Studies in

Central & East Asian

Religions

Journal of
The Seminar for Buddhist Studies
Copenhagen & Aarhus

Volume 4 Autumn 1991

 Studies in
Central & East Asian
Religions

Volume 4 Autumn 1991

9ilsen
enhagen CONTENTS
rea)

ANNA SEIDEL in Memoriam iii

Articles
Fabio RAMBELLI: Re-inscribing Mal).~ala: Semiotic Operations on a
t E. BusweH Word and its Object. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
niversity Aasulv LANDE: New Religious Movements in Japan in the Meiji and
7alifornia Taishö Eras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
1 Haiyan
Maria REIS-HABITO: The Repentance Ritual of the Thousand-armed
;ity of Beijing Guanyin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
John POWERS: The Term "Sa:rp.dhinirmocana" in the Title of the
Orders should be
0 Aarbus C, Den- Sal!ldhinirmocana-siitra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
for payment when Per K. 80RENSEN: Dynastie Origins and Regal Successions. ·Etiological
ect to value-added Theories and the Pre-historic Line in the Tibetan Yar-lung Dynasty
Reflected in Tibetan Sources: New Material and Assessments 63
matters, including
llows: Forum
A Survey of Institutes and Research Centres of Tibetology in The
People's Republic of China-concluded (PKS) . . . . . . 83
Recent Finds in Ningxia Province Pertaining to Buddhism in the State
of Xixia, 1038-1227 (Elisabeth Gr~mvald and HHS) . . . . . . 85
New Information on the Date of the Third Patriarch Sengcan's Death
(HHS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
International Symposium on "Religions in Traditional Korea" (HHS) 92
Tantra Occluded: The 1992 Conference ofthe Society for Tantric Studies
photoset by
HHS;
(W{) ........ . 93
~of Mathematics,
ted with financial
SBS Activities in 1992-3 (IAK) 96
Reviews
Anne S. Goodrich, Peking Paper Gods. A Look at Home Worship (Bent
Lerbrek Petersen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Chinese Buddhist Apocrypha. Ed. by Robert E. Buswell, Jr. (HHS) . . 101
Antonino Forte, Mingtang and Buddhist Utopias in the History of the
Astronomical Clock (HHS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Der Goldschatz· der drei Pagoden: Buddhistische Kunst des Nanzhao-
und Dali Königreiches in Yunnan, China. Edited by A. Lutz and
Judith Rickenbach; and Albert Lutz, Der Tempel der drei Pagoden
von Dali: Zur buddhistischen Kunst des Nanzhao- und Dali
Königreiches in Yunnan, China (HHS) . . . . . . . . . . 110
Tonami Mamoru, The Shaolin Monastery Stele on Mount Song.
Translated by P. A. Herbert (HHS) . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Introduction of Buddhism to Korea: Neiu Cultural Patterns. Edited by
Lewis R. Lancaster and C. S. Yu (HHS) . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Dam-chos rgya-mtsho Dharmatäla, Rosary of White Lotuses, Being the
Clear Account of How the Precious Teaching of Buddha Appeared
and Spread in the Great Hor Country. Translated and Annotated
by Piotr Klafkowski (PKS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
· Janos Szerb, Bu ston's History of Buddhism in Tibet. Critically Edited
with a Comprehensive Index (PKS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
John Stevens, Lust for Enlightenment: Buddhism And Sex (Alexander
Kabanoff) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Brief Notices
Zen (Erich Mistn'k.) 127
Travels to Real and Imaginary Lands. Two Lectures on East Asia by
Giuliano Bertuccioli (Bent Nielsen) . . . . . 128
Ian Reader, Religion in Contemporary Japan (IAK) 129

Erratum to SCEAR 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

(ii)
 '"1!
Origins and Regal Successions.
the affiictive obst ll.L'-'"" ...."' ..... Theories and the Pre-historic Line
.L
· [the Buddhruc
P1ams ,· in the Yar-lung Dynasty Reflected in
~f!ected in Wonch' ak~) Tibetan Sources: New Material and Assessments
,h e very profound u s
j'ff! and
I ucult to unravel .
::>laining the Profo~n~ Per K. S0rensen
Rheinische Friedrich- Wilhelms Universität
lain" or "teach" 1s
. aIso Bann
phrase, "... this form
a's] thought" (dg
I. ongs
. m ~xample 5 above)
IS sutra that teach
sd e ''d''· l
l l us rnam Par
es
nd sa'!ldhi-nirmocana
Etiological Genealogical Theories
nental expla.nation"·40 Prior even to Bu-ston's time (1290-1364) a corpus ofancient textswas still in
m" O'explication). ' circulation in Tibet or, at least, the genealogical theories embedded in these
1ts I have followed the accounts were generally known. Rather early in the phyi dar period these
ed on a consideration texts turned out to be some of the most authoritative sources concerning the
rel pa, "to explain, to various indigenous etiological speculations and genealogical theories ('chad
berate, unravel, free" Zugs, gleng ba, lo rgyus, rgyal rabs) prevailing then and which presented
a term that ref!ected the origin myth and the historical-mythological background of the Tibetan
Jf questions about the dynastic progenitor and of the Tibetan dynasty.
ue that many of these These original sources are regrettably no Ionger extant. Many of these
.vel" conceptual knots myths of origin and accounts-whether Buddhist, pre-Bon, Bon, or (most
obstructions and the often) mixed-of either the progenitor's Indian dynastic or native divine
Buddha is questioned background have long attracted the interest of Tibetologists, beginning with
~sponds by offering to G. Tucci. The problems involved in these studies are many and complex, all
l reflects an important
the more so as we .only possess scattered references and extracts that are
·mocana-sutra we find often presented in a bewildering disorder in later historical works, and a
to reconcile apparent number of these long lost basic works or theories are usually only known by
to define his thought. their names or titles, or from scattered quotations, and then again mostly in
as chosen in order to a corrupted fashion. Nevertheless, a few of these works may weil turn out
Iat it attempts to do to be quite old, even dating from the dynastic period. The odd indication of
n) can reflect the duaJ their authorships alone may indicate, as in the case of the sBa-bzhed, their
relative antiquity, although to date no references to them have been traced
in the Dunhuang material.
Equally importantly, some (perhaps all) ofthese texts or theories/systems
apparently incorporated, in addition to the progenitor myths, lists with the
*The following essay is part ofthe Appendix attached to my annotated translation ofrGyal-
rabs gsal-ba'i me-long, forthcoming in Asiatische Forschung (Wiesbaden). This translation was
made possible during an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship at the University of
Bonn, for which I wish to express my sincere gratitude.
•age is found on p. 462 .4.

