Princess Wencheng: Difference between revisions
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'''Princess Wencheng''' ([[Tibetan language|Tibetan]]: Mung-chang Kungco, [[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 文成公主, [[pinyin]]: Wénchéng Gōngzhǔ) (d. 680<ref>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷202|vol. 202]]. {{zh icon}}</ref>), was a niece of the powerful [[Emperor Taizong of Tang]] of [[Tang Dynasty|Tang China]], who left China in 640, according to records, arriving the next year in [[Tibet]] to marry the thirty-seven year old [[Songtsän Gampo]] (605?–650 CE) the thirty-third king of the [[List of emperors of Tibet|Yarlung Dynasty]] of [[Tibet]], in a [[marriage of state]] as part of a [[peace treaty]] along with large quantities of gold. She is popularly known in Tibet as Gyasa.<ref>Dowman 1988, p. 41</ref> The princess was a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] and, along with Songtsän Gampo's Nepalese wife, [[Bhrikuti Devi]], is said to have introduced Buddhism to Tibet.<ref>Laird 2006, pg. 35</ref> |
'''Princess Wencheng''' ([[Tibetan language|Tibetan]]: Mung-chang Kungco, [[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 文成公主, [[pinyin]]: Wénchéng Gōngzhǔ) (d. 680<ref>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷202|vol. 202]]. {{zh icon}}</ref>), was a niece of the powerful [[Emperor Taizong of Tang]] of [[Tang Dynasty|Tang China]], who left China in 640, according to records, arriving the next year in [[Tibet]] to marry the thirty-seven year old [[Songtsän Gampo]] (605?–650 CE) the thirty-third king of the [[List of emperors of Tibet|Yarlung Dynasty]] of [[Tibet]], in a [[marriage of state]] as part of a [[peace treaty]] along with large quantities of gold. She is popularly known in Tibet as Gyasa.<ref>Dowman 1988, p. 41</ref> The princess was a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] and, along with Songtsän Gampo's Nepalese wife, [[Bhrikuti Devi]], is said to have introduced Buddhism to Tibet.<ref>Laird 2006, pg. 35</ref> |
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The Chinese records mention receiving an envoy in 634 from Songtsän Gampo wherein the king requested (Tibetan sources say demanded)<ref name="Powers168 9">Powers 2004, pp. 168-9</ref> to marry a Chinese princess and was refused. In 635/636 the Tibetan king's forces attacked and defeated the [[Tuyuhun Kingdom|'A zha people]] ({{lang-zh|Tüyühün}}), who lived around Lake [[Koko Nor]] in [Qinghai], along an important [[trade route]] into China. After [[Emperor Taizong's campaign against Tufan|a campaign against China in 635–6]] (''OTA'' l. 607) the Chinese emperor agreed (under threat of force, according to Tibetan histories)<ref name="Powers168 9" /> to marry a Chinese princess to king Songtsän Gampo as part of the diplomatic settlement. As a marriage of state, the union must be considered a success as peace between China and Tibet prevailed for the remainder of Songtsen Gampo's reign. |
The Chinese records mention receiving an envoy in 634 from Songtsän Gampo wherein the king requested (Tibetan sources say demanded)<ref name="Powers168 9">Powers 2004, pp. 168-9</ref> to marry a Chinese princess and was refused. In 635/636 the Tibetan king's forces attacked and defeated the [[Tuyuhun Kingdom|'A zha people]] ({{lang-zh|Tüyühün}}), who lived around Lake [[Koko Nor]] in [[Qinghai]], along an important [[trade route]] into China. After [[Emperor Taizong's campaign against Tufan|a campaign against China in 635–6]] (''OTA'' l. 607) the Chinese emperor agreed (under threat of force, according to Tibetan histories)<ref name="Powers168 9" /> to marry a Chinese princess to king Songtsän Gampo as part of the diplomatic settlement. As a marriage of state, the union must be considered a success as peace between China and Tibet prevailed for the remainder of Songtsen Gampo's reign. |
