a region of
central Asia, which during most of its
history has been a
self-governing part of
China. Beginning in the thirteenth century, it was ruled by Dalai
Lamas, or priest kings. It was believed that the
spirit of a departed lama was incarnated in some
living person, who thereby became his successor. In the early years of the twentieth century, there was a
power struggle between the British, the Chinese and the
lamas for
control of the country which ended in the early 1950s with
Tibet being occupied by and
virtually absorbed into
Communist China.
—Conquest of Chaos Approved Glossary (8.7.92)