Namri Songtsen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Namri Songtsen, also known as "Namri Löntsen" (wylie:Gnam-ri-slon-rtsan) (?-629) was, according to tradition, the 32th King of Tibet (Yarlung dynasty), despite the fact he formerly ruled only the Yarlung valley, and later the central part of the Tibetan plateau. His actions were decisive in the setting up of the Tibetan Empire (7th century), to which he can be named co-founder, with his son, Songtsen Gampo.

Contents

[edit] Context

Namri Songtsen was a member of the Yarlung tribe, located to the southeast of Lhasa, in the fertile Yarlung valley[1] where the Tsangpo (known in India as the Brahmaputra) supported both agriculture and human life. The Tibetan plateau[2] was, at this time, a mosaic of clans (or « tribes ») of mountain shepherds with primitive organization[3] and regular inter-tribal fighting despite the low level of human density in the area due to the scarcity of resources.[4]. Each clan had several chiefs. These clans had few material and cultural exchanges according to topography, climate, and distances, which means that each clan, located in a specified network of valleys, had its own culture with little in common with other clans.[5]. These "proto-Tibetans" were not in direct relations with the Chinese, though some mountain groups in Eastern Tibet and modern Western Sichuan province as well as the 'Azha or Tuyuhun kingdom (South Qinghai and North-West Sichuan) occupied the region between the two groups for a long time.[6]. Also, early Chinese sources only mention proto-Tibetan peoples in a few rare cases [7], this changed dramatically by the beginning of Tang Dynasty, the Tibetan kingdom becoming a powerful player in the military history of Eastern and Central Asia.

[edit] Upbringing and life

Around 600, Namri Songtsen, one of the several Yarlung tribal chieftains, become the uncontested leader of the several Yarlung clans. Using shepherd-warriors he subdued the neighbouring tribes one after another. Expanding his rule to all of modern Central Tibet, including the Lhasa region[8] allowed him to rule over many groups, and to begin the establishment of a centralized and strong state, with skilled troops who gained experience in their many battles in the early 7th century. This formed an important base for the later conquests by his son, which unified the whole of the Tibetan plateau.[9]. According to Beckwith, Namri Songtsen sent the first diplomatic missions to open relations with China, in 608 and 609.[10]

[edit] Assassination and succession

Namri Songtsen was assassinated in 630 (or 629), by a coup d'état which finally failed, being crushed by Namri Songtsen's son : Songtsen Gampo (609?-650). Songtsen Gampo then developed his heritage, completing the submission of the Tibetan plateau, and continuing transformation providing an unified legal code, a system of writing Tibetan and maintained official records, a high-quality army with some 100,000 troops, and frank and continuous relations with both the the Indian world and the Chinese world. He also founded Lhasa.

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ TaIC, p.5
  2. ^ Usage of the terms "Tibetan plateau" and "proto-Tibetans" is needed, since Tibetan unity (political, cultural) never existed previously. The use of "Tibet" and "Tibetans" for this period are, therefore, anachronisms.
  3. ^ TaIC, p.5
  4. ^ Talk about "razia" should be more accurate. Razias being a non-negligible food and goods support in nomadic tribes.
  5. ^ TaIC, p.5
  6. ^ TaIC, p.?
  7. ^ TaIC, p.2 : The 羌 (Qiang) and 戎 (Rong) appear on oracle bones as early as the 13th and 12th century BC.
  8. ^ TaIC, p.5
  9. ^ TaIC, p.5
  10. ^ Beckwith, C. Uni. de l'Indiana Diss. 1977

[edit] Sources

  • TaIC = Josef Kolmaš, Tibet and Imperial China, A Survey of Sino-Tibetan Relations up to the End of the Madchu Dynasty in 1912. Occasional paper No. 7, The Australian National University, Centre of Oriental Studies, Camberra, 1967. Page 7-11/67. (lire en ligne, appuyer sur F11 pour l'affichage plein écran)

[edit] See also

Regnal titles
Preceded by
?		 Namri Songtsen
?-629		 Succeeded by
Songtsän Gampo
Languages