SCEAR 4 (1991): 63-81

64 Per K. S(iJrensen ,

names and successions ofthe pre-historic kings ofthe dynasty. This may de-
duced from a briefreference by Nyang-rat,l where he refers to the text/system
lHab (or 'Dab, lTab)-ma dGu-[b]rtseg[s]-can (cf. item no. 3 below) and where
the texts/systems "Brother Pentad" (can lnga) of the so-called Tibetan "ac-
cidentally originated" dynasty (cf. below) are maintained to (count the royal
figures) singly andin pairs (rkyang dang khug). This also includes the divi-
sion of the pre-historic line into different groups as discussed in the subse-
quent part of this essay.
Brief piecemeal references so far, brought to our attention by Karmay
and Blondeau, to the names of these works and theories have been traced
in the following works: Nyang-ral's CHBYMTNYP: MS. B 588.5-6, 594.5-
6 = Berlin MS. (Meisezahl) Tafel 361.1.4-6, 364.2.2-3; the Autobiography
of Guru Chos kyi dbang-po, Vol. 1, Chap. 3, pp. 14-20 (Blondeau, 1990a,
pp. 39-40); sßa-bzhed (zhabs-btags-ma): 75.9-12 (Stein, 1961); dPa'-bo's
lHo-Brag Chos-'byung, Vol. JA, 5a7; Don-dam smra-ba'i seng-ge's bShad-
mdzod yid-bzhin nor-bu (cf. Haarh, 1969, pp. 213ff; Macdonald, 1971,
p. 20); La-dvags rgyal-rabs (Francke ed.), p. 28. To this we can now
add: KCHKKHM-1 656.3-4; KCHKKHM-2 61.6-11; KTHDNG CA 434.7-
435.22; andin particular the detailed synopsis provided by mKhas-pa lDe'u
in BGCHBY, 226.12-243.17 and lDe'u jo-sras' DCHBY 98.21-99.4ff.
In the light of the new material that has now come to our notice, the
preliminary survey presented by Karmay, 1988, pp. 219-22, and Blondeau,
1990a, pp. 37-54, can now be somewhat rectified and expanded. No doubt,
when in the future hitherto unheeded Bon materials are properly explored,
new data will come to light. Recent research has already shown with com-
pelling clarity that many of the older historical narratives were detected,
compiled and transmitted in a mixed Bon-Buddhist milieu.
The Ti betan royal myth of origin is conceived, as first noted by Macdonald,
1971, pp. 202-13, as evolving out of a cosmogonical-evolutionary narrative
that initially delineates the royalty ofman in general. The Tibetan genealogy
is then eventually defined as the "accidental genealogy or royalty" of Tibet
(Bod glo bur [gyi] rgyal po, cf. GBCHBY 226.10ff, KTHDNG CA 435.2ff,
etc.; on the basis of which three or four types of human royalty were formu-
lated: (mi'i rgyal po ), i.e. the "lineage-type ofroyalty" (gdung brgyud kyi rgyal
po ), the "electedlchosen type of royalty" (bskos pa'i rgyal po ), the "dharma
type of royalty" (chos kyi rgyal po ), and the "accidental[ly originated] type of
1 Cf. CHBYMTNYP Tafel 361.2.3: dGu rtseg can na lde brgyad zer. But see also KTHDNG

CA 435.2ff:

