TIBETAN HISTORY AND LANGUAGE

STUDIES DEDICATED TO URAY GEZA

ON HIS SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAY

HERAUSGEGEBEN
VON

ERNST STEINKELLNER

WIEN 1991

ARBEITSKREIS FOR TIBETISCHE UNO BUDDHISTISCHE STUDIEN

UNIVERSITAT WIEN
 A BRIEF POLffiCAL HISTORY OF TIBET BY GU-RU BKRA-SHis

by

Dan Martin, Bloomington

Introduction

Our contemporary historians, for obvious reasons: tend to get most excited
about the oldest historical works. They think, "The older, the better." This
thoroughly defensible attitude might lead them to neglect the rather different
advantages of more recent historical works, which may be based on a range of
sources no longer accessible, may have treated those sources with relatively greater
critical sense, more "wisdom in hindsight", and may provide coverage for the lon-
ger spans of historical transmissions and developments. J11e present writing is in-
tended to briefly introduce one such late historical work; next, and most generally,
to supply an outline which may encourage researchers to make better use of it;
and, finally, to supply one small, relatively independent portion of the text in
transcription and translation.
The early nineteenth century history by Gu-ru Bkra-shis, also known as Stag-
sgang Mkhas-mchog Ngag-dbang-blo-gros, 1 was first made available in reprint with
a four volume cursive manuscript reproduction published in 1979? Somewhere in
the vicinity of 1985-1986, a five volume reproduction of a non-cursive manuscript
also appeared. 3 The title in full is Bstan-pa'i Snying-po Gsang-chen Snga-'gyur Nges-

Dedicated to Geza Uray, whose inimitable works on Tibetan history I have admired for many
years. I would also like to acknowledge Elliot Sperling (Bloomington) for teaching me so much of
what I think I know about Tibetan political history and also Christopher Atwood (Bloomington) for
so kindly and quickly supplying the Mongolian spellings for certain names and titles that occur in the
translated text. -"

1
He signs his work with the names Ngag-dbang-blo-gros and Dbyangs-can-dga'-ba'i-blo-gros
(the latter being also a name of the Dge-lugs-pa author A-kya Yongs-'dzin).
2
GU-RU BKRA-SHIS, Chos- 'byung [B]. I refer to this simply as Version B.
3
GU-RU BKRA-SHIS, Chos-'byung [A]. So far as I know, this edition, unlike Version B, was never
made available to the U.S. "Special Languages Foreign Currency" (or PIA80) acquisition programs.
This version was acquired at the monastic residence of Dingo Khyentse (Dis-mgo Mkhyen-brtse)
Rinpoche in Bodhanath, Nepal. The outline of the contents of Version A (supplied below) should be
 330 D. Martin

. don Zab-mo'i Chos-kyi 'Byung-ba Gsal-bar Byed-pa'i Legs-bshad: Mkhas-pa Dga'- I

byed Ngo-mtshar Gtam-gyi Rol-mtsho, for which we might attempt a translation 1
something like the following: Myriad Amazing Narrative Dramas for Scholarly Enter- t
tainment: Belletristic Illuminating the Emergence of the Profound and Uncompro- I
misingly Presented Dharma of the Old Translations, the Supreme Secret Heart of
1
Buddha's Teachings. !..
Unfortunately, I have at present no particular information about the author
apart from what may be learned from the history itself. 4 We may know, from in-
ternal references, that he had one teacher who is called Nyi-sprul (II 75.4] 5 and
another whom he calls Rdzogs-cben Dbon Rin-po-che. The tit}e Nyi-sprul refers to
a chain of reincarnations of Nyi-ma-grags-pa (1647-1710). 6 in another place [IV
154.1], Gu-ru Bkra-shis gives a fuller name fo~ this particular Nyi-sprul: Padma-
theg-mchog-bstan-pa'i-rgyal-mtsban (born 1712) and quite a few pages are devoted
to his biography (IV 463.3-498.6]. This Nyi-sprul (a.k.a. Rig-'dzin Bstan-skyong-rgya-
mtsho) was the third in a succession of abbots of the monastery at Stag-mo-sgang
where the original Nyi-ma-grags-pa had spent the final years of his life. We may be
sure that Gu-ru Bkra-shis also belonged to this same monastery (called, in full,
Stag-mo-sgang Skal-bzang-phun-tshogs-gling7) since he is given the title Stag-sgang
Mkbas-rnchog, "the best scholar of Stag-[mo-]sgang". This place is in Khams, not
far from Derge (Sde-dge ).
We also know from the colophon that the main body of the history was written
between the years Fire Hare and Earth Snake of the thirteenth sixty-year cycle8 i I

which correspond to 1807 and 1809. He had to wait a few years for some docu- ,.
ments that he needed. Then, in the Water Monkey [1812], he wrote the sixth main

Ii-
1
used together with the outline of Version B given in CLTIVA I, pp. 163-168 (nos. 129-132) in order 1
to quickly locate items of interest in one or both versions. Note that Gu-ru Bkra-shis' history is
mentioned in DARGYAY, Rise of Esoteric, p. 73.
4
There must surely be some information about him in biographies of his contemporaries and
in later Rnying-ma histories, although I have not yet noticed any such references.
5 The Roman numerals inside the square brackets refer to the volume number in Version A (the
five volume edition), and the line number follows the page number, separated by a decimal point.
6
Nyi-ma-grags-pa was a rather famous gter-ston, student of the Padma-rig-'dzin who founded
Rdzogs-chen Monastery in 1685. I have dealt briefly and in general with the life of Nyi-ma-grags-pa .,J
in my dissertation. Meanwhile, see BLONDEAU, "Controverse", for an interesting discussion of the
controversy surrounding the exclusion of the rediscoveries of Nyi-ma-grags-pa from the Rin-chen Gter
Mdzod.
7
It was at this monastery that he completed the composition of the history according to the .
colophon [V 437.2].
1l
~
8On the Tibetan chronological system, see URAY, "Earliest Evidence" and the literature which
he cites there.
 A Brief Political History of Tibet 331

topic and the section about New Tantras. Finally, in 1813, he worked on the cor-
rections to his draft, and it was apparently in that same year that the work was
completed, and perhaps distributed on a modest scale.

\ The history as a whole has eight main topics (spyi don):

A. The first is "How the Teacher Came into the World" [I 19.1-162.1). This
section deals with the formation of the universe [I 19.2], the Buddhas of the
past [36], the prior rebirths of the Buddha of the present times Sakyamuni, the
twelve deeds of Sakyamuni [37.3), and certain special versions of his life as
told in Mahayana and Vajrayana scriptures [125.4]. This latter part has a dis-
cussion of the Trikaya doctrine. The final section ends with the manifestations
of Buddha in Rdzogs-chen thought [130.4].

B. The second main topic is the "Teaching of the Buddhas" [I 162.1]. This
opens with a trio of themes beginning with the three turnings of the Wheel of
Dharma, then the nine Vehicles idea [167.5], the third being the compilation
of scriptures [218.4]. It continues with the histories of how the teachings (as
just defined) entered into the world; first, in India [224.5), then in Tibet
[368.4 ). The part about India includes stories about several of the famous
Indian progenitors of Rdzogs-chen teachings according to both continuously
transmitted (bka'-ma) and rediscovered (gter-ma) sources, but the greatest
attention is paid to Padmasambhava's life [317.6-368.5], including his visit to
'Gro-lding, or Dra-rni-dro-pa, which has been identified with Madagascar
[354.1-361.4]. 9 To mention a few highlights of the section on Tibet, which
covers basically the period of the Tibetan Emperors: The time when Tibet was
a lake [370.5], the former spirit inhabitants [372], the story of the ape and
1 ogress [373], the first clans and the origins of border peoples [373-374 ], the
I first Emperor [376], the origin of salt [378.4], Srong-btsan-sgarn-po [379.2],
I Thon-rni Sambhota [379.4], the invitation of foreign monks and translations
from Chinese [381], the seven wise ministers [381.4-384.4], Khri-srong-lde-btsan
[384.4], Sang-shi -returns with books from China [388.6], the activities of
II Padmasambhava in Tibet, the building of Bsam-yas, the successors of Khri-
srong-lde-btsan [436.1], and the twenty-five disciples of Padmasambhava
I
9
TUCCI, "Sea and Land Travels", pp. 311-3U. The tradition that Pad..illasambhava journeyed
there might not be older than the Padmasambhava biography by Taranatha (b. 1575). Taranatha's
Indian teacher Buddhagupta did travel to 'Gro-lding according to his biography by Taranatha
himself. A place called 'Gro-'ding-ba'i Yul is known to the 1557 Rnying-ma history by MKHYEN-RAB-
RGYA-MISHO (Sangs-rgyas Bstan-pa'i Chos-'byung [1984], p. 548.1).
.. !
332 D. Martin

[442.5]. The second main topic ends with a discussion of the relative merits of
the old and new translations [473.4-477.3].

