Songtsen Gampo

Songtsen Gampo who has been enshrined and worshiped by Tibetan generations is the national hero of Tibet Region.

Songtsen Gampo – Unify Tribes

It has not been confirmed of the birthday of Songtsen Gampo. It is said that he was born in 617 AD. His father was the Longri Luntsen who was the 32nd Tsampo (a name of the king of Tibet history).

The capital of Tu Bo Dynasty was established in Tsedang of Yarlung Zangbo River when Songtsen Gampo born. With the better education and strict training, Songtsen Gampo has become a prince proficient in horse riding and archery, wrestle and fencing, besides the high literary quality. After the tribes of Tibet Region unified by Songtsen Gampo, the capital of Tu Bo Dynasty has been moved to Lhasa City, which is called the new beginning of Tibet history.

Because of the great contributions of Songtsen Gampo, he was much adored by Tibetan people from then on, and that's why people called him Tsampo Songtsen Gampo. (In Tibetan langue, the name of Tsampo means a hero with best qualities of brave and intelligent)

Songtsen Gampo – the 33rd Tsampo of Tu Bo Dynasty

In 629 when Songtsen Gampo was 13 years old, his father was killed with poison, thus other tribes began to prepare for the war toward Tu Bo Dynasty. With the difficult situation at that time, Songtsen Gampo took the throne becoming the 32nd Zampo of Tu Bo Dynasty.

After 3 years of warring, Songtsen Gampo unified most of the tribes and moved the capital of Tu Bo Dynasty to Lhasa City.

Later Songtsen Gampo formulated a series of strategic policy of unifying the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The other tribes of western area and eastern area such as the southeast area of Qinghai and northeast area of Sichuan has been defeated and unified with Tu Bo Dynasty.

Songtsen Gampo – Princess Wencheng

After the unification of Tu Bo Dynasty, Songtsen Gampo married with Princess Bhrikuti and Princess Wencheng successively.

In 634, Songtsen Ganmpo asked for marrying with Tang Dynasty but failed. Later the war between Tu Bo Dynasty and Tang Dynasty broke out.

In 640, Songtsen Gampo asked for marrying with Tang Dynasty again and married with Princess Wencheng finally.

During the year of 641, Songtsen Gampo got married with Princess Wencheng when he was 25 years old.

Both of the two wives of Songtsen Gampo believe in Buddhism, thus lots of Buddha statue, Buddhist scriptures and other stuffs have been brought to Tibet Region.

When they live in Tibet, Princess Bhrikuti and Princess Wencheng built the Johkang Temple and Ramoche Temple respectively. With the introduction of Buddhism in Tibet Region, Songtsen Gampo began to promote Buddhism.

Songtsen Gampo - Tibetan Alphabet Characters

At the beginning of the 7th century, Songtsen Gampo send sixteen of nobles to India for study. After they came back, Songtsen Gampo created Tibetan alphabet characters with thirty letters.

In 650 when Songtsen Gampo was 34 years old, he died in Lhasa City.