I glo bur rgyal po can lnga rkyang dang khug

I gnam la khri bdun sa la legs drug dang I
I Iogs la lde brgyad tshigs la btsan lnga dang I
I khrims med rgyal po nyi shu rtsa lnga byon I
 Per K. S(!Jrensen
Dynastie Origins and Regal Sueeessions 65
ynasty. This may de-
ers to the text/system royalty" (glo bur gyi rgyal po); cf., e.g., KCHKKHM-2 61.6-12; CHBYMT-
o. 3 below) and where NYP 359.2.3-361.1.4; GBCHBY 196.3ff; DCHBY 97.12-98.20;). This con-
;o-called Tibetan "ac- tingency, or glo-bur, theory appears tobe a narrative element in the tradi-
~d to (count the royal
tion, introduced along with the emergence of the figure gNya'-khri btsan-po
Llso includes the divi- in the gar.b of a Indian-born prince arriving (accidentally and unaccountably)
:;cussed in the subse- from the Himalayas, i.e. grosso modo reflecting the [late?] Buddhist gSang-
ba chos-lugs system. However, we find in these traditions various legends
and quasi-historical systems formulated, and although the testimonies in the
tttention by Karmay
texts themselves occasionally are somewhat contradictory, often mingled be-
ies have been traced
yond extrication, the "accidental type of royalty" soon became the favourite
S. B 588.5-6, 594.5-
theory dominating the narratives of the origins of the Tibetan dynasty.
:; the Autobiography
~0 (Blondeau, 1990a
It appears that the main bulk oftexts in which these theories and accounts
;ein, 1961); dPa'-bo'~ are handed down, and which were usually universally known under the triad,
gSang [bs ]Grags Yang-gsang (extensively researched by Haarh, Macdonald,
>a'i seng-ge's bShad-
Blondeau, Karmay, etc.), were, around the middle of the XI-XIIth centucy
ff; Macdonald, 1971,
at least, known basically from seven works. Five of these were apparently
To this we can now
known as the "Brother Pentad" (spun-po lnga-ean, often laconically just ean-
[{THDNG CA 434.7-
lnga, cf. CHBYMTNYP, GBCHBY, DCHBY, KTHDNG CA, and also Kar-
:l by mKhas-pa lDe'u
: 98.21-99.4ff. may, 1988, p. 222, where I think that BZH should be read as spun-po [=
sPun-po gSer-skas dgu-ba, rGyal-rabs spun-po; separate work(s?)] ean-lnga,
te to our notice, the
and not spun-po-ean lnga as Karmay does, see below), a corpus of texts or
9-22, and Blondeau,
titles specified as follows:
expanded. No doubt,
re properly explored, 1. The Yo-ga ZHa-gyes-ean [= ?Bon-po'i yi-ge [las] lha-dge [= gyes]-
Ldy shown with com- ean (CHBYMTNYP), Yo-ga !Ha dgyes-ean (DCHBY) Yo-ga ZHa-
.ti ves were detected, dge-ean (BZH)], i.e. the theory [ofhow] the gods [became] divided
I"
,wu. [according to the Bon] texts, cf. also Karmay, 1988, pp. 221-2. The
noted by Macdonald, name of one of the three etiological theories (spyad [= 'ehad] Zugs
olutionary narrative gsum, or gleng Zugs: i.e. gSang [bs]Grags Yang-gsang, cf., e.g.,
1.e Tibetan genealogy CHBYMTNYP 361.1.4-5; GBCHBY 226.12-14); cf. below. lDe'u
' or royalty" of Tibet jo-sras, DCHBY maintains that this Yo-ga lHa-gyes-can was com-
fHDNG CA 435.2ff, posed by the sPa-sa bon-po-s [sie! Nyang-ral in his list has sBags-
royalty were formu- pa, probably = sPun-po]. For an elaboration of this [bs]Grags
ung brgyud kyi rgyal system (for this term, cf. Blondeau, 1990a) or lo rgyus adducing
'al po), the "dharma e.g. the royal house's descent from the srid pa phy[v ]a gods, etc.,