C. The third main topic concerns the continuously transmitted (bka'-ma)

teachings [I 477.5-II 447.2]. This begins with the life of the Tibetan monk

I
i
Vairocana [I 478.1] and the Rdzogs-chen precepts of the Sems [487.5] and '
Klang classes [504.4] that came through him, then the precepts of the Man-ngag

I
i
i
class that came through Vimalamitra, especially the Snying-thig [540.4]. The
biographies of lineage holders of the Man-ngag class are told up until Klong-
!
!
chen-pa [II 32.3], and then several distinct lines of subsequent lineage holders
l
[II 62.1]. Then there is a general history of the Mdo Sgyu Sems (meaning the
three main tantras of the Maha-, Anu- and Ati-yoga Vehicles [114.5]). This
begins with Gnyags Jflanakumara, then Sog-po Dpal-gyi-ye-sbes [123.6],
Gnubs-chen Sangs-rgyas-ye-shes [125.2], Zur-po-che [138.2], and so on, ending
with a biography of the most famous Rnying-ma-pa intellectual of the Second
Spread, Rong-zom-pa [319.5], noting that he composed texts on farming and
animal husbandry [329.1]. This main topic comes to a close with a treatment
of the different schools of transmission of the Phur-pa cycles [335.1), and a few
words about the transmission of the monastic vows [404.1)-.

D. The fourth and perhaps the most substantial of the main topics is this one
devoted to the rediscoverers of hidden "treasures" (which are not limited to
texts, but include much more), the gter-stons [II 447.2-III 262.2). This opens 1

with scriptural justifications for the gter-ma phenomenon. These scriptures are
those which stress the possibility for continuing revelations and the continuing
"presence" of the Buddha, such as the Pratyutpanna-Buddha-Sa1f1.mukhava-
sthita-Samtldhi-Sutra [447.3]. 10 A more or less complete list of the gter-ston
biographies is supplied in a footnoteY This main topic comes to an end with

1
For a thorough study and translation of this sutra, see HARRISON, Pratyutpanna.
11
Version A, vol. II: 452.4 Sangs-rgyas-bla-ma. 454.6 Rgya Lo-tsa-ba. 455.5 Sna-nam-pa. 456.2
Zhang-khrom. 464.4 Surya-siddha (Surya-sidha) . 467.4 Ston Shak. 468.2 Bon-po Drag-rtsal. 469.6
Snye-mo Zhu-yas. 471.6 Grub-thob Dngos-grub. 474.2 Gtsug-lag-dpal-dge (Newari gter-ston in time of
Rin-chen-bz.ang-po). 476.6 Ku-sa Sman-pa ( =Khu-tsha Zla-'od). 477.5 Bon-po Lha-'bum (in time of
Mar-pa). 478.5 Khyung-po Dpal-dge. 480.5. Sha-mi Rdor-rgyal. 481.3 Ldang-ma Lhun-rgyal. 482.1
Gra-pa Mngon-shes. 487.4 Rak-sha Gter-ston. 490.2 Nyang-ral Nyi-ma-'od-zer. 503.1 Khyung-thog.
503.6 Ra-mo-shel-sman. 508.5 Gu-ru Chos-dbang. 509.2 Story of a Bon Gnya'-rengs in time of Khri-
srong. 530.4 Gu-ru Jo-rtse. 532.5 Padma-dbang-phyug. 534.6 Do-ban Rgya-mtsho. 536.3 Ri-shi Ston-
pa. 537.3 Nyi-'o~-gsal. 538.4 Chos-kyi-rdo-rje. 539.2 G .yag-phyar-sngon-mo. 542.4 Grum and Mkhar-
nag. 544.1 Lha-btsun Sngon-po. 546.2 Khams-pa Nyi-ma-grags. 548.3 Padma-las-'brel-rtsal. 558.4 Tsbe-
brtan-rgyal-mtshan. 561.4 Rin-chen-gling-pa. 571.2 0-rgyan-gling-pa. 580.1 Klong-cben-pa. 584.1 Rog-
rje-gling-pa. 594.2 Gter-bdag-gling-pa. 595.3 Kun-skyong-gling-pa. 6U.1 0-rgyan-mdo-sngags-gling-pa. .t
_;
~

