DATES IN TIBETAN HISTORY AND KEY EVENTS

IN NEIGHBORING LANDS

before c. 600 C.E. prehistoric and legendary period in Tibet

247 B.C.E. traditional dating of Nyatri Tsenpo's election as king
202 B.C.E.-220 C.E. Han empire extends Chinese power ~n Inner Asia
433 C.E. traditional dating of first intimations of Buddhism In
Tibet, under King Lha Totori
3 2 4-1453 Byzantine empire
C. 60o-c. 900 G.E. empire of the PugyellYarlung dynasty
581-618 Sui dynasty rules China
608 C.E. first recorded Tibetan delegation to China
570 - 6 32 life of Muhammad, prophet of Islam
c. 617 or 629 death of Namri Lontsen and enthronement of Songtsen
Campo
618-90 7 Tang dynasty rules China
630S Tibetan conquests of Zhangzhung and Azha (Tuyuhun)
640 Minister Car Tongtsen's mission to China
641 Princess Wencheng sent to Tibet
65 0 death of Songtsen Campo
650 - 6 76 reign of Manglon Mangtsen; Tibetan expansion in Tarim
Basin
reign of Dilsong; Tibetan domination of the Nanzhao
kingdom
xxx DATES IN TIBETAN HISTORY AND KEY EVENTS

680 death of Princess Wencheng

680-750 Umayyad caliphate
684-70 5 reign of Chinese Empress Wu Zetian
704-7 12 Tibet under the rule of Empress Dowager Tri Malo
710 Princess Jincheng sent to Tibet; marries the future Tri
Detsuktsen
712-755 reign ofTri Detsuktsen
739 death of Princess Jincheng
742 birth of Tri Songdetsen
750 - 1258 Abbasid caliphate
75 1 defeat of Tang armies by the Abbasids at the Battle ofTalas
c·750 - 1174 PaJa dynasty rules northeastern India
755 assassination of Tri Detsuktsen and enthronement of Tri
Songdetsen
An Lushan rebellion exiles Tang court to Sichuan
conversion ofTri Songdetsen to Buddhism
Tibetan occupation of the Chinese capital Chang'an
earliest extant Tibetan writing, the Takdra Lukhong in-
scription, in Lhasa
779 foundation of Samye monastery
C·781 Tibetan conquest of Dunhuang
c·797 abdication ofTri Songdetsen; succession uncertain
C. 804-815 reign ofTri Desongtsen
815-838 reign ofTri Tsukdetsen, a.k.a. Relpachen, assassinated 838
822 "uncle-nephew" treaty with Tang China
83 8- 84 2 reign of Odumtsen (Lang Darma); assassinated; suc-
ceeded by Osung
persecution of Buddhism in China
reigns of Osung and his son Pelkortsen; local rebellions
and final collapse of the empire
Governor Zhang Yichao overturns Tibetan rule in Gansu,
including Dunhuang
c·9 00- 125° age of fragmentation
9 06- 10 99 Tibetan polities in northeastern Tibet
906-1016 Lingchu Serkap (Ch. Liangzhou) Silk Road city under
Tibetan rule
mid- to late restoration of Central Tibetan Vinaya by monks ordained
10th century in Amdo by Lachen Gongpa Rapsel or his successors
c· 95 0 - 1685 kingdom ofGuge in far western Tibet
9 60 - 12 79 Song dynasty
958- 1055 life of the "great translator" Rinchen Zangpo
shortly after 1000 sealing of Dunhuang "Library Cave"
c. 959-c. 1036 life ofYeshe-o, Buddhist ruler of Guge
xxx DATES IN TIBETAN HISTORY AND KEY EVENTS