ly originated] type of cf. GBCHBY 227.13-238.13 and below. The latter source here
asserts that the evolution developed through three stages: the
·. But see also KTHDNG succession or enumeration of the gods in the upper sphere/in the
beginning (stod lha rabs ), how the[ir?] power spread in the inter-
mediate sphere/time (bar mnga' [= mnga' thang?] dar) and how
the [gods] below [or in the end] were divided, split or fragmented
(tha ma [also: smad] gyes mda'am [also mdo'am] sil ehad).
2. The Zangs-ma gZhugs-ral-ean [= Za bzhugs rgan-rabs-ean (CH-
BYMTNYP), =Thang-ma 'Jug-dral-ean (DCHBY)] being the the-
66 Per K. S•rensen1
ory, one among three ways of a minute counting (zhib rtsing
[= rtsis] gsum] in the exposition concerning the Tibetan geneal-
ogy, here, Nyang-ral adduces, the one counting the genealogy
singly ((rkyang pa ), i.e. successively?); mKhas-pa lDe'u, GBCHBY
243.5-17, while briefly rendering it, maintains, followed by lDe'u
Jo-sras, that this theory was composed by Yab-'bangs (lDe'u Jo-
sras: Yab-tshan-'bangs) and he provides its genealogy (the eigh-
teen rulers of the superior (bla na bzhugs pa bco brgyad ): 'Gro-rje-
legs-pa, gNam-lha dkar-gsum, sKar-ma Yol-lde, rGya-lha 'Brong-
nam, 'O-de gung-rgyal, Yab brdal-drug, bDud-:rje chen-po, lDe
[=rJe] gNya'-khri btsan-po, rMu-:rje btsan-po, sTang-sa mgon-bu,
Dog-lha smin-bu, Mer-lha smongs-bu, Sa-lha 'khor-mo, sTing-[=
sTengs] lha gar-chen, gSang-lha de-ba, bDud-:rje chen-po.
3. The lHab-ma dGu-brtsegs-can [= 'Dab-ma dgu-brtsegs-can (CH-
BYMTNYP), = lTab-ma dgu-brtsegs-can CDCHBY); = lTab-ma
dgu-tsag-can (BZH)]; lDe'u Jo-sras maintains that it was com-
posed by the Zhang-blon-s and Nyang-ral de:fines this theory with
the words, khug pa yum sgom smos, which Karmay, perhaps cor-
rectly, construes as the "pair" (khug pa, i.e. royal couple) theory
enumerating the [successive] kings along with their queens; ac-
cordingly the reading given in Guru Chos dbang's list: kyang lugs
gnyis should in this light perhaps be corrected to rkyang [pa dang]
khug [pa] gnyis?, cf. Blondeau, 1990, op. cit., p. 39. Cf. also note
1, supra.
4. The Zing[s]-po mgo-sngon-can [= Zings-po sna-tshogs-can (CH-
BYMTNYP, BZH)]; lDe'u Jo-sras maintains that it was composed
by sKye-nam but de:fined by Nyang-ral as the extensive exposi-
tion by a certain sPun-po, cf. CHBYMTNYP, and also Karmay,
p. 222].
5. The gSang-ba phyag-rgya-can (CHBYMTNYP, BZH), possibly
(and confusingly) also called Grags-pa chos-lugs, cf. GBCHBY
238.14-239.2. lDe'u Jo-sras maintains that it was composed by
the ruler hirnself (rje nyid kyis brtsams pa) and the reading in
Nyang-ral should also be seen in this light: rje nyid gsungs pa
phyag rgya can, instead of correcting gsungs pa to the more ob-
vious gsang ba which is tempting, cf. above ad text no. 1 and
Karmay, op. cit., p. 220. The overall Buddhist, of:ficial tradition
of the origin of gNya'-khri btsan-po.
In addition to this, both mKhas-pa lDe'u and lDe'u Jo-sras mention two
more important writings, books which may well contain similar material.
These probably originated in the eleventh century and thus may be consid-
ered supplementary: the Lo-r'gyus chen-po/rno, also called Log-non chen-
po, written by dGe-bshes Khu-ston brTson-'grus g.yung-drung (AD 1011-75)
 Per K. S~rensen · Dynastie Origins and Regal Sueeessions 67