~...
;_t
 'A Brief Political History of Tibet 333

discussions of chronological problems relative to the emergence of fiter-stons

621.5 Padma-tshe-dbang-rgyal-po. 628.4 Rdo-rje-gling-pa. 639.3 Sangs-rgyas-gling-pa. 660.1 Padma-

gling-pa. 672.5 'J a' -mtshon-snying-po. 684.5 Bsam-gtan-gling-pa. 685.6 Zhig-po-gling-pa Gar-gyi-dbang-
phyug (1524-1583) [689.6 disapproval of Dalai Lama V]. 690.2 The "hidden country" (sbas-yuf) Sreg-
pa-lung. 690.6 Bde-chen-gling-pa. 696.1 Ratna-gling-pa (1403-1478). 713.5 Lhun-grub Pho-brang
Rgyud-'bum. 714.4 Karma-gling-pa. 719.2 Nyi-zla-chos-rje. 720.5 Surya-rasmi. 721.3 Nam-mkha'-chos-
kyi-rgya-mtsho. 724.4 Discussion of the various gter-ston called Las-'phro-gling-pa. 725.3 'Gro-'dul-las-
'phro-gling-pa. 732.2 Kun-dga' -dpal-bzang. 733.3 Gar-dbang-las-'phro-gling-pa. 730.2 Dri-med rnam
gsum (threegter-ston with "Dri-m_ed" as a component of their names) . 730.4 Dri-med-kun-dga'. 742.4
Dri-med-lhun-po. 753.5 Rdor-'bum Chos-kyi-grags-pa. 756.2 Kun-dga'-'bum (a female gter-ston ) . 759.4
Bzang-po-grags-pa. 763.6 Rdo-rje-kun-grags. 765.1 Rgya-phur-bu. 766.3 Gnubs-cbung. 7703 Rgya-ston
Brtson-'grus-seng-ge. 770.6 Gnyag-ston Lha-'bar. 771.3 Sangs-rgyas-dbang-chen. 774.5 Gter-ston Gru-
gu. 776.1 Dpal-gyi-rgyal-mtshan. 779.1 Nyi-zla-sangs-rgyas. 781.2 Gzi-brjid-'bar. 781.5 Shes-rab-'od.
782.1 Sar-ban Phyogs-med. 784.2 Me-long-rdo-rje. 784.5 The earlier and later Dung-mtsho-ras-pa.
786.5 Rgod-ldem ( = Rgod-kyi-ldem-'phru-can, 1337-1408). 804.5 Ba-mkhal-smug-po. 805.2 'Jam-
dbyangs-bla-ma. 806.4 Ye-shes-khyung-grags. 807.5 Sangs-rgyas-'bar. 808.3 Zla-ba-rdo-rje. 808.4
Badzra-ma-ti (Indian gter-ston in Nepal). 809.5 Ati.Sa. 816.5 Lha-btsun Byang-chub-'od. 819.6 Zhang-
" ; zbung mantras. 820.5 'Gram Cbos-snying. 821.2 Byang-chub-blo-gros. 822.4 Se-ston Ring-mo. 823 Kha-
la-me-'bar I 'Od-zer-ston-pa I Mo-mi-'khyil. 824.1 Rin-seng. 827.2 Shakya-'od or Shakya-bzang-po.
828.2 Bal-ba-ring-mo. 828.5 La-stod Dmar-po. 829.6 The three gter-ston, and the story of Dar-'phyar-
ba. 835.5 Me-nyag Grags-'byung. 835.6 Gter-ston disciples of Chos-dbang. 836.5 Sho-ban Rgyal-sras-
legs-ldan. 840.6 Zangs-ri-ras-pa. 842.3 Gnyal-pa Nyi-ma-shes-rab. 846.5 Khro-phu Lo-tsa-ba. 847.5
Medical gter-ma, including those of Sum-ston Ye-shes-zung ( = Ye-shes-gzungs). 849.4 Brang-ti Mkhar-
ba. 850.3 Nyang-ti Shes-rab-grags, Chos-'bar, Hum-'bar. 851.3 Skal-ldan-byis-pa. 852.3 Nyi-ma-seng-
ge. 852.4 Gnyal-ston Jo-sras. 853.1 Shes-rab-me-'bar. 856 Khams-pa Me-zor, Sna-nam Thub-rgyal.
856.6 Thang-stong-rgyal-po.
Vol. III: 2.1 Gnyen-lo Dar-ma-grags. 8.1 Bal-po A-hum-pa, gter-ston. 8.5 Rgya-ban Rdo-rje-'od.
9.3 Dpal-bo. 9.6 Dbang-chen-bzang-po. 10.1 Zangs-gling-dbang-phyug. 10.2 Sbur-so-bya'u-mgon. 10.5
Yang-ban Ri-khrod-pa Seng-ge. 11.1 Drang-srong Don-grub-'bar 13.3 Mgon-po-rin-chen. 17.3 Rang-
byung-ye-shes. 17.2 Bse-ban Nyi-ma'i-snying-po. 17.3 Yongs-'dzin Ngag-dbang-grags-pa. 18.1 Gdong-
dkar-la-kha-ba. 18.6 Stag-lung-pa Sangs-rgyas-dbon-po. 20.3 'Brug-sgom-zhig-po. 20.5 Bkra-shis-tshe-
brtan. 21.2 Mchog-ldan-rdo-rje. 21.6 Byang-chub-dpal-mo. 22.5 Ma-ha-badzra. 24.2 Padma-rig-'dzin.
25.3 Bla-ma Zhang. Other Gsar-ma gter-ston. 28.2 Ba-ri Lo-tsa-ba. 30.1 Dus-gsum-mJr..hyen-pa. 30.6
Dung-mtsho-ras-pa. 33.3 Ti-phu-pa. 34.5 Mar-pa and Mi-la-ras-pa. 35.4 Rang-byung-rdo-rje. 36.5 Nya-
ras-se-bo. 37.1 Karma-pa Chos-grags-rgya-mtsho. 37.6 Gnyan Lo-tsa-ba. 38.1 Tshar-chen Blo-gsal-
rgya-mtsho. 38.3 Kun-dga'-rin-chen. 39.4 Tsong-kba-pa. 40.2 Dge-slong-ma Dpal-mo. 43 A list of other
gter-ston. 44-49 This is an appendix added by Kw1-bzang-gz.han-phan . [This is a name for Rdo-ba Grub-
chen I 'Jigs-med-'phrin-las-'od-zer, 1745-1821.] 50.1 Yol-mo Sprul-sku Shakya-bzang-po. 56.6 Mnga'-
ris Pan-chen Padma-dbang~rgyal-rdo-rje, and his younger brother Legs-ldan-rdo-rje. 80.6 'Phrang-mgo
Gter-ston Shes-rab-'od-zer. 85.3 Rin-chen-phun-tshogs. 95.1 'Phreng-po Gter-ston Shes-rab-'od-zer.
112.4 Mkhyen-brtse'i-dbang-phyug. 129.6 Karma-gu-ru, =Byang-bdag Bkra-shis-stobs-rgyal. 148.5 Yol-
mo Sprul-sku Bstan-'dzin-nor-bu, at Bodhanath. 161.3 Bdud-'dul-rdo-rje. 176.3 Ma-ti-ratna. 177.4
Klong-gsal-snying-po. 186.3 Rong-ston Padma-blo-gros, = Padma-bde-chen-gling-pa. 187.1 Stag-sham-
rdo-rje. 189.5 Rol-pa'i-rdo-rje. 192.6 Mi-'gyur-rdo-rje. 193.4 Ngag-dbang-phrin-las and Padma-dbang-
phyug. 194.6 Tshe-dbang-nor-bu. 199.5 Rig-'dzin Nam-mkha', = Rmog-grub Rig-'dzin. 204.4 Gar-
dbang-rdo-rje, = Zla-ba-rgyal-mtshan, etc. 209.3 Stobs-ldan-rdo-rje. 212.3 Thugs-mchog-rdo-rje
( = Hum-nag-'gro-'dul). 218.4 Theg-gling Karma-'gro-don-rnthar-phyin. 222.4 Kun-bzang-bde-chen-
rgyal-po. 228.6 Khams-sprul Ngag-dbang-kun-dga' -bstan-'dzin. 233.6 E-ne-ring Chos-rje. 234.4 Rdo-rje-
thogs-med. 242.6 Lha-sdings Zhabs-drung. 250.3 Dwags-po Rin-po-che.
334 D. Martin

(their prophecies usually connect them with specific Tibetan political develop-
ments [ill 252]) and on bow the genuineness of gter-stons (for everyone agrees
that some have been frauds) may be tested [260.3].

E. The fifth main topic is "visionary teachings", in Tibetan, dag snang [III
262.1-401.5]: This is a collection of biographies of famous Tibetan vision-
aries.12

F. The sixth main topic is a general survey of Rnying-ma-pa monasteries

(including monasteries of other sects which followed Rnying-ma religious
practices) and their abbatiallineages (gdan-rabs) [III 401.5-V 125.6]. This is the
most interesting part of Gu-ru Bkra-shis' history from several perspectives. It
makes use of many sources, both oral and written, not currently accessible, and
it includes a few appended sections, one of them being the one that will be
translated shortly. The survey of monasteries is arranged geographically. It
begins with monasteries of.Lho-brag and Mon-yul (which here includes Bhutan
and neighboring areas on the borderlands of Tibetan and Indian culture )_13
Then it procedes to the area of Yamdok (Yar-'brog) Lake and other central
areas of Central Tibet [III 447.5-IV 106.1]. 14 Then there are the monasteries

12
Version A, vol. Ill: 268.3 Zla-ba-rgyal-mtshan. 268.5 Ras-chung-pa. 269.6 G.yu-thog Yon-tan-
mgon-po. 282.2 Lho-brag Grub-chen Las-kyi-rdo-rje. 297.2 Karma-pa Mthong-ba-don-ldan. 297.4 Eo-
dong Sangs-rgyas-mgonpo. 297.6 Ras-chen Dpal-'byor-bzang-po. 298.2 Bsam-gtan-gling-pa Nam-
mkha'-bsod-nams. 300.6 Skyer-sgang-pa Chos-kyi-seng-ge. 302.2 Karma-pa Mi-bskyod-dbang-po. 3025
'Brug-chen Padma-dkar-po. 303.5 'Ja'-tshon-me-'bar. 305.3 Rig-'dzin Bkra-shis-rgya-mtsho. 305.6 'Bri
gung Dkon-mchog-rin-chen. 306.2 Nam-mkha'-'jigs-med (opener of the "hidden country" Sikkim).
311.5 Rig-' dzin Phrin-las-lhun-grub. 313.1 The Fifth Dalai Lama. 333.4 Rig-'dzin Mi-'gyur-rdo-rje.
346.6 Karma-chags-med. 353.3 Rang-rig-ras-pa. 355.4 Nyi-grags Rgyal-sras 0-rgyan-bstan-'dzin. 3555
Rje-drung Rin-po-che . 365.3 Rig-'dzin G.yung-mgon-rdo-rje. 365.5 'Jigs-med-gling-pa. 392.2 Kun
bzang-gzhan-phan, 399.3 Blo-bzang-chos-kyi-dbang-phyug.
13
The listings of monasteries and abbots in this and the following notes are o~y partial. Version
A, vol. III: 403.2 'Ug-pa-lung and Gsang-sngags-gling. 404.3 Smra-bo-lcog in Lho-brag (founded by
Nyang-ral Nyi-ma-'od-zer). 416.1 La-yag Gu-ru Lha-khang (Bsam-'grub-bde-chen Lha-khang) first
founded by Gu-ru Chos-dbang. 416.5 Lhun-grub Pho-brang (headquarters of Ratna-gling-pa). 416.6
Chags Byang-chub-gling (headquarters of a disciple of Padma-gling-pa named Byang-chub-gling-pa).
417.1 Mkhar-chu Bdud-'joms-gling (founded by Dalai Lama V).
14
Version A, vol. III: 447.5 Yar-'brog Yon-po-do. 448.1 Zang-zang Lha-brag (on the north side
of the Gtsang-po in Gtsang La-stod) 448.3 Gtsang Ri-bo-che (founded by Thang-stong-rgyal-po ). 4493
Brgya-mkhar Gsang-sngags-chos-gling. 450.5 Se lineage splits into Brgya-mkhar-ba and Bkra-bzang-pa.
Bkra-bzang founded by Rgod-ldem. 456.4 Tshes-bcu Sgrub-sde (founded by Thang-stong-rgyal-po). :
458.2 Sman-lung. 459.6 Dpal-ri (in 'Phyongs-rgyas valley). 460.5 Abbatial succession of Rdo-rje-brag. .t'
descendents of Rgod-ldem. 475.6 Mnga'-ris Rig-'dzin and the beginning of Rdo-rj e-brag, the Rdor- ik
brag Rig-'dzin line. 476.1 Rig-'dzin Dbang-po'i-sde. 477.5 Rig- 'dzin Ngag-gi-dbang-po (son of the !
former, and actual founder of Rdo-rje-brag) . 496.3 Sprul-sku Bstan-'dzin-nor-bu. 498.6 Padma-phrin- t
:1 .
1
~""
~-~

