Tridu Songtsen
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Tridu Songtsen (), Tridu Songtsen or Dusong Mangban, (b.668 – 704d.; r. 676–704 CE) was an
emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...
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 3 ...
from 676 to 704.


Ascent to throne

'Dus-rong ascended the
Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa people, ...
an throne after the death of his father,
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 ...
, in 676. The ''
Old Book of Tang The ''Old Book of Tang'', or simply the ''Book of Tang'', is the first classic historical work about the Tang dynasty, comprising 200 chapters, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories. Originally compiled during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...
'' says that 'Dus-srong was eight years old in 679 — nine years old by Western reckoning. He was, therefore, presumably born in 670 and was six or seven years old when he began his reign. Due to his youth, he was enthroned with the minister Gar Tongtsen's second son, Khri 'bring, to act as
regent A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...
.''Ancient Tibet: Research materials from the Yeshe De Project'', p. 233. 1986. Dharma Publishing, California. .


Political and military activities

In 676 the Tibetans made raids on
Shanzhou Shanzhou District, previously known as Shan County or Shanxian or Shaan, is an urban district of Sanmenxia in western Henan, China, bordering Shanxi province to the north. It is located on the southern bank of the Yellow River and includes th ...
, Guozhou, Hezhou (now Linxia), Diezhou, Migong and Danling in Gansu. The Chinese counterattacked, defeating the Tibetans at Longzhi. The Chinese army led by
Li Jingxuan Li Jingxuan (李敬玄) (615–682), formally Duke Wenxian of Zhao (趙文憲公), was a Chinese military general of Tang China, serving as Chancellor of the Tang dynasty during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. He was famed for his efficient organiza ...
were soundly defeated near
Qinghai Lake Qinghai Lake or Ch'inghai Lake, also known by other names, is the largest lake in China. Located in an endorheic basin in Qinghai Province, to which it gave its name, Qinghai Lake is classified as an alkaline salt lake. The lake has fluctuat ...
, however, and by the end of 677 Tibet controlled the whole of the
Tarim Basin The Tarim Basin is an endorheic basin in Northwest China occupying an area of about and one of the largest basins in Northwest China.Chen, Yaning, et al. "Regional climate change and its effects on river runoff in the Tarim Basin, China." Hydr ...
and the mountainous regions to the southwest.Beckwith, Christopher I. ''The Tibetan Empire in Central Asia. A History of the Struggle for Great Power among Tibetans, Turks, Arabs, and Chinese during the Early Middle Ages,'' 1987, Princeton: Princeton University Press. , p. 43.


Revolt of Zhangzhung and the leadership of his mother, Krimalod, and his ministers