1g (zhib rtsing of lHa-sdings [and by] a certain rGya-lha-po. This work, regrettably lost,
:'ibetan geneal- was well known to Tibetan historians (as, e.g., dPa'-bo) until the fifteenth
the genealogy century. Finally, the gSang-ba Yang-chung, "The Extraordinary Small
)e'u, GBCHBY [i.e. Supplementary?] Secret [gSang-ba, i.e. to gSang-ba chos-lugs?]", a text
llowed by lDe'u already known, as in the case of the previous text, to dPa'-bo, cf. Panglung,
angs (lDe'u Jo- 1988, p. 351. It is a major source for an account of the succession and de-
tlogy (the eigh- scription of the tombs of the deceased Tibetan kings (gshin bang so btab pa'i
?yad ): 'Gro-rje- rabs; grongs nas bang so btab pa ).
}ya-lha 'Brong-
e chen-po, lDe
ng-sa mgon-bu, Nyang-ral's Position
)r-mo, sTing-[ =
hen-po. Leaving this brief survey, we may also take a brief look at the material
offered by Nyang-ral, where we similarly encounter data at greater length.
·tsegs-ean (CH-
It consists in his presentation of different theories, which he duly refutes
IY); = lTab-ma
until he reaches the last one.
at it was com-
his theory with
ty, perhaps cor- 1. The [Mahäbhärata-inspired] theory about gNya'-khri btsan-po's descend-
. couple) theory ing from one ofthe Päl).~ava sons, hinted at in Prajfi.ävarman's celebrated
teir queens; ac- passage about Rupati; cf. CHBYMTNYP 165a3-166a2.
list: kyang lugs
:yang [pa dang] 2. The theory that gNya'-khri btsan-po's ancestry is tobe linked with the
9. Cf. also note third of the five sons of ~udrabala, who again is one of the two sons,
i.e. Varabala and ~udrabala, of Ajätasatru, being again the son of Udä-
yana (sie!), the son of King Bimbisära, cf. CHBYMTNYP 166a3~b4: la
>hogs-ean (CH-
la na re 'di ni rgya gar yul bdun nas ehad de ma ga ta'i rgyud la ma ga
t was composed
ta'i rgyal po gzugs ean snying po'i bu ma skyes dgra I de'i bu gzhon nu
ctensive exposi-
'ehar byed I de'i bu gnyis dang stobs mehog dang stobs ehung ngo I stobs
d also Karmay,
ehung lasras lnga yod pa'i lnga tshig[s] mtshan dang ldan pa bram ze
mtshan mkhan la bstan pas I mkhan pos mtshan 'khrul te 'di mehed la
BZH), possibly ngan pas spyugs na bzang zer re nas g.yog bdun dang beas te spyugs pa
, cf. GBCHBY yin zer te de yang ma yin zer te bu phu bo stobs mehog gi rgyal pos nu
as composed by bo phrogs ste pham pas bu phos lha ma hä de ba bsgrubs te mthu btang
the reading in bas stobs ehung gi 'khor thams ead shi ste phu bos 'duZ byas te I rgyal sa
nyid gsungs pa gtad nas nu bo la yang rgyal srid dgos [= bgos?] te byin I bod du byung
to- the more ob- zhing 'phel ba ma yin no I
text no. 1 and
>fficial tradition 3. The theory that gNya'-khri btsan-po is the third son in the fifth generation
from the Kosala king Prasenajit, cf. CHBYMTNYP 166b4-5: la la na re
[s]ko[s] sa la'i rgyal po gsas [= gsal] rgyal gyi rgyud las rabs lnga na
Jo-sras mention two sras lnga tshigs geig mtshan mkhan 'khrul nas spyugs pa las 'phel zer ba
ain similar material. yo I de yang ma yin te de rnams la khungs thub pa'i gtan tshigs med
. thus may be consid- do I For these theories, cf. also GBCHBY 238.3-242.6.
alled Log-non chen- 4. The [Bon] theory that he is tobe identified with lHa gar-ma, the fourth
~-drung (AD 1011-75) (bdun tshigs) among the seven rabs mehed of the Srid pa'i lha (cf. here
68 Pa K. S•rensen ~
the parallel in Haarh, p. 213), CHBYMTNYP 166b6-167a4: la la na re ]
'gro ba mi la rje med I dud 'gro rngog chags la skyen bu med nas lha [ri]
gyang mtho'i kha nas phyis mi [= phya'i] rgad po gcig gis lhas spyon lan
gsum byas pas lha'i snongs phyug [= bcu] [g]cig byung [ste] de la mi'i
lhar mi 'dod byas nas gnam du spurte btang I srid pa'i lha rabs mched
bdun gyi bdun tshigs gsungs so I ming yang lha gar ma zhes bya'o I de
nas yang lha ri'i kha nas phya'i rgan mos lhas spyon lan gsum byas pas
gnam rim bcu gsum gyi kha nas gnya' khri btsan po byon pa yin zer I
5. The Bon theory (sharing elements with Po-ti bse-ru, cf. Haarh, ibid.,
pp. 253-62) proclaiming gNya'-khri btsan-po to be the son of gZig-dgu[,
who is the son of] sTag-dgu, being the son of dBu-nag, who again is the
son of sMon-mi dbu[s]-dkar, and further down through Shes-rab sMon-
pa btsan, mThing-gi, Yab lha brda[l]-drug, Bar-[pa] bdun-tshigs, etc., and
ultimately descends from Yin [= Ye?]-smon; CHBYMTNYP 167a4-167b1:
bon po la la na re sems can yin smon byas pa las gnam nas lha'i lha bzang
re [= ste] bar la [= pa ?] bdun tshig [s] I rje yab lha brda' drug sras rgyal
bu mthing gi byung I de'i sras shes rab smon pa btsan I de'i sras smon
mi dbus dkar I dbu nag de'i sras stag gu gzig dgu de'i sras gnya' khri
btsan po I de'i sras khri rtse 'bum bzher I de sras lha tho re byon zer
te de rnams thams cad ma yin no I = Yo-ga lha-gyes-can theory, cf. also
the more detailed mKhas-pa lDe'u, GBCHBY 227.14-238.5 and lDe'u
Jo-sras, DCHBY 99.17-102.12.
6. Finally, Nyang-ral cites (his favourite) theory (adopted by Bu-ston also)
maintaining that gNya'-khri btsan-po should be the off-spring of King
Udayana of Vatsa. What follows now in CHBYMTNYP (and Bu-ston's
CHBY), here being bound up with the present provenance theory, is a
description ofthis miraculous being as being endowed with featuressuch
as eyes closing from below and his fingers being connected by a web etc.
(cf. for details, Haarh, ibid., pp. 179, 197-212). This description, however,
most of the later Tibetan Buddhist historiographerB agree, is part of the
legend originating within the gSang-ba chos-lugs tradition. Where the
historians disagree is on the question as to which Indian royal figure, as
enumerated, e.g., by Bu-ston, should be identified as the alleged Tibetan
progenitor. Also the tale winds up here with this Indian-born progenitor's
escape to Tibet and his descent upon the lHa-ri gYang-mtho and lHa-ri
Rol [or Yol]-po, etc., as delineated for instance in rGyal-rabs gsal-ba'i
me-long, Chap. 8; CHBYMTNYP 167b7-169a4: 'o na gang ltar yin zhes
na I rgyal po srong btsan rgam bu'i [= sgam po'i] zhal nas I 'di ni rgya
gar gyi bha [= bad] sa la rgyal po [']char byed la I sras rgyal po shar
pa'o I de la sras gnyis byung ba'i nu bo'i rgyud la btsun mo dam pa la
sras shig btsas te phu bo mig bya [r ]mig ltar mas gyi [s] yar 'gebs I dpral
ba'i dbyes ehe na [= ba] I g.yu'i smin ma yod pa I sna'i gzengs legs pa
I so dung so 'khor ba yod pa lag pa'i sor mongang pa lta bu 'brel ba I
 Per K. S(Jrensen Dynastie Origins and Regal Successions 69