-~
 A Brief Political History of Tibet 335

of smaller areas in the eastern fringes of Central Tibet - Gnyal, Lo-ro, E,

Dwags-po, Kong-po and Spo-bo. 15 Finally, we reach the area of Khams,
where the Rnying-ma monasteries in and near Sde-dge receive the most atten-
tion.1~ This main topic ends with two appended histories: one of the kings of
Sde-dge (Derge [V 83]), including information on the Sde-dge printery [101.2],
t and another on the rulers of Central Tibet [116.6] (to be translated below).
r
;

G. The seventh main topic is on the New Tantra schools [V 125.6-285.4]. This
includes brief general treatments of the various religious traditions of Tibet
(with the notable exception of Bon), and even of different reincarnation lin-
eagesY There is then a history of Lhasa, the Jo-khang, and Bsam-yas during
the early Second Spread times (the tenth through twelfth centuries), including
some interesting information on the famous Lhasa dike [225.3]. This part
closes with an appendix on the historically close relations between the Old and
New Translation schools, about various incidents of intersectarian strife, and
a plea for religious tolerance [230.1].

las.
Vol. IV: 29.5 Smin-grol-gling Monastery. 79 .2 'Bri-gung Gsang-sngags-pho-brang (founded by
Mi-nyag Sgom-chen; had 70,000 monks). 79.5 Rin-chen-phun-tshogs. _
15
Version A, vol. IV: In Gnyal and Lo-ro: 106.5 Gnyal 0-rgyan-gling. 107.2 Reference to a Gter-
ston Brgya-rtsa Gter~'byung by one G.yung-ston Rdo-rje. 109.3 Monasteries in the area known as E .
110.4 Monasteries in Dwags-po. 111.2 Rtse-le monastery. 112.4 Abbatial succession of Sgam.-po. 147.2
Monasteries in Kong-po. The Bya-khyung-pa lineage. 149.1 The Snyim-phu-ba lineage. 154.2 Kong-po
Thang-'brog Monastery (founded by Bstan-'dzin-rdo-rje) . 165.3 Monasteries in Spo-bo. Note: The
historical geography of Dwags-po and neighboring regions in the eastern parts of Central Tibet has
been discussed in URAY, "Nag.ri.i.dags.po", pp. 1504-1506.
16
Version A, val. IV: 167.1 Monasteries in Khams: 167.6 Kah-thog Monastery's history and
abbatial succession (see EIMER & TSERING, "List of Abbots of Ka}:l-thog"). 189.4 Abbots of Dpal-yul
(began in the tradition of Ka}:l-thog, but with the addition of the Gnam-chos teachings of Karma-
chags-med). 204.3 Rdzogs-chen Monastery (founded in 1685), its history and abbots, including a brief
history of the Mkha'-'gro Snying-thig. 205.3 The abbot Padma-rig-'dzin. 240.4 His compositions. 246.6
Some doubts about Padri:ia-rig-'dzin expressed in Byang A-ta-rong-gi Deb-ther (?). 251.5 Nyi-ma-grags-
pa. 331.2 Rgya-rong Rtag-brtan-phun-tshogs-rnam-rgyal-sgrub-grwa. 351.1-436 Biography of Nyi-ma-
grags-pa-rtsal. ( = Nyi-ma-grags-pa, = Gar-dbang-'gro-'dul-gling-pa, 1647-1710).
Vol. V: 40.4 Klong-chen-rol-pa-rtsal, =Rig-pa'i-rdo-rje. 59.2 Rdzogs-chen Rab-'byams-pa Bstan-
pa'i-rgyal-mtshan. 72.3 Padma-gsang-sngags-bstan-'dzin-chos-rgyal. Abbatial succession of Zhe-chen
Bstan-gnyis-dar-rgyas-gling ends o_n p. 82.3.
17
Version A, val. V: 137.1 Bka'-gdams-pa. 141.3 Sa-skya-pa. 147.2 Ngor-pa. 155.4 Dga'-ldan-pa.
168.3 Bka'-brgyud. 173.5 Karma-pa. 184.6 Zhwa-dmar. 188.3 Si-tu. 191.2 Dpa'-bo. 193.2 Rgyal-tshab ..
194.2 Kre-bo ( =Tre-bo ) . 195.1 Phag-gru ( = Phag-mo-gru-pa). 202.2 Stag-lung-pa and 'Brug-pa. 214.4
Jo-nang-pa. 216.4 Zhwa-lu-pa. 218.6 Bo-dong-pa. 220.1 Shangs-pa. 221.1 Zhi-byed-pa. 222.3 Gcod.
224.4 Mahamudra (Phyag-rgya-chen-po ) .
336 D. Martin

H. The eighth and final main topic is devoted to the traditional sciences [V
285 .4-415.5]. The "sciences" or "awarenesses" (rig-pa) are listed in different
orders in the sources, but Gu-ru Bkra-shis follows the order of Stag-tshang Lo-
tstsha-ba. Art/industry/ craft (bzo-ba rig-pa) comes first [288.5]. Gu-ru Bkra-shis
concentrates on the iconographic arts of sculpting, painting, calligraphy
(including the origins of T1betan script, etc.), and mchod-rten architecture.
Then he tells about medicine (gso-ba rig-pa) [309.6] and the history of me-
dicine in India and Tibet, including the famous Tazig physician with the Greek
name Ga-le-:-nos [318.6] who served at the court of the Tibetan Emperor,l 8
the Indian physician Caraka [328.6], and others. Third is the "science of
sound", or language science (sgra rig-pa, 334.1-358.2). This has discussions
about the usages of the Tibetan words for "letter" and "word" (yi-ge, ming,
and tshig), as well as a history of language science in India (including, of
course, Pa-J).i-ni [340.2]) and Tibet [356.1]. The fourth science might be called
"logico-epistemology", to translate this "untranslatable term" 19 (tshad-ma'i
rig-pa [358.2]). Gu-ru Bkra-shis gives a very brief treatment of the history of
this perplexing subject. The fifth science, "inner awareness" or "Buddhist
science" (nang rig-pa), is set apart from the others, which are considered
"secular", because held in common with the non-Buddhist Indian traditions.
He does not deal here with "Buddhist science" in any detail [368.1-369.6],
since he has discussed it already. These preceding are known collectively as the
"five great sciences".
Then Gu-ru Bkra-shis goes on to the "five lesser sciences". Here, following
the order given by Dpal-kbang Lo-tstsha-ba, he begins with astrology / astron-
omy [369.6]. He focusses his attention on the Kalacakra system, and the de-
velopment of the Tibetan astra-traditions. Then comes "poetics" (snyan-ngag
[376.4-381.4 ]), "metrics" (sdebs-sbyor [381.4-384.4 ]), "synonymy" (mngon-brjod
[384.4-386.1 ]), and "dramaturgy" (zlos-gar [386.1-391.1 ]). This last is mainly
devoteJ to the Indian drama best known to Tibetan tradition, the Naga-
nanda?0 The work proper then ends with the different systems of chronologi-
cal calculation [391.1-415.5] according to scriptural sources and later Tibetan
interpreters:
This long book does at last come to an end with a rather long colophon,
i.
which is of interest to us for the works Gu-ru Bkra-shis lists as his sources. I

