Sino-Tibetan relations during the Tang dynasty

During Tang dynasty rule in China (618–907), Chinese and Tibetan forces had many battles, although there were also years of peace.

Emperor Songtsän Gampo with Princesses Wen Cheng and Bhrikuti Devi

Mural commemorating victory of General Zhang Yichao over the Tibetan Empire in 848. Mogao cave 156, late Chinese Tang Dynasty

The Old Book of Tang recorded the first ever embassy from Tibet arrived in China from the Tibetan emperor Songtsän Gampo in the 8th Zhenguan year or 634 CE.^[1] Tang chronicles describe this as a tribute mission, but it brought an ultimatum demanding a alliance through marriage, not subservient rituals.^[2] When Emperor Taizong of Tang refused a marriage alliance, Songtsän Gampo sent an army to attack the Chinese frontier city of Songzhou in 638, which was the first military conflict between the rising Tibetan Empire and the Chinese Tang dynasty. After a Tang army inflicted heavy casualties on the Tibetans in a night-time attack, Songtsän Gampo withdrew. He sent emissaries and tributes to Tang capital Chang'an to apologize, and to again request marriage. Taizong decided to give Songtsän Gampo a distant niece, Princess Wencheng, in marriage. The peace held for the remainder of the reigns of Taizong and Songtsän Gampo, although Tibet would pose major military threats for most of the rest of the Tang period.

In 763 AD, the Tibetans captured Chang'an in 763 during the midst of the Anshi Rebellion, which saw Tang China devastated by a massive Turkic uprising. However, the incursion was soon defeated.^[3]

There is some confusion as to whether Central Tibet conquered Zhang Zhung during the reign of Songtsän Gampo or in the reign of Trisong Detsän, (r. 755 until 797 or 804 CE).^[4] The records of the Tang Annals do, however, seem to clearly place these events in the reign of Songtsän Gampo for they say that in 634, Yangtong (Zhang Zhung) and various Qiang tribes "altogether submitted to him." Following this he united with the country of Yangtong to defeat the 'Azha or Tuyuhun, and then conquered two more tribes of Qiang before threatening Songzhou with an army of (according to the Chinese) more than 200,000 men (100,000 according to Tibetan sources).^[5] He then sent an envoy with gifts of gold and silk to the Chinese emperor to ask for a Chinese princess in marriage and, when refused, attacked Songzhou. According to the Tang Annals, he finally retreated and apologised and later the emperor granted his request.^[6]^[7]

Map during the period

Taizong "reign" 616-649
Colors show the succession of Taizong (Tang) conquest in Asia :

Shanxi (617 : his father is governor, Taizong support his revolt.)

Sui's Empire Protector (618). Tang dynasty 618. Controlled all of Sui's China by 622-626.

Submit the Oriental Turks territories (630-682)

Tibetan's King recognizes China as their emperor (641-670)

Submit the Occidental Turks territories (642-665)

(idem) add the Oasis (640-648 : Northern Oasis ; 648 : Southern Oasis)

[Not shown in the map : Conquest of Goguryeo by his son (661-668)]

The two darkest area are the area under the direct control of the Chinese empire, the 3 lightest area are under nominal control and/or vassals. Borders are not factual, they are indicatives.

References

↑ Lee 1981, pp. 6-7
↑ Powers 2004, pg. 31
↑ Bell, Charles (1 June 2000). Tibet Past and Present. South Asia Books. p. 28?. ISBN 81-208-1048-1. See google book search
↑ Karmey, Samten G. (1975). "'A General Introduction to the History and Doctrines of Bon", p. 180. Memoirs of Research Department of The Toyo Bunko, No, 33. Tokyo.
↑ Powers 2004, pp. 168-9
↑ Lee 1981, pp. 7-9
↑ Pelliot 1961, pp. 3-4

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Chronology	Prehistory (Neolithic) Zhangzhung Pre-Imperial Empire (7th–9th century) List of emperors Great Ministers Relations with Tang (618–907) Era of Fragmentation (9th–11th century) Guge kingdom Yuan dynasty rule (1270–1350) Bureau of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs Phagmodrupa Dynasty Relations with Ming (1368–1644) Rinpungpa Dynasty Tsangpa Dynasty Ganden Phodrang Kashag Qing dynasty rule (1720–1912) Lifan Yuan List of imperial residents Post-Qing to 1950 Tibetan Army People's Republic of China (PRC) rule PRC incorporation political leaders

Wars & conflicts	Tibetan attack on Songzhou Battle of Dafei River Mongol conquest of Tibet Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal War Battle of Dartsedo Battle of the Salween River Chinese expedition to Tibet (1720) Lhasa riot of 1750 Sino-Nepalese War Sino-Sikh War Nepalese–Tibetan War Sikkim Expedition British expedition to Tibet 1905 Tibetan Rebellion Chinese expedition to Tibet (1910) Xinhai Lhasa turmoil Sino-Tibetan War Qinghai–Tibet War 1938–39 German expedition to Tibet 1939 Japanese expedition to Tibet Battle of Chamdo Protests and uprisings since 1950 1959 Tibetan uprising 1987–89 Tibetan unrest 2008 Tibetan unrest Self-immolation protests by Tibetans in China

Documents	70,000 Character Petition Treaty of Chushul Treaty of Thapathali Treaty of Lhasa Treaty of friendship and alliance with Mongolia Simla Accord (1914) Seventeen-Point Agreement

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Sino-Tibetan relations during the Tang dynasty

Map during the period

See also

References