680 death of Princess Wencheng

680-750 Umayyad caliphate
684-70 5 reign of Chinese Empress Wu Zetian
70 4-7 12 Tibet under the rule of Empress Dowager Tri Malo
710 Princess Jincheng sent to Tibet; marries the future Tri
Detsuktsen
712-755 reign ofTri Detsuktsen
739 death of Princess Jincheng
742 birth ofTri Songdetsen
750- 1258 Abbasid caliphate
75 1 defeat of Tang armies by the Abbasids at the Battle ofTalas
c·750 - 1174 Pala dynasty rules northeastern India
755 assassination of Tri Detsuktsen and enthronement of Tri
Songdetsen
An Lushan rebellion exiles Tang court to Sichuan
conversion ofTri Songdetsen to Buddhism
Tibetan occupation of the Chinese capital Chang'an
earliest extant Tibetan writing, the Takdra Lukhong in-
scription, in Lhasa
779 foundation of Samye monastery
c. 781 Tibetan conquest of Dunhuang
c·797 abdication ofTri Songdetsen; succession uncertain
C. 804-815 reign ofTri Desongtsen
81 5-838 reign ofTri Tsukdetsen, a.k.a. Relpachen, assassinated 838
822 "uncle-nephew" treaty with Tang China
83 8- 84 2 reign of Udumtsen (Lang Darma); assassinated; suc-
ceeded by Osung
persecution of Buddhism in China
reigns of Osung and his son Pelkortsen; local rebellions
and final collapse of the empire
Governor Zhang Yichao overturns Tibetan rule in Gansu,
including Dunhuang
C·9 00 -1.25° age of fragmentation
906- 10 99 Tibetan polities in northeastern Tibet
906-1016 Lingchu Serkap (Ch. Liangzhou) Silk Road city under
Tibetan rule
mid- to late restoration of Central Tibetan Vinaya by monks ordained
10th century in Amdo by Lachen Gongpa Rapsel or his successors
c·950-1685 kingdom of Guge in far western Tibet
960- 12 79 Song dynasty
958- 1055 life of the "great translator" Rinchen Zangpo
shortly after 1000 sealing of Dunhuang "Library Cave"
c. 959-c. 10 36 life ofYeshe-o, Buddhist ruler of Guge
 DATES IN TIBETAN HISTORY AND KEY EVENTS XXXI

foundation by Yeshe-o of monasteries at Tabo (now in Hi-

machal Pradesh, India) and Toling, west Tibet
1032-1227 Xixia (Minyak or Tangut) dynasty in northwestern China
C·99 6- 1035 life of Shenchen Luga, revealer of Bonpo canonical
scriptures
997-10 99 Tsongkha kingdom rules in northeastern Tibet
1012-65 reign of Gyelse (Ch. Gusiluo), imperial scion in Tsongkha
kingdom
1017 Tangpoche monastery founded in Yarlung Valley
1027 introduction of Kalacakra tantra and inception of new
calendrical system based upon it
1042 Atisa (982-1054) arrives in Guge
1045 Atisa travels to Central Tibet
1054 death of Atisa at Nyetang
1057 foundation of Radreng (Reting) monastery by Atisa's dis-
ciple Dromton (1004-64)
1073 foundation of Sakya monastery by Khan Konchok Gyelpo
(1°34-1102)
foundation of Sangpu monastery by Ngok Lekpe Sherap
death of Marpa (b. c. 1012), founder of Kagyii tantric
lineage
1099 Tsongkha kingdom falls to the Song dynasty
1123 death of Milarepa (b. 1040), poet-saint of the Kagyii
1143 death of Machik Lapdron (b. c. 1055), female saint and
founder of the lineage of Severance
1153 death of Campopa (b. 1079), founder of Kagyii monastic
order
1159 foundation of Katok monastery in Kham by Dampa
Deshek (1122-92)
death of Pakmodrupa Dorje Gyelpo (b. mo), founder of
Pakmodrupa Kagyii order
reign of Renzong (b. 1139) in Xixia; extends support to
Tibetan Buddhism
1175 foundation ofTsel Gungtang monastery outside Lhasa by
Lama Zhang (1122-93)
foundation of Drikung-til monastery by Kyopa Jikten
Sumgon (1143-1217)
u80 foundation of Taklung monastery by Taklung Tangpa
Trashipel (1l42-121O)
death of Diisum Khyenpa (b. mo), First Karmapa and
founder of the Karma Kagyii
Indian Buddhist university of Nalanda sacked by
Bakhtiyar Khalji
xxxii DATES IN TIBETAN HISTORY AND KEY EVENTS

