Gungsrong Gungtsen

Gungsrong Gungtsen, Gungsong Gungsten, or Kungsong Kungtsen (Gung-srong gung-btsan) was the only known son of Songtsän Gampo (605 or 617? - 649), the first Tibetan emperor.

Songtsän Gampo is said to have had five wives, the Nepalese princess, Khri b'Tsun, or "Royal Lady" (Bhrikuti Devi), [Snellgrove, David. 1987. "Indo-Tibetan Buddhism: Indian Buddhists and Their Tibetan Successors". 2 Vols. Shambhala, Boston, Vol. II, p. 416.] and the Chinese Princess Wencheng, both devout Buddhists, are the best known, but he also married daughters of the King of Zhang-zhung and the King of Minyak, as well as one each from the Ruyong and Mong (or Mang) clans (although other lists exist). [Stein, R. A. "Tibetan Civilization" 1962. Revised English edition, 1972, Faber & Faber, London. Reprint, 1972. Stanford University Press, p. 62. ISBN 0-8047-0806-1 cloth; ISBN 0-8047-0901-7 pbk.]

Gungsrong Gungtsen was born to Mangza (or Mongsa) Tricham (Mang bza' Khri lcham or Mang bza' Khri-mo-mnyen lDong-steng), Princess of Mang, who came from Tolung (sTod lung) - a valley to the west of Lhasa. ["Ancient Tibet: Research materials from the Yeshe De Project". 1986. Dharma Publishing, California. ISBN 0-89800-146-3, pp. 215, 224-225.] [Gyaltsen, Sakyapa Sonam (1312-1375). "The Clear Mirror: A Traditional Account of Tibet's Golden Age", p. 188. Translated by McComas Taylor and Lama Choedak Yuthob. (1996) Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, New York. ISBN 1-55939-048-4.] [Stein, R. A. "Tibetan Civilization" 1962. Revised English edition, 1972, Faber & Faber, London. Reprint, 1972. Stanford University Press, p. 63. ISBN 0-8047-0806-1 cloth; ISBN 0-8047-0901-7 pbk.]

It seems most unlikely that Songtsän Gampo handed over power to his son after his marriage to Princess Wencheng in 641, as she was married to the ruling monarch and there is no mention of such an event in the Chinese or Tibetan Annals. If Gungsrong Gungtsen was married and had a son before 641, he was most probably born sometime before 625. ["Ancient Tibet: Research materials from the Yeshe De Project". 1986. Dharma Publishing, California. ISBN 0-89800-146-3, p. 225.]

He is traditionally said to have been born at a nine-storied palace known as the "Celestial Auspicious Mansion of Draglha", built by the Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti Devi to the south of Lhasa. [Gyaltsen, Sakyapa Sonam (1312-1375). "The Clear Mirror: A Traditional Account of Tibet's Golden Age", pp. 129, 188. Translated by McComas Taylor and Lama Choedak Yuthob. (1996) Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, New York. ISBN 1-55939-048-4.] It is said that a shrine and a stupa were then built by his father on a rocky mountain near Yerpa which resembled a seated image of Tara. [Gyaltsen, Sakyapa Sonam (1312-1375). "The Clear Mirror: A Traditional Account of Tibet's Golden Age", p. 189. Translated by McComas Taylor and Lama Choedak Yuthob. (1996) Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, New York. ISBN 1-55939-048-4.]

Some accounts say that when Gungsrong Gungtsen reached the age of thirteen (twelve by Western reckoning), his father, Songtsän Gampo, retired and he then ruled the country for five years (which could have been the period when Songtsän Gampo was working on the constitution). Gungsrong Gungtsen also married 'A-zha Mang-mo-rje when he was thirteen and they had a son, Mangsong Mangtsen (r. 650-676 CE). Gungsrong Gungtsen is said to have only ruled for five years when he died at eighteen. His father, Songtsän Gampo, took the throne again. [Shakabpa, Tsepon W. D. (1967). "Tibet: A Political History", p. 27. Yale University Press. New Haven and London.] He is said to have been buried at Donkhorda, the site of the royal tombs, to the left of the tomb of his grandfather Namri Songtsen (gNam-ri Srong-btsan). The dates for these events are very unclear. ["Ancient Tibet: Research materials from the Yeshe De Project". 1986. Dharma Publishing, California. ISBN 0-89800-146-3, p. 215, 224-225.] [Gyaltsen, Sakyapa Sonam (1312-1375). "The Clear Mirror: A Traditional Account of Tibet's Golden Age", p. 192. Translated by McComas Taylor and Lama Choedak Yuthob. (1996) Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, New York. ISBN 1-55939-048-4.] [Stein, R. A. "Tibetan Civilization" 1962. Revised English edition, 1972, Faber & Faber, London. Reprint, 1972. Stanford University Press, p. 63. ISBN 0-8047-0806-1 cloth; ISBN 0-8047-0901-7 pbk.]

It is unclear whether Gungsrong Gungtsen was really enthroned as Emperor during the five years he is said to have reigned, nor is there any mention of his reign in the Chinese or Tibetan Annals. He is, therefore, sometimes not included among the list of Tibetan rulers.

Footnotes