7a4: la la na re gzi brjid yod pa zhig zhig byung ngo des yab rgyal po'i snyan du gsol
ned nas lha [ri ] bas I de ltas ngan zhig 'dug pas gsod cig par gnang ngo I de la blon po
s lhas spyon lan rnams kyi [s] mtshon gyis 'debs par ma phod te zangs kha sbyar du beug
[ste] de la mi'i [nas] de nas shing sgrom byas te nor skal dang bcas pa chu bo gha gha [=
lha rabs mched gang gii] bsk [y ]ur btang ngo I de grong khyer yangs pa can. gyi chu kha
zhes bya'o I de nas zhing pas rnyed de I de nags khrod du gsos pas de mkhar gyi rgyal
~ gsum byas pas po yin pas I ri dvags thams cad kyi [s] rtsed zla byas I gcan gzan thams
rz. pa yin zer I cad kyi [s] zas [b ]skyal I shing thams cad kyi [s] mgo bsdu [= dud ?] I
bya thams cad kyi [s] skad 'don no I der me tog thams cad kha ba ston [=
~f. Haarh, ibid.,
kha bstan ?] I de la rgyal bu na re 'khor ngan pa ji ltar yin nga'i pha su
:on of gZig-dgu[,
yin zer ba dang I khyed pha yis ltas ngan du byas nas [g ]sod zer I blon
vho again is the
po rnams kyi [s] ma gsad par eh ur bor ba yin pas de nged rnams kyi [s]
Shes-rab sMon-
rnyed pa'i gtam rgyud bshad pas I yid ma dga' nas gangs kyi phrag tu
-tshigs, etc., and
bros pas I byang phyogs thams cad kyi ri lha ri gyang [ma] mtho'i khar
'P 167a4-167bl:
byung I de nas bltas pas kha ba can gyi rgyal khams kyi dbus na yar mo
s lha'i lha bzang
sna bzhi I lha yar l[h]a sham po·mthong nas I bsod nams 'od kyi dmu
' drug sras rgyal
skas la babs te I lha ri yol ba'i [= po'i] khar byon no I I de nas btsan
I de'i sras smon
thang sgo bzhir byon pas I de'i dus su bod 'dir spre'u'i rgyud rnams bdud
. sras gnya' khri
dang I gnod sbyin la sogs pa mnga' mdzad rim pa bdun gyi tha ma la I
tho re byon zer
rgyal sil bu'am bcu gnyis I rgyal phran mo ngan la sogs pas dbang byas
z theory, cf. also
nas I gcig zer la gcig mi nyan te I ma 'chams pas dmangs rnams mnar
238.5 and lDe'u
nas brdungs [= gdungs] pa la I 'gal lha'i sras I smu [= dmu] bon po
dang I co la bon po dang I zhang zhung bon po dang I tshe mi bon po
by Bu-ston also) dang I zings pa bon po dang I ze ba bon po dang I shes pa mkhan bcu
f-spring of King gnyis phyugs skyongs ba'i sar byon pa dang I de dag gi [s] mthar sgam
fJ (and Bu-ston's gyis khye'u su yin byas pas I btsan po yin zer I gang nas 'ongs dris pas
mce theory, is a I 'dzub mo gnam du bsgrengs I de'i rgya gar gyi skad pa ra pi ra ma go
ith featuressuch nas I 'di ni gnam nas byon pa'i lha I mi rje ngo mtshar can zhig 'dug pas
;ed by a web etc. 'di khyim gyi mi rnams la ston no zer te I shing la khri byas mi'i gnya'
ription, however, ba la khur nas grong khyer gyi mi rnams la bstan pas I 'di ni gnam las
ee, is part of the byon pa'i btsan po ngo mtshar can zhig 'dug pas I 'o cag rnams kyi jo
tion. Where the bo bya'o zer te I bon po rnams na re I gnam [r ]gung nas sa dog pa la
Cl royal figure, as gnyags pa'i rgyal po sa thams cad la dbang ba yin zer I ming yang gnya'
l alleged Tibetan khri btsan po bya bar grags so I
born progenitor's
mtho and lHa-ri
RegalNamesand Successions: The Pre-historic Line
Ll-rabs gsal-ba'i
nng ltar yin zhes A remarkable consensus has long been maintained concerning the trans-
nas I 'di ni rgya mission of the pre-historic line of the Tibetan Yar-lung Dynasty. This as-
·as rgyal po shar sumption can be culled from the extensive concordance delivered by Haarh, 2
~n mo dam pa la where it has been amply documented that the entire lineage of the dynasty
yar 'gebs I dpral numbered forty-two kings from its mythical foundation by gNya'-khri btsan-
t'i gzengs legs pa
2 Erik
lta bu 'brel ba I Haarh, The Yar-lung Dynasty, pp. 33-98.
70 Per K. Sr,;Jrensen

