Tibet is a region in East Asia covering much of the Tibetan Plateau that is currently administered by People's Republic of China as the Tibet Autonomous Region and claimed by the Republic of China as the Tibet Area and the Central Tibetan Administration. The CTA uses the snow lion flag of the independent Tibetan state from 1912 to 1951. The snow lion flag has become a pro-independence symbol and is outlawed in the People's Republic of China after the 1959 Tibetan uprising. The PRC uses its national flag instead to represent Tibet. Flag used by the independent Tibet and the Central Tibetan Administration The flag of Tibet (), also known as the "Snow Lion flag" (gangs seng dar cha), was used by the de facto independent polity of Tibet from 1916 to 1951. It was adopted by the 13th Dalai Lama in 1916 and used until 1959. While the Tibetan flag is illegal in Tibet today, it continues to be used by the Central Tibetan Administration, based in Dharamshala in India. The Government of the People's Republic of China considers it to be a symbol of separatism; however, the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, said in recent years that he hoped that Tibet would achieve true autonomy and would not ask for independence. He believes that the symbolism of the flag is similar to that of the Hong Kong regional flag and does not represent the Tibetan independence movement, but the concept of pursuing religious freedom and pursuing national equality and mutual respect. Symbolism According to the Central Tibetan Administration, the flag has the following symbolism: The white triangle at the center of the flag symbolises a snow-clad mountain. The six red stripes exist atop a blue sky representing the original ancestors of the Tibetan people: the six tribes called Se, Mu, Dong, Tong, Dru, and Ra. The yellow sun represents the equal enjoyment of freedom, spiritual and material happiness and prosperity by all beings in Tibet. The pair of snow lions represent Tibet’s victorious accomplishment of a unified spiritual and secular life. The three-coloured jewel held by the snow lions represent the three "supreme gems," the objects of refuge: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The two coloured swirling jewel held between the two lions represents the people’s guarding and cherishing of the self discipline of correct ethical behaviour. The flag’s yellow border symbolises that the teachings