Songtsen Gampo, སྲོང་བཙན་སྒམ་པོ་ is one of the most prominent names you will hear during your vocation to Tibet. So we thought it would be necessary to write a post about him so that our visitor has little ideas about who he is and why he plays a very important role in your Tibet tour itineraries.
The first reason why he is so important is that he build many buildings and Temple, which are now the most prominent attractions for tourist and place for devotion for local Tibetans. For example, in Lhasa, both Potala Palace and Jokhang were built by him.
The second reason why he becomes so important is for his contribution to the Tibetan culture. During his rule, he has brought Buddhism to Tibet. He initiated to establish written language for entire Tibetan to read and write for centuries, He has also initiated Tibetan to learn medical, astrology and sciences. he is considered the greatest Tibetan king in our Tibetan history.
The third reason is he is the greatest King we Tibetan have over the time of history. He has unified the entire Tibetan inhabitant place under one Tibetan empire.
The turning point in Songtsen Gampo’s Life
- Introduce Buddhism
Songtsen Gampo is credited to be the first one to bring Buddhism in Tibet. he is said to have built many Buddhist temples, including the Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace and Ramoche temple in Lhasa and Traduk temple in Tsedang. The translation of much Buddhist scripture from Sanskrit to Tibetan has begun. In our Tibetan Buddhism, we believe he is the manifestation of Avalokitesvara, the deity of Tibet.
He is considered to be the first of three Dharma kings; Songtsen Gampo, Trisong Detsen and Ralpacan. how establish Buddhism in Tibet.
- Conquest of Zhang Zhung
The Old book of Tang clearly states that during the reign of Songtsen Gampo. For they said that in 634, Yangtong (Zhang Zhung) and unified entire Tibetan plateau under the Tubo empire
- Marriage and Alliance
The king Songtsen Gampo has sent an envoy with gifts of gold and silk to the Chinese Emperor to ask for a princess in marriage for an exchange for Alliance. The emperor grants the request and sends his daughter Wencheng to marry him. This marks the beginning of Tibetan and Chinese peaceful relationship, which later lead to peaceful incorporation of Tibet region into the part of the current People’s Republic of China.
The king Songtsen Gampo is the most popular of all the Tibetan rulers in Tibetan history. During your tours in Tibet, you will often visit the place he builds and you would often hear about him from your guide.
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