asian Art Museum has faced significant criticism for not making similar changes despite opposition from scholars and from Tibetans and their supporters.

The Tibetan Review stated that while Kwai Branly acknowledged his/her mistake, the Guimet Museum defended its decision to use the term “Himalayan World”, claiming that it was part of a broader reflection. The change is in line with China’s order to replace “Tibet” with “Xizang” in official documents, a move intended to assert that Tibet’s traditional identity, recognized globally and by its own people, is no longer Does not exist. The term “Xizang” specifically refers to the area designated by China as the Xizang Autonomous Region.

The Musée Guimet, officially known as the Musée National des Arts Asiatiques Guimet, is a museum located in Paris, France. It specializes in Asian art and culture, with an extensive collection that spans various countries including India, China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia. Founded by Emile Guimet in the late 19th century, the museum displays a variety of artworks, sculptures, paintings, textiles and religious objects reflecting the rich artistic traditions of Asia.