今年是西藏自治區成立50周年。9月8日上午10時，西藏自治區成立50周年慶祝大會在拉薩市布達拉宮廣場舉行。

在中國，西藏是一個藏族占多數的民族聚居區，目前總人口317.55萬，其中藏族占92%以上；除藏族外，西藏還有漢族、蒙古族、回族、納西族、怒族、獨龍族、門巴族、珞巴族以及僜人、夏爾巴人等40多個民族成分。根據中國憲法，國家在西藏實行民族區域自治制度，建立西藏自治區，并設有門巴、珞巴、納西等民族鄉，依法保障西藏各族人民平等參與管理國家和地方事務的政治權利。

新制度

民族區域自治
regional ethnic autonomy

民族鄉
ethnic township

和平解放
peaceful liberation

民主改革
democratic reform

自治區成立
establishment of the autonomous region

十七條協議
the "17-Article Agreement"

“因俗而治”“因事而治”
special policies based on "special local customs and conditions"

管理西藏地方社會事務的主人
managers of local social affairs

西藏社會物質財富、精神財富的創造者和享有者
creating and sharing the material and spiritual wealth of Tibet

團結穩定是福、分裂動亂是禍
unity and stability are a blessing while secession and riots are a scourge.

舊制度

政教合一的封建農奴制
feudal serfdom under theocracy

《十六法典》
16-Article Code

《十三法典》
13-Article Code

三等九級
three classes and nine ranks

大貴族、大活佛和高級官員
nobles, Living Buddhas and senior officials

上等人“命價為與尸體等重的黃金”
The value of the life of a person of the upper class was measured in gold according to his weight.

下等人“命價僅值一根草繩”
Others of the lowest rank of the lower class was equivalent to hempen rope.

人不無主、地不無差
All serfs have owners and all plots of land are assigned.

三大領主（官家、貴族、寺廟上層僧侶）
three major estate-holders (local government officials, nobles and upper-ranking lamas in monasteries)

人役稅
servitude tax

“差巴”（領種份地，向農奴主支差役的人）
"tralpa" (people who tilled plots of land assigned to them and who were obligated to provide corvee labor for serf owners)

“堆窮”（意為冒煙的小戶）
"duiqoin" (small households with chimneys emitting smoke)

“朗生”（一無所有，世代為奴）
"nangzan" (hereditary household slaves who were deprived of any means of production and personal freedom)

烏拉差（一種包括徭役、賦稅、地（畜）租在內的含義十分廣泛的差稅總稱）
corvee labor - a broad term covering not only corvee, but taxes and levies, and rents for land and livestock

子孫債
debts passed down from previous generations

連保債
debts resulting from joint liability

集體攤派債
debts apportioned among all the serfs

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）