The western kingdom of
Zhangzhung Zhangzhung or Shangshung was an ancient culture and kingdom in western and northwestern Tibet, which pre-dates the culture of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet. Zhangzhung culture is associated with the Bon religion, which has influenced the philosophie ...
revolted soon after the death of King
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 ...
(also known as Trimang Löntsen, , r. 650–677), the son 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 Nepa ...
, but was brought back under Tibetan control by the "firm governance of the great leaders of the Mgar clan" the following year. Under the leadership of his powerful mother, Khri ma lod, and his ministers and generals during the early part of his reign, Tibet continued to maintain and even expand its territory. The Tibetans gained control of an important Tang fortress at Anrong in 678 on the Min River north of
Chengdu Chengdu (, ; Simplified Chinese characters, simplified Chinese: 成都; pinyin: ''Chéngdū''; Sichuanese dialects, Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: ), Chinese postal romanization, alternatively Romanization of Chi ...
which they held for more than sixty years as a frontier post. According to an 11th-century Chinese history, the Erhe people from the
Erhai Lake Erhai or Er Lake (), is an alpine fault lake in Yunnan province, China. Erhai was also known as Yeyuze () or Kunming Lake () in ancient times. Etymology The character "洱" (er) does not have the same meaning as ear (耳). During the Han to Tan ...
region in 'Jang, one of the princedoms around the upper waters of the
Yangtze The Yangtze or Yangzi ( or ; ) is the longest river in Asia, the third-longest in the world, and the longest in the world to flow entirely within one country. It rises at Jari Hill in the Tanggula Mountains (Tibetan Plateau) and flows ...
which later made up
Nanzhao Nanzhao (, also spelled Nanchao, ) was a dynastic kingdom that flourished in what is now southern China and northern Southeast Asia during the 8th and 9th centuries. It was centered on present-day Yunnan in China. History Origins Nanzh ...
,Richardson, Hugh. "Bal-po and Lho-bal." ''Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies'', No. 46 (1983), p. 136. submitted to Tibet this same year, asking for an alliance against the Chinese. The ''
Old Book of Tang The ''Old Book of Tang'', or simply the ''Book of Tang'', is the first classic historical work about the Tang dynasty, comprising 200 chapters, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories. Originally compiled during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...
'' reports: The Chinese army led by
Wei Daijia Wei Daijia () (died 689?) was a general and official of the Tang dynasty of China, serving as Chancellor of the Tang dynasty, chancellor during the first reign of the Emperor Ruizong of Tang, Emperor Ruizong. Background It is not known when Wei D ...
unsuccessfully invaded Tibet in 689. Many of the soldiers died and the commander of the troops was executed for his failure. It was also in this year that the Tibetan princess Khri-bangs was married to an 'A-zha chief to strengthen bonds between the two peoples. They had a son named Ma-ga Thogon Khagan. Two Tibetan generals defected to the Chinese with their troops in 692. The Chinese then defeated the Tibetans, regaining control of the
Tarim Basin The Tarim Basin is an endorheic basin in Northwest China occupying an area of about and one of the largest basins in Northwest China.Chen, Yaning, et al. "Regional climate change and its effects on river runoff in the Tarim Basin, China." Hydr ...
and the lucrative trade routes to the West, which they held for almost a century before the Tibetans reconquered the region. The Turkish
Khagan Khagan or Qaghan (Mongolian:; or ''Khagan''; otk, 𐰴𐰍𐰣 ), or , tr, Kağan or ; ug, قاغان, Qaghan, Mongolian Script: ; or ; fa, خاقان ''Khāqān'', alternatively spelled Kağan, Kagan, Khaghan, Kaghan, Khakan, Khakhan ...
Ton-ya-bgo (Ch.
Ashina Tuizi Ashina Tuizi (693-700) — was a claimant Qaghan of Western Turkic Khaganate following invasion of Tang dynasty. Life He escaped Tang dynasty, Tang after execution of his father at the hand of Lai Junchen. After arriving in Tibetan Empire in 693 ...
), chief of the Western Dulu in
Dzungaria Dzungaria (; from the Mongolian language, Mongolian words , meaning 'left hand') is a geographical subregion in Northwest China that corresponds to the northern half of Xinjiang. It is thus also known as Beijiang, which means "Northern Xinjiang" ...
, visited the Tibetan court in 694.''Ancient Tibet: Research materials from the Yeshe De Project'', p. 235. 1986. Dharma Publishing, California. . together they attacked and defeated the Chinese at Lengjuan. The following year 'Dus-rong successfully attacked
Lintao Lintao County ) is administratively under the control of Dingxi, Gansu province. History Until the 20th century, Lintao was known as Didao (). The Battle of Didao was fought in the area in 255 CE, during the Three Kingdoms era. In the 8th ...
, and Liangzhou.Pelliot, Paul. ''Histoire Ancienne du Tibet'', p. 92. Paris. Libraire d'amérique et d'orient. 1961.
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 ...
went to
Chang'an Chang'an (; ) is the traditional name of Xi'an. The site had been settled since Neolithic times, during which the Yangshao culture was established in Banpo, in the city's suburbs. Furthermore, in the northern vicinity of modern Xi'an, Qin Shi ...
in 696 to try to negotiate peace with
Empress Wu Zetian Wu Zetian (17 February 624 – 16 December 705), personal name Wu Zhao, was the ''de facto'' ruler of the Tang dynasty from 665 to 705, ruling first through others and then (from 690) in her own right. From 665 to 690, she was first empres ...
(r. 684–705) on condition that China remove all troops from Central Asia and divide the Western Turks between China and Tibet. She refused to negotiate. 'Dus-srong realised that members of the mGar family had become independent warlords and posed a threat to the central authority of the king. So, in 699 he pretended to organise a great hunt and then had his men turn on members of the mGar and their supporters. Then he personally marched north and confronted Gar Trinring Tsendro, who surrendered without a fight and, according to the ''
Old Book of Tang The ''Old Book of Tang'', or simply the ''Book of Tang'', is the first classic historical work about the Tang dynasty, comprising 200 chapters, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories. Originally compiled during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...
'', committed suicide. His brother fled to China. After this, 'Dus-srong asserted the right of the power of the king over his ministers. 'Dus-srong personally led 10,000 troops into four battles in some unnamed place to the northeast in 702. The next year he "established his authority over the 'Jang (
Nanzhao Nanzhao (, also spelled Nanchao, ) was a dynastic kingdom that flourished in what is now southern China and northern Southeast Asia during the 8th and 9th centuries. It was centered on present-day Yunnan in China. History Origins Nanzh ...
), he imposed tribute on the White Mywa, he subdued the Black Mywa (probably the Miao people), and so on."