Besides works of history which are very well known to us, such as the Blue
I

18
I
BECKWITI-!, "Introduction of Greek Medicine".
19
20
KUUP, Contributions, p. vii.
MORGENSTIERNE, "Tibetan Version".
I!-.
 A Brief Political History of Tibet 337

Annals, he mentions the history by 'Dul-'dzin Mkhyen-rab-rgya-mtsho, a

Rnying-ma history written in 1557, which is now available in two different
Indian reprints? 1 Gu-ru Bkra-shis mentions that he once saw a copy of this
book, but could not procure a copy for his own use. He says that he used, for
the part on the traditional sciences, the Mkhas-pa'i Dga'-ston, the Rig-gnas Kun
Shes of Stag-tshang Lo-tstsha-ba/2 the Bstan-bcos G.ya' Sel of 'Jam-mgon Sa-
ra (i.e., Sde-srid Sangs-rgyas-rgya-mtsho) and an unknown work by a son of
Gter-bdag-gling-pa named Ratna-bi-dza-ya. 23 The first is the well known
history by the second Dpa' -bo Rin-po-che, while the second has yet to come to
light.

The miniscule part of this gigantic history that I have chosen to translate is not
the most interesting one in the sense that it supplies information unavailable
elsewhere. It in fact has little or nothing to add to our knowledge of particular
events in Tibetan history. I believe that it does have some value as a brief overview
of Tibetan political history from the ninth to nineteenth centuries \Hitten by a
Tibetan. There is a common wisdom that all of Tibetan literature, including history,
is religious in nature and that political history was never valued as a subject for
study. Gu-ru Bkra-shis' history of central Tibet's political leaders does not really
lead us to question this common wisdom. It is, after all, rather unique, very short,
and presented with an apology. It is true that most of Tibetan literary culture was
in the hands of the monks, and reflects their own special interests in philosophy,
spiritual cultivation and ritual. Yet there do exist some Tibetan historical works
with a political focus, such as the Red Annals, the Rgya Bod Yig-tshang and, of
course, the history by the Fifth Dalai Lama which Gu-ru Bkra-shis used as the
main source for the first half of his summary.
It may be that the Rnying-ma-pa affiliation of Gu-ru Bkra-shis would explain
his inclusion of a treatment of political history. There were a few times, most

21
MKHYEN-RAB-RGYA-MTSHO, Sangs-rgyas Bstan-pa'i Chos-'byu.ng (1981 & 1984). This is by no
means the earliest religious history (chos-'byu.ng), nor is it the earliest Rnying-ma work of that genre.
Among the Rnying-ma histories, we have now available three reprints based on different manuscripts
of a history by the gter-ston, Nyang-ral Nyi-ma-'od-zer (late 12th century), as well as two different
length publications of the history by Mkhas-pa Lde'u (apparently from the latter half of the 13th
century). For some valuable information concerning the chos-'byu.ng literature in the 11th through 13th
centuries, see URAY, "Review", pp. 384-385.
22
This may refer to a work by Stag-tshang Lo-tstsha-=-ba about erecting the "three receptacles"
(Rten Gsum Bzhengs Tshul) listed in MHTL no. 13070. A work with a similar title, but devoted to
Buddhist philosophy, the Grub-mtha' Kun Shes, is available.
23
This is a Sanskritized form of the name Rin-chen-rnam-rgyal, which belonged to one of the
sons of Gter-bdag-gling-pa (SANGPO, Biographical Dictionary, vol. 4, p. 325.3).
338 D. Martin

notably during Mongol domination and the brief rule of Khang-chen-nas, when
Rnying-ma-pas either opposed the political powers or felt themselves under some
amount of persecution. Another reason why Rnying-ma-pas might take a greater in-
terest in political developments is just that most of the renowned treasure H~
discoverers (gter-ston) were prophesied, and many of these prophecies link the
appearance of such-and-such a gter-ston with such-and-such a political develop-
ment.24 It was apparently precisely these significant linkages of Rnying-ma reli-
gious history with general Tibetan political history that brought Gu-ru Bkra-shis to
include something about politics in his monumental history.
For contemporary students of Tibetan culture, this summary may serve a rather
different purpose which I see as being essentially pedagogical. I have made foot-
notes with this goal in mind, in order to supply references that will allow students
at different levels and with different interests to pursue those subjects that most
concern them a little further. For those whose interests in Tibetan studies, like my
own, are not specifically in the political field, I believe that Gu-ru Bkra-shis'
summary can provide either a useful reminder of an aspect of Tibetan life that we
might tend to overlook or, at the very least, a quick review of things we should
already know.

24
Many examples may be found in DARGYAY, Rise of Esoteric.
 A Brief Political History of Tibet 339

Brief Political History of Tibet

Of the two lines of Dharma Kings stemming from Yum-brten and 'Od-srung,
that of Yum-brten is deemed illegitimate. 25 Nevertheless, the Yum-brten line
seems to have performed many deeds on behalf of the Teachings. The son of 'Od-
. . srung, Dpal-'khor-btsan (865-895), and his senior queen had a son named Skyi-lde
Nyi-ma-mgon. The latter went to Mnga' -ris, and this was the origin of the royal
lines of Mnga' -ris. They were of great service to the Teachings of Buddha. The son
of the junior queen [half brother of Nyi-ma-mgon] was King Bkra-shis-brtsegs-pa-
dpal. Through him, descendents of the royal line came .to La-stod, Tibet, Kbams
and Mdo-smad. Although every one of these acted on behalf of the Victor's
Teachings, no ruler emerged with power over all Tibet.
Later, the Venerable Great Sa-skya-pa was invited by the Mongols and, all of
Tibet brought under their power, they offered it to the Lord of Beings, Dharma
King 'Phags-pa Rin-po-che, who was in his twentieth year. In this way Tibet, being
known as the "thirteen myriarchies" or as 'chol-kha gsum, 26 was made subject to
i the Glorious Sa-skya. Religious functions were performed by the Lama while poli-
tical functions were discharged by the Dpon-chen, .Tibet being governed in this
manner about eighty years, from Earth Dragon (1268) to Earth Ox (1349). Because
the Dpon-chen were either too soft or too harsh, the better part of Central Tibet
(Dbus) was taken by Ta'i Si-tu Byang-chub-rgyal-mtshan27 in the Earth Ox (1349).
Then, starting from the sixth year after that, the Earth Horse ( 1354 ), most of the
area of Gtsang was also taken by Si-tu Byang-chub-rgyal-mtshan. For eighty-seven
years, from the Earth -Ox (1349) to the Wood Hare (1435), most of the interior
parts of Central Tibet and Gtsang were governed by the Phag-mo-gru-pa Heads
(Sde-pa). Some parts (khol-bu) such as Byang28 and Rgya-mkhar-rtse 29 were gov-

25 RICHARDSON, "Who Was Yum-brtan?" and RICHARDSON, "Succession to Giang Darma".

Please note that all the dates in parentheses have been added by myself, and may be subject to
revision.
26
'Chol-kha gsZLm means the "three sources", Dbus and Gtsang in Central Tibet being the
source of religion; Khams (Mdo-stod), the source of population; and A-mdo (Mdo-smad), the source
of horses. ('Chol-kha, or chol-kJw , is a loanword from Mongolian; see TUCCI, Gyantse, part 1, p. 86
& 87 note 1.). For the "thirteen myriarchies", see WYLIE, Geography, p. 129; TuCCI, Gyantse, part 1,
pp. 85-89; TUCCI, Tibetan Painted Scrolls, vol. 2, p. 681 (note 52) . These administrative divisions came
into existence in 1268 (SZERB, "Glosses", p. 293).
27
On Byang-chub-rgyal-mtshan, see SHAKABPA, Tibet, pp. 74-82; WYLIE, Geography, p. 149, note
317.
28 Byang was the name of a myriarchy of La-stod in southwestern Gtsang province.
340 D. Martin

erned by their own chiefs.