1204 arrival in Tibet of the Kashmiri master Sakyasrlbhadra

c. 1200-1769 Malla kings rule the Kathmandu Valley
C. 1207 Jagaddala in Bengal, among the last of the major Buddhist
monasteries in India, destroyed
1211 death ofTsangpa Gyan~ (b. 1161), founder of Drukpa Kagyu
order, later the state religion of Bhutan
death of Chinggis Khan (b. c. 1167)
first Mongol invasion of Tibet ordered by Kaden; razes·
Radreng (Reting) monastery
Sakya Pa~qita (1182-1251) meets Kaden Khan in Liang-
zhou, Gansu
Mongol armies under Mangke Khan ravage eastern
Tibet
Mangke holds religious debates at Sira-ordos, attended by
Karma Pakshi (1206-83), the second Karmapa
Sakyapa rule, under Mongol authority
Sakyapa Lama Pakpa (1235-80) appointed leader of
Tibet by Qubilai Khan (1215-94)
1268 Mongol-sponsored census of Tibetan households
eastern Mongol empire, under Qubilai Khan, adopts the
dynastic title Yuan
xylographic publication of Sakya Pal~qita·s Logic in Beijing
Hulegu Khan, ruler of Mongols in Persia, assists
Drigungpa assault on Sakya
1:.80-1368 Yuan dynasty rules all of China
1290 Drigung monastery razed by armies of Qubilai Khan
1299-192 3 Ottoman Empire
130 4 comparative catalogue of Tibetan and Chinese Buddhist
canons completed with Yuan support
1339 death of Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje (b. 1284)
1350 fall of the Sakyapa hegemony
1350 - 1642 Pakmodrupa, Rinpungpa, and Tsangpa hegemonies
1354 Mongols recognize Tai Situ Jangchup Gyeltsen (1302-64)
as ruler of Tibet
death of Jonangpa master Dalpopa Sherap Gyeltsen (b.
1292)
13 63 death of Longchen Rapjampa (b. 1308)
1364 death of Butan Rinchendrup (b. 1290)
13 68- 1644 Ming dynasty rules China
1369 Fourth Karmapa, Ralpe Dorje (1340-83), dispatches mis-
sion to Nanjing, China, to celebrate the foundation of
the Ming dynasty
reign of Pakmodrupa ruler Miwang Drakpa Gyeltsen
 DATES IN TIBETAN HISTORY AND KEY EVENTS xxxiii
Ming emperor Yongle (r. 1402-24) initiated by Fifth
Karmapa, Dezhinshekpa (1384-1415)
foundation of Bon monastery Menri in Tsang by Nyamme
Sherap Cyeltsen (1356-1415)
Tsongkhapa establishes Creat Prayer Festival in Lhasa
and founds Canden monastery
Yongle emperor publishes Tibetan Buddhist canon
(Kangyur)
foundation of Drepung monastery by Tsongkhapa's disci-
ple Jamyang Choje (1379-1449)
Chone ruler in southeast Amdo recognized by Yongle
emperor; family rules until 1949
foundation of Sera monastery by Tsongkhapa's disciple
Jamchen Choje (1354-1435)
death ofTsongkhapa (b. 1357)
death of Gyelts~p-ie (b. 1364), Tsongkhapa's successor at
Canden
1435 Samdruptse (later Zhigatse) seized by the Rinpungpa,
vassals ~lI1d rivals of the Pakmodrupa
1447 foundation of Trashilhunpo monastery at Samdruptse by
Gendun-drup (1391-1474), posthumously held to be
First Dalai Lama
fall of Constantinople to Ottoman Empire
suppression of the Celukpa in the Lhasa region by the
Rinpungpa administration .
1501- 173 6 Safavid dynasty in Iran
1526-1858 Mughal empire in northern India
1542 death of Gendun Cyatso (b. 1476), posthumously held to
be Second Dalai Lama
reign of Altan Khan; invades Amdo and converts to
Tibetan Buddhism
fall of the Rinpungpa
Sonam Cyatso (1543-88) receives title of Dalai Lama from
Mongol leader Altan Khan
foundation of Kumbum monastery in Amdo by Dalai
Lama Sonam Cyatso
1600S-1700S expansion of Russian empire in Siberia
1603-34. reign of Ligdan Khan of the Chahar khanate, last of the
Borjigid line; embraces the Sakya order of Tibetan
Buddhism in 16q
foundation of Conlung monastery· in Amdo
Wanli emperor (r. 1572-1620) of the Ming dynasty pub-
lishes the Tibetan Buddhist canon
xxxiv DATES IN TIBETAN HISTORY AND KEY EVENTS