po until the collapse of the dynasty in AD 842. As reliable contemporary

data at our disposal only allow us to reckon Srong-btsan sgam-po as the first
documented historical figure, all royal figures prior to him must necessarily
be assigned to a pre-historic lineage. Moreover, as the historical line usu-
ally counts ten royal heads, this pre-historic stemma is thus considered to
number thirty-two kings.
Since the synoptic listing of twenty-two sources by Haarh, which offers a
representation of the pre-historic line, it has been a commonly accepted die-
turn that the Tibetan [Buddhist] historiographical tradition evinces a fairly
clear consensus both in terms of the sub-divisions and grouping of the kings
as well as in what concerns the names and number of kings that adhere to
each royal group. Since the publication of Haarh's survey, new sources, and
in particular sources of considerable antiquity, i.e. all prior to the fourteenth
century, have come to light. The present survey offers a schematic represen-
tation of a number of new pre-fourteenth century Tibetan historiographical
sources published or traced within the last twenty years. As quite a num-
ber of Haarh's sources are relatively late, secondary and, moreover, fairly
uniform, they only add a little information to the possible existence of any
earlier and thus more original representation of the line and groups.
Hereweshall not attempt to reconstruct a proto-version ofthe pre-historic
line, nor will any attempt be made to answer the intriguing question as to
the origin of this segmentation of the lineage into separate bodies and their
nomenclatura. Rather, it adds a bulk of new data, or a corpus comparatio-
nis, for further research. What is to be adduced is that, despite occasional
discrepancies in terms of the names and number of kings in some of these
groups, the overall number of thirty-two kings would seem to be confirmed.
As already noted by Haarh, loc. cit., p. 72, the king lHa Tho-tho-ri gnyan-
shal, the first "Buddhist" king in the pre-historic line and variously listedas
the twenty-sixth to the twenty-eighth king, constitutes the turning-point be-
tween a pre-Buddhist strata of kings divided into more or less well defined
groups and a remairring pre-historic Buddhist lineage, usually numbering
four kings. The fact that this division into groups comprises almost ex-
clusively the pre-Buddhist part of the lineage should arouse our suspicions
(which Haarh also noted), namely that the entire construction and repre-
sentation are an integral part of a later Buddhist mythographical tradition
that attempted to reconstruct the origins of the Tibetan Dynasty. That the
material has been substantially reworked by later Buddhist historiographerB
cannot surprise us. But we have cogent reason to assume that, as Haarh
also hinted, behind this reworking and these schematic representations of
the lineage, earlier pre-Buddhist structures may be assumed, though to what
extent this postulate holds true still remains to be documented.

*
 Per K. Sf]rensen Dynastie Origins and Regal Sueeessions 71

liable contemporary The lineage usually consists of the following five defined groups: 3
sgam-po as the first
im must necessarily 1. The Seven Throne Kings of Spaee (gnam gyi khri bdun)
: historical line usu- This group, which enumerates~ the kings with the name-element throne de-
s thus considered to scending from/originating in space, is uniformly transmitted while almost all
sources list seven figures. Do note that the complement btsan-po, or king,
aarh, which offers a should be added to the first two name-elements; thus gNya'-khri is gNya'-
1monly accepted dic- khri btsan-po and so forth, mutatis mutandis.
[tion evinces a fairly When comparing the lists below agairrst the lists given in Haarh, op.eit.,
:rouping of the kings p. 40, we observe that both GBCHBY and DCHBY are closely related to
k.ings that adhere to the Buddhist division found in particular in Haarh's division A. The royal
~y, new sources, and figures, Nos. 1-3, show full conformity throughout all sources. The problems
·ior to the fourteenth and discrepancies emerge with figure 4 and henceforth. Noteworthy also
schematic represen- are the apparent metathetical (?) Khri-begs (-pe/pan) and Khri-ye[r] forms,
.an historiographical where khri usually forms the second element and not the first. CoulJ we here
rs. As quite a num- assume a scribal error. similar to Khri-gum, which clearly is mistaken for
nd, moreover, fairly Gri-gum, usually considered the first king in the next group? This inclusion,
[ble existence of any incidentally, characterizes the division called C in Haarh, but see also the
e and groups. next group.
on of the pre-historic
guing question as to
KCHKKHM-1 KCHKKHM-2 CHBYMTNYP (A)
·ate bodies and their
(665.12-15) (84.12-15) (169a6-b4)
t eorpus eomparatio-
1. (1) gNya'-khri (1) gNya'-khri (1) gNya'-khri
t, despite occasional
2. (2) Mu-khri (2) sMu-khri (3) Mu-khri
1.gs in some of these
3. (5) Ding-khri (4) Deng-khri (2) Ding-khri
~em to be confirmed.
4. (3) Khri-btsan (3) lHa-khri (6) gNya'-khri-po
Ia Tho-tho-ri gnyan-
5. (4) Dad-khri (5) Ngos-khri (5) Ye-shes-khri
td variously listed as
6. (7) Khri-begs (6) Khri-pe (7) Khri-pan
;he turning-point be-
7. (6) Srab-khri (7) Gung-khri (4+8 sie) Sribs-khri
: or less well defined
, usually numbering
CHBYMTNYP(B)GBCHBY DCHBY
omprises almost ex-
(Tafel 362.1.1-3) (243.18-244.5) (102.13-17)
rouse our suspicions
1. (1) gNya'-khri (1) gNya'-khri (1) gNya'-khri
struction and repre-
2. (2) Mu-khri (2) Mug-khri (2) Mug-khri
lOgraphical tradition
3. l3) Ding-khri (3) Ding-khri (3) Deng-khri
1. Dynasty. That the
4. (4) So-khri (4) So-khri (4) So-khri
hist historiographers
5. (5) Khri-ye (5) 'Dar-khri (5) Dog-khri
ume that, as Haarh
6. (6) Khri-yer (6) gDags-khri (6) gDags-khri
ic representations of
7. (7) Gri-gum* (7) Sribs-khri (7) Sribs-khri
.med, though to what
tmented. 3 Please note that the numbers in the first column at the very left, set in hold type, refer to

