Ü-Tsang

Ü-Tsang (Tibetan: དབུས་གཙང་, Wylie: dbus gtsang) is one of the traditional regions of Tibet, covering the central and western portions of the Tibetan Autonomous Region of present-day China. It is formed by combining the two historical regions of Ü (དབུས, dbus) and Tsang (གཙང་, gtsang). Ü, meaning "center," encompasses the area around Lhasa, the traditional capital, and the surrounding fertile valleys. Tsang, meaning "upper," refers to the region west of Ü, centered around Shigatse (Xigazê), the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas.

The unified name Ü-Tsang reflects the cultural and geographical importance of these two regions. The Lhasa Tibetan dialect, spoken in Ü, is generally considered the prestige dialect of the Tibetan language. The region has historically been central to Tibetan politics, religion, and culture. Most major monasteries, including Ganden, Sera, Drepung (near Lhasa), Tashilhunpo (near Shigatse), and Sakya, are located within Ü-Tsang. These monasteries played crucial roles in Tibetan Buddhism, scholarship, and governance.

Ü-Tsang is characterized by a diverse landscape, including high-altitude plateaus, snow-capped mountains, and fertile valleys. Agriculture is concentrated in the valleys, while nomadic pastoralism is practiced in the higher areas. The region is traversed by important rivers, including the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibetan) and its tributaries, which are vital for irrigation and transportation.