Gar Tongtsen Yulsung (, 590-667) was a general of the

Tibetan Empire The Tibetan Empire (, ; ) was an empire centered on the Tibetan Plateau, formed as a result of imperial expansion under the Yarlung dynasty heralded by its 33rd king, Songtsen Gampo, in the 7th century. The empire further expanded under the 38 ...

who served as '' Lönchen'' during the reign of

Songtsen Gampo Songtsen Gampo (; 569–649? 650), also Songzan Ganbu (), was the 33rd Tibetan king and founder of the Tibetan Empire, and is traditionally credited with the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet, influenced by his Nepali consort Bhrikuti, of Nepal ...

. In many Chinese records, his name was given as Lù Dōngzàn () or Lùn Dōngzàn (); both are attempts to transliterate the short form of his title and name, ''Lön Tongtsen''.

Career

Gar Tongtsen was born into the Gar clan, an important Tibetan family based in modern

Maizhokunggar County Maizhokunggar County or Meldro Gungkar County is a county of Lhasa and east of the main center of Chengguan, Tibet Autonomous Region. It has an area of with an average elevation of over . Most of the people are ethnic Tibetan and are engaged i ...

. According to '' Clear Mirror on Royal Genealogy'', Tongtsen was dispatched as envoys to

Licchavi Kingdom Licchavi (also ''Lichchhavi'', ''Lichavi'') was a kingdom which existed in the Kathmandu Valley in modern-day Nepal from approximately 400 to 750 CE. The Licchavi clan originated from Vaishali, and conquered Kathmandu Valley. The Lichchhavis ...

(in modern Nepal) together with

Thonmi Sambhota Thonmi Sambhota (Thönmi Sambhoṭa, aka Tonmi Sambhodha;, Tib. , Wyl. thon mi sam+b+ho Ta; b. seventh cent.) is traditionally regarded as the inventor of the Tibetan script and author of the ''Sum cu pa'' and ''Rtags kyi 'jug pa'' in the 7th cen ...

by the emperor

. Amshuverma, who was the ruler of Licchavi, married Princess Bhrikuti to Songtsen Gampo. But the historicity of the princess is not certain because no reference to her has been found among the documents discovered at

Dunhuang Dunhuang () is a county-level city in Northwestern Gansu Province, Western China. According to the 2010 Chinese census, the city has a population of 186,027, though 2019 estimates put the city's population at about 191,800. Dunhuang was a major ...

. Tongtsen was dispatched to

Tang China The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdom ...

together with Dri Seru Gungton and Thonmi Sambhota in 640, requesting a marriage between the Tibetan emperor and a Tang princess.

Taizong Taizong is the temple name used for several Chinese sovereign, monarchs of China. It may refer to: * Tai Jia ( 16th-century BC), king of the Shang dynasty * Emperor Wen of Han, Liu Heng (202 BC–157 BC, reigned 180 BC–157 BC), also known as E ...

, the Tang emperor, agreed and married

Princess Wencheng Princess Wencheng (; ) was a member of a minor branch of the royal clan of the Tang Dynasty who married King Songtsen Gampo of the Tibetan Empire in 641. She is also known by the name Gyasa or "Chinese wife" in Tibet. Some Tibetan historians cons ...

to Songtsen Gampo. Taizong appreciated his talent and promoted him to "Right Guard Senior General" (), but was refused by him. Later, the '' Lönchen''

Khyungpo Pungse Khyungpo Pungse Sutse (, ? – ?) was a general of the Tibetan Empire. Born in Khyungpo (modern Dêngqên and Biru in Kham). He killed his king and surrendered to the Tibet king, Namri Songtsen. He was so witty that Namri Songtsen put great ...

invited Songtsen came to visit his fief. Tongtsen was sent there to set up the emperor's camp, but found it was a conspiracy. Tongtsen fled stealthily and told the conspiracy to the emperor. After the death of Pungse, Tongtsen was appointed as '' Lönchen''. Songtsen Gampo died in 650, and

Mangsong Mangtsen Mangsong Mangtsen (), Trimang Löntsen or Khri-mang-slon-rtsan (r. 655–676 CE) succeeded to the throne after the death of his Father Gungsong Gungtsen. or, his grandfather, Songtsen Gampo, its Dispute of Succession however he was the third or, s ...

succeeded. Tongtsen acted as regent because Mangsong was an infant. During this period, Tongtsen carried out a tax reform in 653, conducted a census in 654, and made the first law of Tibet in 655. Relations between China and Tibet began to sour during this period. Tibet conquered (

Ngari Ngari Prefecture () or Ali Prefecture () is a prefecture of China's Tibet Autonomous Region covering Western Tibet, whose traditional name is Ngari Khorsum. Its administrative centre and largest settlement is the town of Shiquanhe. History Ngar ...

) and ( Tsang) in 652, and finally '' 'A-zha'' (which was called "Tuyunhun" by Chinese people) in 663. Tibet held over the whole of the Tibetan plateau, and tried to seize the

Western Regions The Western Regions or Xiyu (Hsi-yü; ) was a historical name specified in the Chinese chronicles between the 3rd century BC to the 8th century AD that referred to the regions west of Yumen Pass, most often Central Asia or sometimes more spe ...

of Tang China. Tongtsen left in A-zha'' to defend against Tang China, and was dismissed by Mangsong due to his age. Not long after his successor Omade Lotsen was executed because the "guilty of rebellion", and the position turned back to him. Six years later, he died of

neck cancer Head and neck cancer develops from tissues in the lip and oral cavity (mouth), larynx (throat), salivary glands, nose, sinuses or the skin of the face. The most common types of head and neck cancers occur in the lip, mouth, and larynx. Symptoms ...

on his way back to

Lhasa Lhasa (; Lhasa dialect: ; bo, text=ལྷ་ས, translation=Place of Gods) is the urban center of the prefecture-level city, prefecture-level Lhasa (prefecture-level city), Lhasa City and the administrative capital of Tibet Autonomous Regio ...

Family

Gar Tongtsen had five sons, all of them were famous Tibetan generals: * Gar Tsenye Dompu () *

Gar Trinring Tsendro Gar Trinring Tsendro (; ? – 699), also known as Lon Trinling (), was a famous general of the Tibetan Empire. He was the second son of minister Gar Tongtsen Yülsung. In Chinese records, his name was given as Lùn Qīnlíng () or Qǐzhèng ...

(), also known as Lon Trinring () and Lùn Qīnlíng () * Gar Tsenba () * Gar Tagu Risum () *

Gar Tsenyen Gungton Gar Tsenyen Gungton (, ? – 695) was a general of the Tibetan Empire. He was the fifth son of minister Gar Tongtsen Yulsung. In Chinese records, his name was given as Bólùn Zànrèn () or Lùn Zànrèn (), both attempted to transliterate the ...

()

References

''Old Tibetan Chronicle'', P.T. 1287
, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Gar Tongtsen Yulsung 7th-century Tibetan people People of the Tibetan Empire 667 deaths 590 births