Langdarma
Encyclopedia
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.
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 , 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. Langdarma himself was assassinated, apparently by a Buddhist hermit or monk named Pelgyi Dorje of Lhalung, in 842 or 846. His death was followed by civil war and the dissolution of the Tibetan empire.
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.
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." Shey, just 15 km east of modern Leh, was the ancient seat of the Ladakhi kings.
Tibetan Empire
The historic name for the Tibetan Empire is different from Tibet's present name.Traditional Tibetan history preserves a lengthy list of rulers, whose exploits become subject to external verification in the Chinese histories by the seventh century. From the 7th to the 11th century a series of...
, 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
Dunhuang
Dunhuang is a city in northwestern Gansu province, Western China. It was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. It was also known at times as Shāzhōu , or 'City of Sands', a name still used today...
and neighboring Chinese regions.
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
Ralpacan
Ralpacan , born c. 806, the Year of the Dog was, according to traditional sources, the 41st King of Tibet, ruling from the death of his father, Sadnalegs, in c. 815, until 838 CE...
, in 838
838
Year 838 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Byzantine emperor Theophilos is heavily defeated at the Battle of Anzen by the Abbasids...
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 , he became a Bon follower.
Langdarma's reign was plagued by external troubles. The Uyghur
Uyghur people
The Uyghur are a Turkic ethnic group living in Eastern and Central Asia. Today, Uyghurs live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China...
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. Langdarma himself was assassinated, apparently by a Buddhist hermit or monk named Pelgyi Dorje of Lhalung, in 842 or 846. His death was followed by civil war and the dissolution of the Tibetan empire.
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
Ü
Ü, or ü, is a character which can be either a letter from several extended Latin alphabets, or the letter U with an umlaut or a diaeresis...
, and the other ruling over the 'left wing' - probably the eastern territories.
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
Shey
Shey is a town in Ladakh that has the old summer Palace of the kings of Ladakh. It is located 15 km. from Leh towards Hemis. The palace was built more than 555 years ago by Lhachen Palgyigon, the king of Ladakh...
. "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." Shey, just 15 km east of modern Leh, was the ancient seat of the Ladakhi kings.
External links
- http://www.haiweitrails.com/timeline_tibet.htm (accessed: Sunday January 14, 2007)