Songtsen Gampo

Songtsen Gampo was the 33rd Tibetan ruler of the Yarlung kings and is considered to be the real founder of the Tibetan Empire. Songtsan Gambo brought together more than 10 separate tribes to create the kernal of what is now Tibet and is traditionally credited with introducing Buddhism to Tibet.

It is said that Songtsen Gampo was born at Gyama in 617, in Maldro (a region to the northeast of modern Lhasa), the son of the Yarlung king Namri Songtsen. The book “The Holder of the White Lotus” says that it is believed that he was an incarnation of the Buddhist Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, of whom the Dalai Lama is similarly believed to be a manifestation of. He is also said to have had webbed hands and feet, a deformed face and odd skin; the early Tibetans saw him as a god and enthroned him. His identification as a cakravartin or incarnation of Avalokites'vara began in earnest in the indigenous Buddhist literary histories of the 11th Century. [Source: Chloe Xin, Tibetravel.org tibettravel.org ]

Greatly influenced by his father,Songtsen Gampo showed leadership skills and other talents at an early age. When he was thirteen, he acceded to the throne after his father was poisoned in 618 and Songtsen Gampo put down a rebellion. He moved the capital of Tibet to Luosuo (today's Lhasa) after he quelled the rebellions from all parts of the region. Because of his efforts, Tibet was finally unified. By making laws, regulations and tax systems, and by fostering the development of farming and stockbreeding, Tibet prospered.

At the time Songtsen Gampo took the throne, the Tibetan people did not have a writing system and kept records by tying knots. To address this, Songtsen Gampo sent sixteen nobles including minister Thonmi Sambhota to India to study Sanskrit and writing. They created a written language for Tibet, and translated the Buddhist doctrines into this new language. This contribution helped to preserve, transmit and develop the Tibetan culture.

Unfortunately, Songthen Gampo died of an illness in 650, at the age of thirty-four. He was succeeded by his infant grandson Trimang Lön (Khri- mang-slon). Real power was left in the hands of the minister Gar Songtsän. It is said that Songtsen Gampo was buried in Yumbu Lakhang in southeast Tibet.

Expansion of the Tibetan

Kingdom Under Songtsen Gampo Through warfare and Songthen Gampo expanded the Tibetan empire deep into Nepal and Tang Dynasty China, and it was during these battles that he gained an appreciation of the neighbouring cultures. He adopted Buddhism and encouraged his subjects to take the faith. Under his rule, Buddhism began to replace the shamanistic practices of the Bon religion.

Songtsän Gampo was skilled in diplomacy as well as combat. His minister, Myang Mangpoje defeated the Sumpa people in 627. Six years later he was accused of treason and executed. He was succeeded by minister Gar Songtsän (Mgar-srong-rtsan). The Chinese records mention an envoy in 634. At that time Songtsen Gampo requested marriage to a Chinese princess but was refused. In 635-36, Songtsen Gampo attacked and defeated the Tuyuhun, who lived around Koko Nur, a lkae in present-day Qinghai Province, and took control of important trade routes into China. After a Tibetan campaign against China in 635-6, the Chinese emperor agreed—only because of the threat of force, according to Tibetan sources—to provide a Chinese princess to Songtsän Gampo.

Around 639, after Songtsän Gampo had a dispute with his younger brother Tsänsong, the younger brother was burnt to death by his own minister Khäsreg, presumably at the behest of Songtsen Gampo. Songtsän Gampo's sister Sämakar (Sad-mar-kar) was sent to marry Lig-myi-rhya, the king of Zhangzhung in what is now Western Tibet. However, when the king refused to consummate the marriage, she then helped her brother to defeat Lig myi- rhya and incorporate Zhangzhung into the Tibetan Empire. In 645, Songtsän Gampo overran the kingdom of Zhangzhung."

There is some confusion as to whether Central Tibet conquered Zhangzhung during the reign of Songtsän Gampo or in the reign of Trisong Detsän, (r. 755 until 797 or 804). The records of the Tang Annals do, however, seem to clearly place these events in the reign of Songtsän Gampo for they say that in 634, Zhangzhung and various Qiang tribes "altogether submitted to him." Following this, he united with the country of Zhangzhung to defeat the Tuyuhun, then conquered two more Qiang tribes before threatening the Chinese region of Songzhou with a very large army (according to Tibetan sources 100,000, according to them Chinese more than 200,000 men). He then sent an envoy with gifts of gold and silk to the Chinese emperor to ask for a Chinese princess in marriage and, when refused, attacked Songzhou. According to the Tang Annals, he finally retreated and apologised and later the emperor granted his request. It is recorded in the tradition of Tibet, that after Songtsen Gampo died in 650 A.D., the Chinese Tang dynasty attacked and took control of Lhasa, "but they could not sustain their presence there in the hostile environment, so they soon returned to China."

Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng

Songtsen Gampo married two princesses respectively from Nepal and Tang Dynasty China. In 639, after he married Princess Bhrikuti Devi of Nepal, he proposed a marriage to the Tang Dynasty leadership. In 641, the Chinese Emperor Tang Taizong sent Princess Wencheng to marry Songtsen Gampo (some sources say she was sent to his son). Both princesses are credited with introducing Buddhism to Tibet. Princess Wencheng is regarded as the founder of Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet's most important temple, and is credited with bringing Buddhism and Chinese culture to Tibet. The Chinese Princess Wencheng departed China in 640 and arrived a year later in Lhasa, bringing a statue, the Jowo Shakyamuni, a life-size (1.5 meters tall) statue of the Buddha.. Some stories say she was 12 when she arrived; other say she eight. Her arrival is traditionally credited with being the first time that Buddhism came to Tibet, but it is very unlikely Buddhism extended beyond foreigners at the court. Statues of Princess Wencheng and Songtsan Gambo stand together at Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa.

Prince Wencheng was a daughter of a courtier: the niece or daughter, of the Tang Emperor Taizong. It is said that Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty needed to find a bride for King Songtsen Gampo and smart and pretty Wencheng seemed an ideal match, so she was conferred the title of princess and sent west.

Princess Wencheng Gongzhu was one of the five wives of Songtsen Gampo. She brought a dowry of precious Buddhist gifts to Lhasa, notably the Jowo Rinpoche statue. The story of Princess Wencheng's marriage to Songtsen Gampo has been used as a basis for numerous songs, operas, films and paintings in China since 1950. According to Tibetologist Robert Barnett, “Hers is the main story used officially in modern China to describe the Sino-Tibetan relationship. Most if not all of this cultural production is state-sponsored."