Yumbu Lakang, built for the first king of Tibet

Deciding what is ancient history and what is mysterious legend is not always an easy task. Tibet is no exception. Legend tells us that Tibetan history starts with a monkey and a Raksasi, a female ogre, when the monkey was sent by Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezi) for the religious training on this high plateau. The Raksasi persuade the monkey to marry her by threatening to kill thousands of people. Having the permission of Avalokiteshvara, they married and had five offspring who are believed to be the ancestors of the Tibetan people. This legend is well known and depicted in ancient books and murals. Even the name of Tsedang, the capital city of Shannan Region, means 'the place where the monkey plays'.

However, archeological and geological discoveries lead ethnologists to believe that Tibetans are descendants of aboriginal and nomadic Qiang tribes. According to archeology, Tibetan history can be traced back 4,000 years. At that time, life was simple,  with stone implements being used. Historical records show that not until the 7th century could Tibetans be recognized as a race of people. The rising Yarlung Dynasty (Tubo Kingdom) unified Tibet and became an aggressive power. The first palace in Tibet, Yumbu Lakang was built for the first king of Tibet, Nyatri Tsenpo. His offspring, Songtsen  Gampo,

Samye Monastery, the first  Buddhist temple in Tibet

the most powerful and intelligent king of Tubo, conquered other tribes and founded the first dynasty of Tibet, Yarlung Dynasty (Tubo Kindom). Songtsen Gampo also made great contributions to Tibetan culture, economy, technology, religion, etc. by communicating with the outside world. The outstanding king of the Tubo Kingdom married two princesses of Nepal and of the Tang (618-907). The Princesses brought with them advanced technology, exotic culture, tea, silk and most important of all, peace and Buddhism.

Songtsen Gampo embraced the religion and the first transmission of Buddhism came to the snowy land. The king and the princesses built Jokhang Temple and Ramoche Temple to enshrine the holy statues of Sakyamuni. They also ordered the construction of the grand Potala Palace. The king's successors followed the religion too and in 779 King Trisong Detsen set up Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist temple in Tibet. The great religious teacher, Padmasambhava was invited to Tibet and Buddhism was recognized as the state religion. The Buddhist influence spread as the expansion of the Tibetan empire continued. The indigenous Bon were not satisfied with the popularity that Buddhism held with the royal family. In 836, King Ralpachen was assassinated and Lang Darma , who believed in Bon and objected to Buddhism, was installed as King. Severe persecution against Buddhists ended the first Buddhism transmission. Lang Darma, in 842, was assassinated by a Buddhist and the collapse of the Yarlong Dynasty followed causing the decentralization of Tibet and a struggle for power for the next 400 years.

Gandan Monastery, Gelugpa Sect

Drepung Monastery, Gelugpa Sect

In 1042, Atisa was invited to Tibet to launch the second Buddhism transmission and Buddhism gradually revived. Gradually, Tibetan Buddhism divided itself into many sects and sub-sects, which rigorously debated with each other, vying for dominance by seeking patrons among the warring principalities. In the twelfth century, the Mongol Empire rose to power and expanded aggressively. Sakyapa, or the Stripe sect, was quite powerful among all the sects at that time. The Mongol Emperor negotiated with the abbot of Sakyapa and assisted him to become the ruler of Tibet. From then on, Tibet became an appendage of 

Potala Palace

the Mongol Empire. Later, the Mongol Empire conquered the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and founded the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). In 1254, Kublai Khan granted supreme authority over Tibet to the leader of Sakyapa. Sakya Pandit was appointed to become the imperial preceptor and a high official in his court. Tibet was thus incorporated as one of the 13 provinces of China. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Sakyapa declined and was replaced by the Kagyu order, whose patron offered tribute to the imperial court and was conferred with titles and administrative authority. After the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) was established, Tibetan high lamas were summoned to the imperial court to receive titles and appointments.

In 1644, Qing Dynasty replaced Ming Dynasty. In 1652, the Fifth Dalai Lama was summoned to Beijing, and in 1653 he was conferred with the title Dalai Lama and made religious leader of Tibetan Buddhism by Emperor Shunzhi (1643 - 1661). In 1727, the central government of the Qing Dynasty sent ministers to Tibet as a representative to supervise local administration. The boundary of Tibet and Sichuan, Yunnan, and Qinghai was then official set. The Qing government promulgated Imperially Approved Ordinance for the More Efficient Governing of Tibet concerning many issues such as the duty of representative ministers, boundary military defense, finance, tax and the management of the temples etc in 1793. Since then, the major principles of the ordinance worked as the regulation for local regime and legislation for more than a century.

Stupa-tomb of the Tenth Panchen Lama, Tashilhunpo

In 1911, the Qing Dynasty collapsed and the Republic of China was founded. The government of Republic of China practiced the sovereignty of Tibet just as the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties did. The central government set Mongolia and Tibet affair office and commission to execute the administration of Tibet nationality, Mongolia nationality as well as other minorities. In 1949, the People's Republic of China was founded. The PRC government adopted the policy of peace liberation and signed with Tibet local government the Seventeenth Point Treaty. Later in 1959, Chinese government carried out a democratic reform of abolishing feudal serf system so that hundreds of thousands of serfs and slaves were free and no longer forced to labor.

With a steady development of the next several years, the Tibet Autonomous Region was officially set up in September, 1965. Up to now, this splendid pure land has received numerous visitors from all over the world ever since its tourism opening to the outside world.

Related Link: Songtsen Gampo

Tibet Travel Review: Take My Breath Away! by MIMIPHOON
'... Visiting Tibet was always in my dream. But I know I will make this dream comes true, despite the difficulties to find a travel partner.
The moment has arrived in July 2005 and I decided to experience the once a year Shotun Festival. On 1st August, I started my unforgettable trip to Tibet via Chengdu...'