In the Wood Hare year (1435), Rin-spungs Nor-bzan~ seized Bsam-'grub-
rtse. Starting from that time, the governing of Gtsang was mostly done by the Rin-
spungs-pa. The Head Rin-spungs-pa., Field Commander (Sgar-pa) Don-yod-rdo-
rje,31 took the government of Dbus as welL One hundred and five years 32 after
the Wood Hare (1435), in the Wood Ox (1565), the Gtsang ruler passed away,
whereupon Tshe-brtan-rdo-rje with his son[s] captured Bsam-'grub-rtse and took
control of most of Gtsang. In the forty-first year following this, a Wood Snake
(1605), Karma-bstan-srungs took an army to 'Phan-yul. In the sixth year following,
an Iron Dog (1610), Karma-phun-tshogs-mam-rgyal took over the government at
Yar-rgyab. 33 In the Water Mouse (1612), he took all parts of Central Tibet and
Gtsang, including Byang and Rgyal-m.kbar-rtse. 34 Following the Earth Horse
(1618), after taking all of Dbus, he several times put the remaining armies which
surrounded him into retreat, and took power over all Tibet. His son was Karma-
bstan-skyong-dbang-po.35 During the time of the latter there was a Mongol King
in the north, known as '0-rod Sgo-bzhi'i Rgyal-po, or Bstan-'dzin-chos-kyi-rgyal-
po, 36 who conquered all the Tibetan kingdom. He then offered it as a monastic
estate (mchod-gzhis) to His Holiness, the Victorious Power, Emanation of Vener-
able Lotus in Hand (Spyan-ras-gzigs), the All Knowing Ngag-dbang-blo-bzang-rgya-
mtsho. Starting from the Water Horse (1642) year, the patron-priest relationship of

29
Rgyal-mkhar-rtse, equivalent to Rgyal-khang-rtse, according to WYLIE, Geography, p. 139, note
220. This is the name of the palace of Rgyal-rtse. It was during this time that Rab-brtan-kun-bza.ng-
'phags-pa (1389-1442) built the monastic compound of Dpal-'khor Chos-sde at Rgyal-rtse and the
famous Sku-'bum temple (BATCHELOR, Tibet Guide, pp. 284-302; TUCCI, Lhasa, p. 41). His biography
by Bo-dong Pai_l-chen Phyogs-las-rnam-rgyal has been published recently in India and the Peoples
Republic of China. For the genealogy of his family, see DALAI LAMA V, History, pp. 219-222 (TUCCI,
Tibetan Painted Scrolls , vol. 2, p. 640). For Giuseppe Tucci's detailed work on Rgyal-rtse, now
available in an English translation, see TUCCI, Gyantse, parts 1-3.

3 For the genealogy of Rin-spungs-pa, see DAlAl LAMA V, History, pp. 197-203 (TUCCI, Tibetan
Painted Scrolls, vol. 2, pp. 641-642). Note also VOSTRIKOV, Tibetan Historical, p. 86.
31 Don-yod-rdo-rje was one of five sons of Nor-bza.ng. See SHAKABPA, Tibet, p . 88.
32 This should read 130 years instead of 105.
33 'Gos LO-TSTSHA-BA, Blue Annals, p. 824; SHAK.ABPA, Tibet , p. 86. For a brief history of the
local ruling family of Yar-rgyab, see DALAl LAMA V, History, pp. 223-225 (TUCCI, Tibetan Painted
Scrolls , vol. 2, p. 647).
34
SHAKABPA, Tibet, p. 98, says he succeeded his father , Karma-bstan-srung-dbang-po, who died
in 1611.
35 Karma-bstan-skyong-dbang-po succeeded his father (on his death in 1621) at age 16
(SHAKABPA, Tibet, p. 102) .
36
Gu-shri Bstan-'dzin-chos-rgyal. The Mongolian title is O yirad Giiiisi Qa'an, and the Mongolian
spelling for his name is [Guiisi] Danjan Coyijil.
 A Brief Political History of Tibet 341

' Dga' -ldan Pho-brang began. All were governed according to Dharma. If you wish
to know the history of these things in detail, you should read the Rgyal-rabs Rdzogs-
ldan Dpyid-kyi Rgyal-mo'i Glu-dbyangs Gzhon-nu'i Dga'-ston. 37
Starting from Regent Bsod-nams-rab-brtan38 and Gu-shii Bstan-'dzin-chos-
rgyal, the form of rule was known as the patron-priest relationship, and they per-
formed all the governing and royal functions. His Holiness the All Knowing Great
Fifth promoted religious activities as in the days of 'Phags-pa, and all the Tibetan
kingdom was governed in peace by uniting the sun and moon of religion and poli-
tics. After the ruling Regent passed away, the Regents Sa-skyong Phrin-las-rgya-
mtsho, Blo-bzang-sbyin-pa and Blo-bzang-mthu-stobs39 were [successively] appoint-
ed. The Regent Sangs-rgyas-rgya-mtsho was then appointed. He was both king and
scholar, learned in the five branches of knowledge. He kept the Great Fifth's
passing a secret for twelve years, and during this time he had a great impaCt,
building the golden reliquary 'Dzam-gling-rgyan-gcig40 and Zhabs-brtan Temple,
instituting the Tshogs-rnchod-chen-mo, 41 and placing the Sixth Dalai Lama on the
throne. But then because of irreversible karmic consequences he was killed at
1 Snang-rtse in Stod-lung by King Lha-bzang. 42

37
This is the famous 1643 history by the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, available in several editions,
but never entirely translated into a European language, although the last half was translated in TUCCI,
, Tibetan Painted Scrolls, vol. 2, pp. 625-651. A useful outline of the contents may be found in
VOSTRIKOV, Tibetan Historical, pp. 79-80 (note 246), as well as in CL'IWA I, pp. 25-26 (no. 35). For
one printing, see DAlAI l..AJviA V, History.
38
SHAKABPA, Tibet, p. 101, tells how Bsod-nams-rab-brtan was active in the recognition of the
Fifth Dalai Lama. Evidently Gu-ru Bkra-shis confused his name with that of Bsod-nams-chos-'phel,
the first Regent (1595-1658, reigned 1642-1658). See also ibid., p. 111 ff.
39
The order of Regents was, according to SHAKABPA, as follows:
1. Bsod-nams-chos-'phel (re. 1642-1658).
2. 'Phrin-las-rgyal-mtsho (re. 1660-1668).
3. Blo-bzang-rnthu-stobs (re. 1669-1675).
4. Blo-bzang-sbyin-pa ( re. 1675-1679).
5. Sangs-rgyas-rgya-rntsho (re. 1679-1703).
6. Ngag-dbang-rin-chen (re. 1703-1706).
7. Stag-rtse Zhabs-drung (re. 1717-1720).
The biographies of the Re~ents are briefly told in PETECH, "Dalai-Larnas and Regents", pp.133-
147.
40
This tomb mchod-rten of the Great Fifth rises through several stories in the interior of the
Potala Palace. Sde-srid Sangs-rgyas-rgya-mtsho composed a two-volume dkar-chag to this mchod-rten.
41
This was an annual religious observance started by the Regent as a memorial service for the
passing of the Fifth Dalai Lama.
42
According to SHAKABPA (Tibet, p. 132), he was executed by troops of Lha-bzang (Lhazang)
at Tohlung Nangtse ( =Stod-lung Snang-rtse) in 1705. Lha-bzang ruled from 1705 until1717 when he
was killed battling with the Zunghars.
342 D. Martin

After this Lha-bzang himself served as king for twelve years, but was then
killed by the Zunghar (Jung-'gar). The basis for [the later] indiscriminate
prohibition of all Rnying-ma teachings began with this king. For five years the
Zunghars held power: During this time Stag-rtse-sde-pa was Regent. 43 Then the
great Emperor of the east routed the Zunghars with an army and offered all se-
cular power to the Dalai Lama Bskal-bzang-rgya-mtsho. Stag-rtse-pa and others
were censured. 44 Then Regent Dha-ching Ba-thut.4 5 served as Regent, but
because he harbored wicked intentions, he was killed by the Ministers. 46 As a
result of this, there were battles between Dbus and Gtsang. The Gtsang forces
emerged victorious and all political authority and functions we_re taken over by Mi-
dbang [Pho-lha-nas] Bsod-nams-stobs-rgyal. He governed for a long time (1728-
1747). When the Mi-dbang passed away, hjs son Ching-warp. Ta-las Ba-thur47
ruled, but because of extremely cruel deeds such as killing the prince, his own elder
brother,48 he was accused by the Emperor and died in a violent incident. Then the
Dalai Lama was invested with both religious and secular power. After the All
Knowing Victor passed beyond suffering, De-mo Rin-po-che was appointed his
Representative (1757). 49 This Lord was said to be an emanation of Abbot Bodhi-
sattva (Santirak~ita). As he built new buildings and repaired the old buildings and
images at Glorious Bsam-yas [Bsam-yas-mi-'gyur-lhun-gyis_.grub-pa'i-gtsug-lag-