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[[Image:Jokhang Temple in Tibet.jpg|thumb|Wencheng's and co-wife Bhrikuti's legacy—[[Jokhang Temple]] in Tibet—begun to house a statue of the Buddha, which each bride brought with her [[dowry]].]] |
[[Image:Jokhang Temple in Tibet.jpg|thumb|Wencheng's and co-wife Bhrikuti's legacy—[[Jokhang Temple]] in Tibet—begun to house a statue of the Buddha, which each bride brought with her [[dowry]].]] |
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Revision as of 11:52, 9 January 2009
Template:Contains Chinese text
Princess Wencheng (Tibetan: Mung-chang Kungco, Chinese: 文成公主, pinyin: Wénchéng Gōngzhǔ) (d. 680[1]), was a niece of the powerful Emperor Taizong of Tang of Tang China, who left China in 640, according to records, arriving the next year in Tibet to marry the thirty-seven year old Songtsän Gampo (605?–650 CE) the thirty-third king of the Yarlung Dynasty of Tibet, in a marriage of state as part of a peace treaty along with large quantities of gold. She is popularly known in Tibet as Gyasa.[2] The princess was a Buddhist and, along with Songtsän Gampo's Nepalese wife, Bhrikuti Devi, is said to have introduced Buddhism to Tibet.[3]
The Chinese records mention receiving an envoy in 634 from Songtsän Gampo wherein the king requested (Tibetan sources say demanded)[4] to marry a Chinese princess and was refused. In 635/636 the Tibetan king's forces attacked and defeated the 'A zha people (Chinese: Tüyühün), who lived around Lake Koko Nor in Qinghai, along an important trade route into China. After a campaign against China in 635–6 (OTA l. 607) the Chinese emperor agreed (under threat of force, according to Tibetan histories)[4] to marry a Chinese princess to king Songtsän Gampo as part of the diplomatic settlement. As a marriage of state, the union must be considered a success as peace between China and Tibet prevailed for the remainder of Songtsen Gampo's reign.
The wedding's cultural importance
Myths about Songtsän Gampo and his Chinese bride Wencheng that appeared around them during the Middle Ages transformed Songtsän Gampo into a cultural hero for Tibetans, based on his marriages[1]. It is widely believed that his state marriages to Nepalese princess Bhrikuti and Chinese princess Wencheng brought Buddhism to Tibet, and further, that their complicated relationship as co-wives led to the construction of the Jokang Temple, whereupon the city of Lhasa. These stories are included in such medieval romances as the Mani-bka'-'bum, and historiographies such as the Rgyal-rabs Gsal-ba'i Me-long.
Chinese sources credit Wencheng with bringing Chinese culture to Tibet, but this is not corroborated by Tibetan sources.[5]
Changzhug monastery in Nêdong is also connected with Wencheng: a tangka embroidered by Wencheng is kept in one of its chapels.
External links
- History of Jokang Temple, built by Songtsän Gampo.
Footnotes
References and Further Reading
- Beckwith, Christopher I (1987). The Tibetan Empire in Central Asia. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
- Dowman, Keith. The Power-places of Central Tibet: The Pilgrim's Guide (1988) Routledge & Kegan Paul, London and New York. ISBN 0-7102-1370-0
- Laird, Thomas. The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama (2006) Grove Press, New York. ISBN 978-0-8021-1827-1
- Powers, John. History as Propaganda: Tibetan Exiles versus the People's Republic of China (2004) Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195174267*Richardson, Hugh. (1997). "Mun Sheng Kong Co and Kim Sheng Kong Co: Two Chinese Princesses in Tibet." The Tibet Journal. Vol. XXII, No. 1. Spring 1997, pp. 3-11.
- Richardson, Hugh E. (1965). "How Old was Srong Brtsan Sgampo" Bulletin of Tibetology 2.1. pp 5-8.