Distinguishing the Middle From Extremes

Tsenpo Kings, 127 BC - 842 AD
Enthronement of immortal king Nyatri Tsenpo, 1st of Tibet's 42 Tsenpo kings, was start of lineage that lasted over 1000 years. The Tsenpo kings initially ruled over pre-Buddhist society who believed in an animistic, shamanistic religion, practices of which varied from region to region, but which are considered today to have constituted original Bön religion (which has little in common with New Bön, which itself is almost entirely indistinguishable from Tibetan Buddhism). Later, Buddhism was welcomed and in 792 adopted as state religion (thus marking start of demilitarization of Tibet, previously an expansionist empire). Most illustrious kings from this line - 'Three Great Kings' - were Songtsen Gampo (unified Tibet, promulgated Tibetan script), Trisong Detsen (est. Buddhism as state religion) and Ralpachen (further elevated status of Buddhism in Tibet).

140-67 BC
Reign of Han emperor Wudi who, in response to attacks on trade routes in W frontier regions by Xiongnu and Qiang tribes, wages military campaigns. By 121 BC, Chinese military garrison in place near Xining, and Chinese colonisation of Qing-Tib plateau (betw. Lake Kokonor and Yellow R. source) soon follows.

127 BC on
Official Tibetan Royal Year begins with legendary enthronement of Tibet's first historical king, Nyatri Tsenpo, in 127 BC (according to White Annals), who either a) commuted between heaven and earth via sky-cord (as did his successors up until 100 BC, when the unfortunate Drigum Tsenpo, 7th Tsenpo king, accidentally cut his sky-cord, thus having unfortunate distinction of becoming Tibet's first mortal king); or b) was a native of India who, upon losing battle in Indian epic Mahabharata, fled to Tibet, where locals mistakenly believed him to have come from heaven.

Culture known as Böd (present-day Tibet, word comes from 'Bön', the culture/religion prevalent at time there) comes into existence in Yarlung and Chongya valleys around time of King Nyatri Tsenpo (who is credited with uniting several of these small kingdoms - speculative!). Böd will continue to grow until whole of today's greater Tibet is united under King Songtsen Gampo.

Certain Bön texts translated during time of 2nd kind Mutri Tsenpo.

65 AD
Buddhism becomes established in China.

331
During reign of 28th king Thothori Nyentsen, 4 objects (2 hands folded in prayer, small chorten, gem inscribed with om mani padme hum, religious work on moral subjects) fall to earth, but their meaning unclear.

371 or 433
Five foreigners arrive before king with instructions on how to use the 4 objects. Marks intro of Buddhism into Tibet.

late 6c-early 7c
Major tribes of Qing-Tib Plateau at this time: Yangtong (NW of Tibet), Supi (present-day Nakchu, Chamdo, Jyekundo), Duomi (upper reaches of Yangtze), Dangxiang (present-day Gansu), Xishan (present-day Sichuan), Yarlung (present-day Shannan area), and Tuguhun (est. jointly by Xianbei tribe and Xiqiang tribe (present-day N Qinghai to S Xinjiang).

602
More reliable Tibetan history starts here. Local ruler from Yarlung valley, Namri Songtsen (considered 32nd Tsenpo king), unifies much of central Tibet under an alliance of petty rulers. He is known in Chinese (Sui Dynasty) records as 'Commander of 100,000 Warriors'.

618
Beginning of Tang dynasty, which soon attacks western tribes. Dangxiang, Tuguhun, Xishan and Yangtong tribes send envoys pledging allegiance to Tang gov't.

629-650
Reign of Songtsen Gampo (son of Namri Songtsen). Crowned 33rd Tsenpo king, he's also 1st of the 9 Religious Kings ('Chogyal'), who altogether reigned from 630-836. Under his reign (considered zenith in Tibet history), whole of today's greater Tibet unified, capital at Lhasa. Tibet begins to expand into China, India and Nepal. This period of military expansion, lasting into 9c, known as Tubo Empire (in Tang dynasty, Tibetans referred to as Tubo. Incidentally, English word 'Tibet' derived from 'tubo'), and is the only time that greater Tibet was unified under one government.

Yarlung annexes Yangtong and Supi, thus expanding area under its control E and N. Marks establishment of Tubo kingdom.

King Ligmincha of Zhang-zhung assassinated on orders of Songtsen Gampo, and Zhang-zhung, up to now a fully independent kingdom, annexed by Tibet, where it is eventually fully assimilated into Tibet (though some say not until 14c).

Re Zhang-zhung - it's said that it was Zhang-zhung priests who, invited to central Tibet, introduced their shamanistic religion (which is considered early Bön and is speculated to have come to Zhang-zhung from Persia) to Tibet for the first time. These teachings, translated from Zhang-zhung language into Tibetan, constitute first Bön scriptures. Zhang-zhung was a kingdom now considered to have comprised lands to west of today's Lhasa/Shigatse area, from Gilgit in the west to Namu Cuo in east, from Khotan in north to Mustang in south, incl. Mt. Kailash, in a great confederacy of states, whose origins possibly from E Tibetan region. Located as it was by culturally rich centres such as Gilgit and Khotan, it was natural corridor through which many religious ideas spread into Tibet. Ruled by dynasty of 18 kings up until 9c (quite speculative, still lots of research and digging to be done).