1617 death of Fourth Dalai Lama, Yonten Gyatso (b. 1589), a

Turned Mongol; birth of Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang
Lozang Gyatso
1618 final defeat of the Pakmodrupa by the Tsangpa regime;
Tenth Karmapa, Choying Dorje (1605-74), crowned by
the Tsangpa as spiritual leader of Tibet
1630 arrival of Oirat (later called Kalmyk) Mongols in the re-
gion of Astrakhan, Russia
1634 death ofTaranatha (b. 1575), Jonangpa teacher and histo-
rian; foundation of ecclesiastical state in Bhutan
Zunghar Khanate rules much of central Eurasia, embrac-
ing Tibetan Buddhism
Khoshud Khanate, under Cushri Khan and his sons, rules
most of Am do
Mahakala Temple complex established in Mukden, capi-
tal of the Manchu Jin dynasty
Ganden Podrang regime
the Khoshud Gushri Khan (1582-1655) defeats the Tsangpa
regime; beginning of the Fifth Dalai Lama's rule;
enthronement of Puntsok Namgyel, first Tibetan King
ofSikkim
1644-19 11 Qing (Manchu) dynasty rules Chilia
1644-61 reign of Emperor Shur\zhi (b. 1638)
1645 construction of the Potala Palace begins
c. 1651 death of Zhapdrung Ngawang Namgyel (b. 1594),
Tibetan founder of the Drukpa Kagyu ecclesiastical
state in Bhutan
journey of Fifth Dalai Lama to Beijing; meets Emperor
Shunzhi
life of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb; Mughal empire
reaches largest extent
reign of Qing Emperor Kangxi
death of Chokyi Gyeltsen (b. 1570), tutor of Fourth and
Fifth Dalai Lamas and first recognized Pal)chen Lama
(numbered Fourth)
death of Fifth Dalai Lama, concealed by Regent Sanggye
Cyatso until 1696
Kangxi edition of Tibetan Buddhist canon published
Lhazang Khan becomes chief of Mongol forces In
Tibet
assassination of Regent Sanggye Gyatso (b. 1653) by order
of the wife of Lhazang Khan; Lhazang rules central
Tibet until his death in 1717
 DATES IN TIBETAN HISTORY AND KEY EVENTS XXXV

death of Sixth Dalai Lama (b. 1683) following his de-

thronement by Lhazang Khan
foundation of Labrang monastery in Gansu by Jamyang
Zhepa (1648-1721)
invasion of Tibet by Zunghar Mongols
Kangxi edition of Mongolian translation of Tibetan
Kangyur published
Tibetan and Manchu forces repel Zunghars; Seventh Dalai
Lama, Kelzang Gyatso (1708-57), installed at Potala
Palace
reign of Qing Emperor Yongzheng
Mongols and Tibetans in Amdo rebel against Manchus
but are harshly suppressed
1727-47 Polhane (1689-1747), with Manchu support, rules Tibet
1727-35 Seventh Dalai Lama exiled to Kham
1727 Qing court establishes amban as resident envoy in Lhasa;
position lasts until 1911
publication, under Polhane's sponsorship, of Kangyur at
Nartang
1733 completion of Derge printed edition of Kangyur
1744 completion of Derge printed edition of Tengyur (canoni-
cal commentaries)
1744 foundation ofYonghe gong Gelukpa monastic university
in Beijing
reign of Qing Emperor Qianlong
Tibet ruled by Polhane's son Gyurme Namgyel, who dies
in abortive rebellion against Manchus
1750 Seventh Dalai Lama becomes head of state
1757-77 regency of Sixth Demo Khutughtu (1723-77)
1757-18 58 British East India Company rule in India
17 68 Prithvi Narayan Shah (1742-75) establishes Shah (Gurkha)
dynasty in Nepal
1774 death of Situ PaQchen Chokyi Jungne (b. 1699), founder
of Pelpung monastery in Derge
1774 East India Company Governor Warren Hastings dispatches
George Bogle to Tibet
1777-86 regency of Tsemonling, former chaplain of the Qianlong
emperor
Ulan Bator, capital of modern Mongolia, founded
death in Beijing of Sixth PaQchen Lama, Pel den Yeshe
(b. 1738), Bogle's host in Tibet
death of Changkya Rolpe Dorje (b. 1717), Buddhist tutor
of the Qianlong emperor
XXXVI DATES IN TIBETAN HISTORY AND KEY EVENTS

