Langdarma

Langdarma was the last emperor of the unified Tibetan empire, who most likely reigned from 838 to 841 CE. Early sources named him Tri Darma meaning "King Darma"; "Lang" is a nickname meaning "ox". He was also called tsenpo (emperor) or lhase (divine son) Au Dunten. His domain extended beyond Tibet to include Dunhuang and neighboring Chinese regions.^[1]

By tradition Langdarma is held to have been anti-Buddhist and a follower of the Bön religion. He is attributed with the assassination of his brother, King Ralpacan, in 838 CE and he is generally held to have persecuted Buddhists in Tibet. The Anti-Buddhism portrayal of this King has been questioned by several historians, most prominently Yamaguchi Zuiho.

At the first two year of his rule, he's still a Buddhist, but with the influence of (Tibetan: དབས་རྒྱལ་ཏོ་རེ།), he became a Bon follower.

Langdarma's reign was plagued by external troubles. The Uyghur state to the north collapsed under pressure from the Kyrgyz in year 840, and many displaced people fled to Tibet.

According to one source he only reigned for a year and a half, while others give six or thirteen years.^[2] Langdarma himself was assassinated, apparently by a Buddhist hermit or monk named Pelgyi Dorje of Lhalung, in 842 or 846.^[3][2] His death was followed by civil war and the dissolution of the Tibetan empire.^[1]

Langdarma is said to have had two sons, Yumten, by his first wife, and Ösung by his second wife. They apparently competed for power, the former ruling over the central kingdom of Ü, and the other ruling over the 'left wing' - probably the eastern territories.^[2]

One of Langdarma's grandsons, Skyid lde nyima gon (or Nyima gon) conquered Western Tibet in the late 10th century, although his army originally numbered only 300 men. Several towns and castles are said to have been founded by Nyima gon and apparently ordered the construction of the main sculptures at Shey. "In an inscription he says he had them made for the religious benefit of the Tsanpo (the dynastical name of his father and ancestors), and of all the people of Ngaris (Western Tibet). This shows that already in this generation Langdarma's opposition to Buddhism had disappeared."^[4] Shey, just 15 km east of modern Leh, was the ancient seat of the Ladakhi kings.

Notes

References

• 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 University Press. ISBN 0-691-02469-3
• Francke, A. H. (1914). Antiquities of Indian Tibet. Two Volumes. Calcutta. 1972 reprint: S. Chand, New Delhi.
• McKay, Alex (ed.). Tibet and Her Neighbors: A History (2003) Walther Konig. ISBN 3883757187
• Stein, Rolf Alfred. Tibetan Civilization (1972) Stanford University Press. ISBN 0804709017

External links

• http://www.haiweitrails.com/timeline_tibet.htm (accessed: Sunday January 14, 2007)