Relations with Nepal

It seems Nepal remained tributary to Tibet throughout the reign of 'Dus-rong. A Nepalese stone edict of 695, during the reign of the Licchavi king, Shivadeva II, records: "because of the reason that Nepal paid taxes to Tibet, five officials must take the responsibility of the coolies who carry the ic = luggage?every year."Tenzin, Acharya Kirti Tulku Lobsang. "Early Relations between Tibbet and Nepal (7th to 8th Centuries)." Translated by K. Dhondup. ''The Tibet Journal'', Vol. VII, Nos. 1 &2. Spring/Summer 1982, p. 85. This is confirmed by the
Old Book of Tang The ''Old Book of Tang'', or simply the ''Book of Tang'', is the first classic historical work about the Tang dynasty, comprising 200 chapters, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories. Originally compiled during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...
which record that in 703, soon after 'Dus-rong's death, "the subject countries in the south, such as Nepal and others, all revolted." Furthermore, the ''
Tibetan Annals The ''Tibetan Annals'', or ''Old Tibetan Annals'' (''OTA''), are composed of two manuscripts written in Old Tibetan language found in the early 20th century in the "hidden library", the Mogao Grottoes near Dunhuang in northwestern Gansu province ...
'' record that 'Dus-rong spent the summers of 690, 697 and 699 in Nepal.


His wives and son

'Dus-srong he married two women from important Tibetan clans — 'Dam-gyi Cog-ro-bza', and Chimza Tsunmotog (Wylie: mChims-bza' bTsan-ma Thog-thog-sten), Princess of Chim, with whom he had a son Khri-lde-gtsug-btsan (also known later as Mes-ag-thoms) in 704. It seems 'Dus-rong also had a Turkish bride, as the Tibetan Annals record the death of the princess "Gatun" (= Turk: Khatun?) in 708.


His support of Buddhism

Although 'Dus-srong is primarily remembered as a warrior, according to the ''
Testament of Ba ''The Testament of Ba'' (Tibetan or ; Wylie transliteration: or ) is an account written in Old Tibetan of the establishment of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet and the foundation of the Samye Monastery during the reign of King Trisong Detsen (r. 755 ...
'', he supported Buddhism and had a temple called Khri rtse built in Gling
Khams Kham (; ) is one of the three traditional Tibetan regions, the others being Amdo in the northeast, and Ü-Tsang in central Tibet. The original residents of Kham are called Khampas (), and were governed locally by chieftains and monasteries. Kham ...
, "and so on", which is recorded on an inscription at sKarchung written by Emperor
Sadnalegs Tridé Songtsen (), better known by his nickname Sénalek Jingyön () or Sadnalegs () for short, was the youngest son of King Trisong Detsen of Tibet (reigned 800–815 CE – though various accounts give the beginning of his reign as 797 or 804 ...
about a century later.


'Dus-srong's death and succession

'Dus-srong died in 704 in battle in Mywa territory in modern
Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in Southwest China, the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is ...
. The Tang Annals state he was on his way to suppress tributary kingdoms on the southern borders of Tibet, including Nepal and parts of India. There was a dispute among his sons but, "after a long time" the people put seven year old Qilisuzan (), later known as Me Agtsom, on the throne. 'Dus-srong is buried next to his father in the Royal Burial grounds near Yarlung.''Ancient Tibet: Research materials from the Yeshe De Project'', p. 239. 1986. Dharma Publishing, California. .


Notes


References

* Richardson, Hugh E. (1985). ''A corpus of early Tibetan inscriptions''. London: Royal Asiatic Society. * Lee, Don Y. (1981). ''The History of Early Relations between China and Tibet: From Chiu t'ang-shu, a documentary survey''. Bloomington, IN: Eastern Press. Tibetan emperors Buddhist monarchs 7th-century rulers in Asia 8th-century rulers in Asia 670 births 704 deaths 7th-century Tibetan people 8th-century Tibetan people Child rulers from Asia 7th-century Buddhists 8th-century Buddhists {{authority control