Songtsen Gampo

Lore & Background

Songtsen Gampo was born at Gyama in Meldro, northeast of modern Lhasa, the son of the Yarlung king Namri Songtsen. His mother, Driza Thökar, was a member of the prominent Tsépong clan. He ascended the throne as a minor after his father was poisoned circa 618, and is said to have been 13 years old (12 by Western reckoning) at that time. He unified the Tibetan Plateau and moved his capital from the Yarlung Valley to the Kyichu Valley, site of the future city of Lhasa, originally called Rasa ('the place of goats'). He built the Jokhang Temple under the influence of his Nepalese queen Bhrikuti to house her Buddha image, and also sponsored the building of the Ramoche Temple for the Chinese Princess Wencheng's Buddha image. His reign saw the creation of the Tibetan script by his minister Thonmi Sambhota, who traveled to India for this purpose. Songtsen Gampo himself retired for four years to learn the written language and translated tantric texts.

Reader's Guide

Songtsen Gampo's significance lies in his role as the founder of the Tibetan Empire and the first of the Three Dharma Kings who established Buddhism in Tibet. He unified the Tibetan Plateau and expanded Tibetan territory, while also introducing writing, law, and administrative systems. The Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, which he built, remains one of the most sacred sites in Tibetan Buddhism. His reign marked the beginning of Buddhist influence in Tibet, though he was buried according to pre-Buddhist protocols. The creation of the Tibetan script enabled the translation of Buddhist texts and the development of Classical Tibetan literature. His legacy is complicated by uncertainties: his birth and enthronement dates are disputed, and the historical existence of his minister Thonmi Sambhota is difficult to verify. Nonetheless, Songtsen Gampo is a central figure in Tibetan history, revered as a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara and as a cakravartin king. His diplomatic and military achievements, including receiving the title 'Guest King' from the Chinese Emperor Gaozong in 649, underscore his importance in regional politics.

Did You Know?

• Songtsen Gampo is traditionally considered a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara, the same bodhisattva of whom the Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations.
• His minister Thonmi Sambhota is credited with creating the Tibetan script after traveling to India, though his historical existence is difficult to verify.
• After his death in 650, Songtsen Gampo was buried according to pre-Buddhist protocols and rituals.