Nepalese invasion of Tibet repulsed by Qing army; Qian-

long emperor enacts' reforms of Tibetan administration
1794 Qianlong edition of Manchu translation of Tibetan
Kangyur published
1796-1820 reign of Qing Emperor Jiaqing
1804 death of Eighth Dalai Lama, Jampe! Gyatso (b. 1758)
1815 death of Ninth Dalai Lama, Lungtok Gyatso (b. 1B05)
1814-16 Anglo-Nepal War
1819-44 regency of Tsemonling Jampel Tsilltrim Gyatso, scion of
Chone's ruling family
death of Tenth Dalai Lama, Tsilltrim Gyatso (b. 1816)
Nyarong wars in Kham, concluded by Manchu and Cen-
tral Tibetan intervention
1839-42 Opium War weakens China
1845- 62 regency· of Radreng (Reting) Yeshe Tsilltrim Gyeltsen
1846 British annexation of Ladakh
1850 - 64 Taiping Rebellion
1851 death of Amdo poet-saint Zhapkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol
(b. 1781)
death of Eleventh Dalai Lama, Khedrup Gyatso (b. 1838);
Nepalese invade Tibetan border regions
Indian Rebellion (formerly known as the Sepoy Mutiny)
aims to overthrow the rule of the British East India
. Company .
British Raj rules India following the dissolution of the
East India Company
1861 British annexation of Sikkim
1864-73 regency of Dedruk Khyenrap Wangchuk
18 75 death of Twelfth Dalai Lama, Trinle Gyatso (b. 1856)
1874-1908 reign of Qing Emperor Guangxu
1875-86 regency ofTatsak Ngawang Pelden
1876 birth of Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tupten Gyatso
1883 anti-Nepalese riots in Lhasa
1884-1908 China governed by Empress Dowager Cixi (b. 1835)
1886-95 regency of Demo Khutughtu Lozang Trinle
18 95 Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tupten Gyatso, becomes head of
state
death ofJamgon Kongtriil (b. 1813)
Younghusband Expedition invades Central Tibet; Thir-
teenth Dalai Lama Bees to Mongolia
Chinese general Zhao Erfeng's campaigns crush monas-
teries in southern Kham
reign of infant Emperor Puyi (1906-67)
 DATES IN TIBETAN HISTORY AND KEY EVENTS xxxvii

Bhutanese monarchy founded; coronation of King Ugyen

Wangchuk (1862-1926)
Thirteenth Dalai Lama, still in exile, visits Beijing for
imperial audience
Thirteenth Dalai Lama returns to Tibet
General Zhao Erfeng invades Tibet; Thirteenth Dalai
Lama flees to India
return of Thirteenth Dalai Lama; Chinese garrison driven
from Central Tibet; death ofMipam Rinpoche (b. 1846)
Chinese Republic founded following the fall of the
Manchu Qing dynasty
Ninth Pal).chen Lama (1883-1937) flees into exile in China
Mongolian People's Republic founded
Qinghai made a province under the Chinese Muslim Ma
family, who oppress the Amdo Tibetans
1933 death of Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tupten Gyatso
1934 Radreng (Reting) Rinpoche (1911-47) made regent
1935 birth of Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, in
Taktse, Qinghai
1937 Ninth Pal).chen Lama dies in Jyekundo while seeking to
return to Central Tibet
birth of Tenth Pal).chen Lama (d. 1989) in Bindo, Amdo
Radreng (Reting) Rinpoche steps down as regent in favor
ofTakdra Rinpoche
1947 Reting Rinpoche seeks to regain power in abortive
rebellion
August 15, 1947 India becomes independent, marking the end of the
British Indian Empire
October 1, 1949 establishment of the People's Republic of China under
MaoZedong
1950 Fourteenth Dalai Lama made head of state at age 15
October 24, 1951 Tibet is incorporated into the People's Republic of China
by the "Seventeen-Point Agreement"