43
This is the Regent Stag-rtse Zhabs-drung (re. 1717-1720), also known as Lha-rgyal-rab-brtan.
SUM-PA MKHAN-PO, Annals, p. 88, note 192; SHAKABPA, Tibet, p. 137.
44
Or, rather, he was beheaded (SHAKABPA, Tibet, p. 140).
45
Dayicing Ba'atur. This is a title for Kbang-chen-nas. The use of the title Regent (Sde-srid)
seems to be an anachronism since the position was abolished at this time. He pursued policies hostile
to th e Rnying-ma sect, and Gu-ru Bkra-shis cannot therefore be expected to express much sympathy
for him. For more Rnying-ma views on Kbang-chen-nas, see the 1782 biography of Gter-bdag-gling-
pa's daughter (KHYUNG-PO-RAS-PA, Rje-btsun Mi-'gyur-dpal-gyi-sgron-ma'i Rnam-thar, p. 98 ff; this is,
by the way, a very frank and well told biography with much valuable information about political events
in the early eighteenth century, and deserves to be more widely known).
46
Bka' -blon. For a discussion of this and other government titles, see PETECH, Aristocracy. For
the murder of Kbang-chen-nas, see SHAKABPA, Tibet, p. 142.
47
I.e., Cin-wang Dalai Ba'atur, the part Chinese, part Mongolian title of 'Gyur-med-rnam-rgyal,
younger son of Pho-lha-nas (SUM-PA MKHAN-PO,Annals, p. 95, note 252). 'Gyur-med-rnarn-rgyal only
held power for three years.
48
SHAKABPA (Tibet, p. 148) only says that his brother, 'Gyur-med-[ye-shes-Jtshe-brtan, died
under mysterious circumstances in 1750. PETECH (Aristocracy, p. 212) believes he was murdered.
49
"Representative" translates Rgyal-tsbab, as the Regents who served in the periods following
the deaths of the different Dalai Lamas began to be called. This De-mo Rin-po-che was named Ngag-
dbang-'jam-dpal or Ngag-dbang- 'jam-dpal-bde-Iegs-rgya-mtsho (re. 1757-1777). He died in 1777. He
is said to be the first Regent (Rgyal-tshab) who was also an incarnate Lama. See SHAKABPA, Bod-kyi
Srid-don, vol. 1, p. 584. i
I

I-
I
 A Brief Political History of Tibet 343

khang], he was esteemed to be without peer beneath the sun, and his political
power increased, Tibet being happy and contented, free of wars, famines and the
like. Wben this Lord passed into the Pure Land (1777), the Khri-chen No-mon-
han50 took over religious and political rule. During this time a war broke out
between China and Nepal ( 1788), and all Tibetans high and low were placed under
great oppression. The Khri-chen himself went to serve as mediator, but died in a
-battle. 51 Later on, Rta-tshag Rje-drung Rin-po-che 52 came to be leader and
Tibet enjoyed a festival of perfect contentment and happiness. He was prophesied
in many rediscovered scriptures to be a reincarnation of the Great Translator Cog-
ro Klu'i-rgyal-mtshan. Since he passed away (1810) until now, the rebirth of De-mo
Rin-po-che, 53 the Bodhisattva Santiraksita once again coming to be Lord of Tibet,
who is the present leader remains promoting all the good accomplishments that
shine in the noonday sun of happiness and contentment in the land of Tibet.
This has been a history of Tibet's political leaders. While this sort of thing
certainly does not serve any great purpose, I have related a few seeds for those
who want to understand history.

. I

50 Tshe-smon-gling Ngag-dbang-tshul-khrims (1721-1791, re. 1777-1781 and 1790-1791). He was

for seven years "chairholder of Ganden" (Dga'-ldan Khri-pa), which would explain why Gu-ru Bkra-
shis calls him Khri-chen (see WYLIE, "Mortuary Customs", p. 230 note 5). He spent about four years
in Peking between 1786 and 1790, after which he was briefly reinstated in his position as Regent
(1790-1791). No-moo-han is' a Tibetan borrowing from Mongolian Nom-'un Qan.
51 SHAKABPA (Tibet, p. 163) says he died of a sudden heart attack in the Potala.
52 Rta-tshag Rje-drung Ye-shes~blo-bzang-bstan:Pa'i-mgon-po (re. 1789-1790 and 1791-1810),
also called Kun-bde-gling (after one of the four monasteries near Lhasa from wlllch Regents were
supposed to be chosen). He died in 1810.
53 This is De-mo Rin-po-che Blo-bzang-thub-bstan-'jigs-med-rgya-mtsho (re. 1811-1819), whose
name may be shortened to 'Jigs-med-rgya-mtsho. Author of the biography of the Ninth Dalai Lama,
he died of smallpox in 1819 at Bstan-rgyas-gling Monastery. The Ninth Dalai Lama was officially on
the tluone from 1808 until his death in 1815.
344 D. Martin

Tibetan Text in Transliteration

The following text is given as found in Version A with an appendix supplying

variants found in Version B. I have used the Wylie system, without adding capital
letters or hyphens. The appended textual notes are based on the principle of
substitution; simply substitute the material given before the colon with the material
following the colon in the given page and line of the text of version A in order to
know the reading of version B. (Abbreviations are noted only on their first
occurrence.]
Version A: vol. V, pp. 116.6~123.3, version B: val. IV, :pp. 367.6-373.1.

[116.6] bod yul dbus kyi phyogs su rgyal po ji ltar byung ba'i tshul yang I chos rgyal
gyi gdung brgyud yum brten 'od srung gnyis las I yum brten (117.1] brgyud rna dag
par bzhed mod I 'on kyang bstan pa la bya ba byed pa'ang mang du byungbar
snang ba las I 'od srung gi sras dpal [.2) 'khor btsan dang I de'i btsun mo chen mo'i
sras la skyi lde nyi rna mgon 'dis mnga' rir byon pas stod mnga' ris rgyal brgyud
rnams byung ste sangs rgyas kyi bstan (.3] pa la srid zhu che I chun ma'i sras khri
bkra shis brtsegs pa dpal nas I la stod dang bod khams mdo smad rry.ams su gdung
brgyud byon pa rnams kyang rgyal ba'i [.4] bstan la bya ba byed pa sha stag byon
mod I 'on kyang bod spyi la dbang bsgyur ba'i rgyal po ni rna byung ste I de nas rje
btsun sa skya pa chen po hor gyis gdan drangs [.5] bod thams cad hor 'og iu yod pa
'gro ba'i mgon po chos kyi rgyal po 'phags pa rin po che dgung lo nyi shu pa la
phul ba nas bod 'khris skor bcu gsum mam I 'chol [.6] kha gsum du grags pa dpal
ldan sa skya'i mnga' 'bangs su gyur nas I bla mas chos kyi bya ba dang I dpon chen
rnams kyis srid kyi bya ba mdzad nas lo brgyad cu tsam (118.1] du sa pho 'brug nas
sa glang bar bskyangs kyang I dpon chen rnams 'jam thai rtsub thal gyis sa mo
glang la dbus phyogs phal cher ta'i si tu byang chub rgyal mtshan pas bzung I [.2]
de nas lo drug pa shing pho rta'i lo nas gtsang gi sa cha phal che ba yang si tu
byang chub rgyal mtshan gyis bzung nas I sa glang nas lo brgyad cu gya bdun pa
shing yos kyi bar dbus [.3] gtsang gi mthil phal che ba sde pa phag mo grub pas
bskyangs I byang dang rgya mkhar rtse sags khol bu rang rang gi dpon gyis
bskyangs I shing yos lo la rin spungs nor [.4] bzang gis bsam 'grub rtse bzung ste I
de nas brtsarns gtsang gzhung _phal che ba rin spungs pas bskyangs I sde pa rin 1

