Songtsen Gampo

Also known as Zan Pu · Qizong Nongzan

Songtsen Gampo was the Tibetan emperor whom the Tang histories call Qizong Nongzan; the Old Tang History (Jiu Tang shu) says he came to the throne at about twenty and was bold and resourceful. He first sent envoys to the Tang in 634, and on learning that the Turks and the Tuyuhun had received Tang princesses he asked for one too. Refused, he attacked the Tuyuhun and camped on the western border of Songzhou, then, driven back by Tang troops, apologised and asked again. In 641 Emperor Taizong gave him Princess Wencheng, escorted by Li Daozong, Prince of Jiangxia, whom he met at Lake Bohai with the deference of a son-in-law; he later sent young nobles to study the classics in Chang'an. Emperor Gaozong made him Prince of Xihai and had his statue carved for Taizong's tomb. He died in 650 and Gaozong held mourning rites. His move to Lhasa, the creation of the Tibetan script by Thonmi Sambhota and his Nepalese bride come from later Tibetan histories.