Nepal subjugated. Then in 632, king marries Nepalese princess Bhrikuti, and in 641, in hopes of curbing Tibet's expansionist tendencies, Chinese emperor Taizong (Tang dynasty) offers Songtsen Gampo his daughter, Princess Wencheng, to take as a wife. These two princesses considered influential in introducing Buddhism into Tibet, though Songtsen Gampo himself continued to adhere to Bön.

641-650
Construction of Potala Palace, and Jokhang and Ramoche temples to house Buddha images.

Written history only dates back to this period, when Songtsen Gampo sends his minister Sambhota and other scholars to India to study Sanskrit, which they then modified to make a Tibetan script. Previously had been no written Tibetan language. However, some say that a pre-cursor to Tibetan script was already in existence in Zhang-zhung, which had long had its own fully developed script.

During this period, Tibet (whose culture at this time still Bön as opposed to Buddhist) brought into contact (owing to its warrior ways) with many other cultures, and ends up adopting some Indian Buddhist principals, such as that of cause and effect, cyclic existence and a state beyond suffering.

7c and 8c
Increasingly difficult times for Bön religion - many Bönpo scholars, lamas hide sacred texts and flee Central Tibet. Drenpa Namkha, one of greatest Bönpo masters of that time, embraces Buddhism out of fear of being killed and for sake of preserving Bönpo teachings in secret.

665-692
Far-eastern Tibet (today's Kham and Amdo) brought into fold of Tibetan Empire of Yarlung kings. Both Bön and Tibetan Buddhism have been strong in these regions ever since.

670
After brief stalemate beginning with Songtsen Gampo's death, conflict between Tibet and Tang China starts up again, mainly to do with trade controls over Central Asian Silk Routes.

Tibet conquers Amdo, Tarim Basin.

680
Tibetan army has advanced as far as Nanzhao kingdom (based in today's Dali).

733
Chinese, under Emperor Ming Li, allies with Nanzhao Kingdom and others to face Tibetan expansion which threatens SW China frontier.

745
Commissioned by Emperor Ming Li to repel danger at China's SW border, King Pilaoko of Nanzhao kingdom in Dali launches war against Tibet.

750
King Kolofeng of Nanzhao kingdom now allies with Tibet.

755-797
Reign of Trisong Detsen, under which Buddhism really takes off.

762
King Trisong Detsen (742-797) converts from Bön to Buddhism. He then holds a debate between Bön priests and Buddhists and, surprise surprise, declares Buddhists the winners.

763
Tibet captures Tang Dynasty capital Changan (present-day Xian). China must pay annual tribute (50,000 rolls of silk).

774
Encountering difficulties establishing Buddhism in Tibet, King Trisong Detsen invites Padmasambhava (a.k.a. 'the Lotus Born', a.k.a. Guru Rinpoche), Tantric* master from Indo-Iranian country of Uddiyana. He is able to suppress native Tibetan demons and convert them into guardians of the Dharma, thus clearing way for Buddhism in Tibet.

779
Founding of Samye Gompa (Nyingmapa), first major monastery in Tibet (made possible by Padmasambhava's converting of the local gods into protectors of the Dharma). Subsequently native Bön religion is generally discouraged, at times actively attacked. However, still many Bön adherents among both commoners and aristocrats, and the religion survives. Not a lot known about development of Bön from this period up until 11c.

At Samye, Indian and Chinese monks begin work of translating Buddhist scriptures into Tibetan.

This period of Buddhism is known as the Early Translation (or First Translation), as opposed to 'New Translation' which took place 10c/11c.

792
Conflict arises between Chinese monks (adherents of Zen - 'sudden enlightenment' - to achieve enlightenment one should empty the mind so to fill the heart with compassion) and Indian monks over doctrinal interpretation, so King Trisong Detsen calls for second debate, to determine which form of Buddhism would prevail in Tibet. Indian monks declared winners, and in aftermath of great debate, Buddhism established as state religion of Tibet, and Chan (Zen) Buddhist tradition effectively proscribed.

The adopting of Buddhism as state religion marks beginning of demilitarisation of Tibet and shrinking of empire.

794
China and Nanzhao Kingdom having become allies again, king Imoshun of Nanzhao kingdom invades Tibet, capturing 16 towns.

815-836
Reign of Ralpachen. Peace with China established, Buddhism further elevated, many temples built, new system of weights established (based on Indian model). Ralpachen ordains that every 7 households should support 1 Buddhist monk.

821-822
Peace treaty signed with China. It's to be final one.

838
King Ralpachen assassinated by his brother, Lang Dharma, a Bön follower.

838-842
Reign of Lang Dharma, 42nd and last Tsenpo king. Whether it was hate of Buddhism, or his need to support Bön so to secure throne (aristocracy at time was more Bön), under his reign Buddhism severely persecuted, monasteries, images, sacred books destroyed. Many Buddhist monks flee to Qinghai, setting up monasteries there. Its ties with India thus broken off, religion of Tibetan Buddhism comes more into its own as an independent branch of Buddhism.

842
Murder of King Lang Dharma by Buddhist monk, and failed attempt by his 2 sons to assume power, results in political fragmentation of Tibet and more than a century of civil disorder and wars.

Source: haiweitrails.com