spungs pa sgar pa don yod rdo rjes dbus [.5] gzhung yang bzung I shing yos nas
brgya dang lnga pa shing mo glang nas gtsang pa zhing gshegs tshe brtan rdo rje
yab sras kyis bsam 'grub rtse bzung nas [.6] gtsang gzhung phal che ba dbang
mdzad I de nas zhe gcig pa. shing sbrul karma bstan srungs pas 'phan yul du dmag
btegs I de nas lo drug pa lcags khyi [119.1] la karma phun tshogs rnam rgyaJ gyis
yar rgyab gzhung bzung I chu pho byi ba'i lo nas byang dang rgyal mkhar rtse sags
 A Brief Political History of Tibet 345 I - - - ~

dbus gtsang gi sa'i cha [.2] thams cad phyag tu bzhes I sa rta'i lo nas dbus thams
. cad phyag tu bzhes nas mtha' dmag lhags pa rnams Ian mang du zlog ste bod thams
cad la dbang mdzad I [.3] de'i sras karma bstan skyong dbang po ste I 'di dus na
byang phyogs sog po'i rgyal po o rong sgo bzhi'i rgyal po'am I mtshan gzhan bstan
'dzin chos kyi rgyal [.4] pos bod khams thams cad phyag tu bzhes I rje btsun phyag
na padmo'i rriam 'phrul rgyal dbang thams cad mkhyen pa ngag c1bang blo bzang
rgya mtsho la mchod gzhis su [.5] phul te I dga' ldan pho brang mchod yon gyi chu
pho rta lo nas bzung ste thams cad chos bzhin du bskyangs te 'di nyid kyi lo rgyus
zhib par shes 'dod na rgyal rabs [.6] rdzogs ldan dpyid kyi rgyal mo'i glu dbyangs
gzhon nu'i dga' ston las shes par bya'o I sde srid bsod nams rab brtan dang .I gu
shrt bstan 'dzin chos [120.1] rgyal nas bzung rgyal po mchod yon du grags te srid
skyong dang rgyal thabs kyi bya ba mdzad I gong sp. thams cad mkhyen pa lnga pa
rin po ches 'phags pa rin po che'i [.2] dus ltar chos kyi phrin las bskyangs te chos
srid nyi zla zung 'brel gyis bod khams thams cad bde bar bskyangs I rgyal po sde
srid 'das nas slar yang sde srid sa [.3) skyong phrin las rgya mtsho dang I blo bzang
sbyin pa I blo bzang mthu stobs rnams bskos I de nas sde srid sangs rgyas rgya
mtsho bskos te I sde srid 'di [.4] rgyal po pal)<;ii ta shes bya rig pa'i gnas lnga la ! -
!_ .,.
mkhas I lnga pa rin po che gshegs nas lo bcu gnyis bar du gsang rgya mdzad nas
gser gdung 'dzam gling rgyan [.5) gcig II zhabs brtan lha khang dang bcas bzhengs
pa dang tshogs mchod chen mo 'dzugs pa dang I rgyal ba drug pa khrir 'don pa
sogs phyag rjes che I 'on [.6] kyang zlog med kyi las kyis rgyal po lha bzang gis stod
lung snang rtser bkrong I de nas rgyal po lha bzang rang gis lo bcu gnyis su rgyal
po mdzad kyang jun 'gar [121.1) gyis bkrongs I mying bstan thams cad dmigs med
du rgyas 'debs pa'i rts~ ba'ang rgyal po 'di las byung I lo lnga jun 'gar gyi [.2] dbang
by as I de .skabs sde srid stag rtse sde pas mdzad I de nas shar phyogs gong rna
eben pos dpung gis jun 'gar bskrad nas chab srid thams cad rgyal [.3] ba bskal
bzang rgya mtshor phul I stag rtse pa sogs la bka' skyon byung I sde srid dha ching
ba thur gyis sde srid mdzad kyang khongs bsam pa ngan pas [.4] bka' blon mams
kyis bkrongs I de'i rkyen gyis gtsang dbus 'khrugs pas gtsang dpung g.yul las rgyal
nas I mi dbang bsod nams stobs rgyal [.5) gyis chab srid mnga' thang thams cad
phyag tu bzhes I rgyal srid yun ring mdzad I mi dbang sku gshegs nas sras ching
warp ta las sa thur gyis rgyal srid [.6] mdzad kyang I kho rang gi gcen gung sku
zhabs bkrongs pa sogs ' ha cang sku spyod rtsing thai gyis gong rna chen pos .bka'
bskyon byung ste rkyen lam du gshegs I [122.1] chos srid gnyis char rgyal ba'i phyag
tu bkal I rgyal ba thams cad mkhyen pa mya ngan las 'das nas rgyal tshab de mo
rin po che bskos I rje 'di mkhan po [.2] bo dhi sa twa'i sprul par grags I dpal bsam
yas mi 'gyur lhun gyis grub pa'i gtsug lag rten brten par zhig gsos gsar bzhengs Ita
bu khri gdugs 'og [.3] na 'gran zla dang bral bar bskrun par mdzad cing chabs srid
mnga' thang rgyas pa dang I dmag 'khrugs mu ge sogs med par bde skyid dang Idan
I
!
I
I
I
I.
 346 D. Martin

par gyur cing I [.4] rje 'di dag pa'i zhing rlu gshegs nas chos srid gnyis chags khri
eben no mi han gyis phyag bzhes mdzad I 'di dus rgya dang bal po 'khrugs pas bod
yul stod [.5] smad thams cad du sdab gsig che bar byung zhing khri chen nyid kyang
chings la phebs pas dpung thog tu gshegs I de rjes rta tshag rje drung rin po che
1 bod kyi [.6] srid skyong du phebs nas bde skyid rdzogs ldan gyi dga' ston la spyod
I pa byung ste I lo chen cog ro klu'i rgyal mtshan gyi skye bar gter lung mang po nas
lung bstan I [123.1] de nyid gshegs nas deng sang byang chub sems dpa' zhi ba 'tsho
nyid slar yang bod rjer phebs pa de rno rin po che'i yang srid kyis [.2) bod yul bde
skyid kyi nyi rna dgung du 'char ba'i legs tshogs gong 'phel du bzhugs pa 'di lags
so I de ltar bod yul srid skyong gi lo rgyus 'di dag [.3] dgos,ched chen rno rni 'dug
kyang lo rgyus shes 'dod dag la sa bon tsam zhig gleng bar byas pa yin no I

Variants from version B:

117.2 rnnga' rir : rnnga' ris I sangs rgyas : sang[ s rg]yas II
117.3 bkra shis : bkr[ a sh ]is I rnams su : rnam[ s ]u II
117.4 rgyal po : rgyal[ p ]o I chen po : chen[ p ]o II
117.5 tharns cad : tham[ ca)d I rngon po : mgon[ p]o I 'khris skor : khri-skor II
117.6 dpalldan : dpal[ l]dan I sa skya'i : sa skya pa'i I 'bangs su : 'bang[s ]su I
bla mas : bla[ ]m[a] I dpon chen rnams kyis : dpon chen rnams kyi ll
118.1 bzung : bzungs II
118.4 rdo rjes : rdo[ rj)es II
118.5 gshegs : gshegs I II
119.2 lhags pa rnams : lhag pa rnarp I lan : len II
119.4 gzhis su : gzhis[ s]u II
119.5 pho brang : pho[ b]rang II
119.6 gzhon nu'i : gzhon[ n]u'i I gu shri : gu shri II
120.1 rin po ches: rin[ p]o[ ch}es II
120.2 phrin las : phri[ n la ]s I slar yang : slar[ ya ]ng II
120.3 phrin las rgya rntsho : phri[ n la ]s rgy[ a mtsh ]o II
120.4 rgyan : brgyan II
120.6 gnyis su : gnyis[ s]u II
121.4 bsod nams : bsod[ na )rps II
121.5 chab srid : chabs srid I sa thur : pa thur (?) II
121.6 bskyon : bskyod II
122.2 bo dhi sa twa'i : bho dhi satwa'i I lta bu : lt[ a b }u II
122.5 chings : 'chings II
123.1 deng sang : dengs sang II
123.3 chen mo : chen po II
 A Brief Political History of Tibet 347

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-- j
!

L
I