In the ongoing battle between Tibetan exiles and the PRC, one of the main battlegrounds is Tibetan history. Each side agrees on the main events of Tibetan history, but there are profound disagreements regarding why historical figures acted as they did. Were they devout Buddhists working to advance the dharma? Were they Chinese patriots devoted to the motherland, seeking closer ties with and instruction from their “Han big brothers”? My talk focuses on the main issues in the debate, the rhetorical strategies and literary tropes they employ in their attempts to persuade a worldwide audience of the validity of their respective constructions, and why this project is so important to each side.