the number and corresponding royal names given in the prevailing Iist in Haarh, p. 40, and
that the number in parentheses indicates the relative position of the names in the succession
in the relevant text; x = deest.
72 Per K SI/Jrensen ,
•j

BGR NGTMTPH i
(197a1-2) (2b6-7)
1. (1) gNya'-khri (1) gNya'-khri
2. (3) Mu-khri (3) Mu-khri
3. (2) Deng-khri (2) Ding-khri
4. (6) Khris-ye (6) Khri-so
5. (7) Khri-gum* (7) Khri-gum*
6. (5) gDags-khri (5) gDags-khri
7. (4) Pri-khri (4) Sribs-khri

*In BGR and NGTMTPH, king number seven, Khri-gum, is no doubt Gri-gum btsan-
po, who is usually considered the eighth king in the pre-historic line and one of the
subsequent sTeng gnyis kings; cf. below and Haarh, op. cit., p. 75. Cf. also abbreviated
MBNTH 26a2ff.

2. The Tivo Superior Kings of the Upper Sphere (stad kyi steng gn_yis)
This small group numbers two figures, the two Upper or Superiorkings orig-
inating in/descending from the Upper sphere. It is interesting to see the sup-
plementary nomenclatura prevailing, i.e. the Father and the Son of the Up-
per Sphere. Not unsurprisingly, in CHBYMTNYP, BGR and NGTMTPH,
similar to Haarh's division C, Gri-gum is discounted from this group, and
possibly occasioned by the btsan-po in Gri-gum btsan-po, this figure is in-
cluded among the btsan-po kings of the first group. The total absence in
CHBYMTNYP of both Gri-gum and sPu-lde/'0-lde, two highly important
figures in the mythological tradition, is particularly noteworthy. This makes
Nyang-ral's testimony unique in the transmission. Significant also is the fact
that a nurober oftexts characterize this group as the two kings ofthe Upper
Sphere, other texts designate them the two Upper kings ofthe Intermediate
Sphere (bar gyi steng ), cf. Haarh, op. cit., pp. 73-7.
KCHKKHM-1 KCHKKHM-2 CHBYMTNYP
(668.2) (88.18-19)
1. Gri -gum/Pha-stengs Gri-gum/Pha-stengs X

2. sPu-lde/Bu-stengs sPu-lde/Bu-stengs X

BGCHBY DCHBY BGR

(244.5-248.11) (103.1-18) (197a2)
1. Gri-gum Gri-gum/Yab-stengs X
2. 'U-de gung-rgyal sPu-lde/Sras-stengs sPu-lde

NGTMTPH
(2b7)
1. X
2. 'O-ste spu-rgyal
 Per K. Sf/Jrensen Dynastie Origins and Regal Successions 73

3. The Six Excellen{ Kings of the Intermediate Sphere (bar gyi legs drug)
The group in which the six Excellent Kings of the Intermediate Sphere are
listed similarly evinces a fair consensus in terms of its transmission. Some
sources again designate this group the six Excellent kings of the Interme-
diate Sphere, others the six Excellent kings of the Terrestrial Sphere. See
Haarh for a fuller discussion, and also the riext group. Conspicuous too is
the second name found in BGR and by Nel-pa Pa~<;lita.

KCHKKHM-1 KCHMMHM-2 CHBYMTNYP (A)

(668.3-4) (89.3-6) (172a5-b3)
: no doubt Gri-gum btsan-
1. (1) I-sho-legs (1) lHa-sho-legs (1) A-sho-legs
storic line and one of the
1. 75. Cf. also abbreviated
2. (3) Di-sho-legs (4) The-sho-legs (6) The-sho-legs
3. (2) Di-sho-legs (5) Tho-sho-legs ( 4) dGe-sho-legs
4. (4) Gu-ru-legs (2) Go-ru-legs (3) Go-ru-legs
kyi steng gnyis) 5. (5) 'Gro-Ije-legs (3) 'Brong-zhi-legs (5) 'Brang-Ije-legs
or Superiorkings orig- 6. (6) [g]Shog-legs (6) I-sho-legs (2) I-sho-legs
~resting to see the sup-
md the Son of the Up- CHBYMTNYP (ß) GBCHBY DCHBY
JGR and NGTMTPH, (362.1.5-361.2.1) (248.11-17) (104.1-4)
l from this group, and 1. (1) Sho-legs (1) Ni-sho-legs (1) Sho-legs
n-po, this figure is in- 2. (2) De"sho-legs (2) De-sho-legs (2) De-sho-legs
The total absence in 3. (5) I-sho-rno-legs (5) The-sho-legs (5) The-sho-legs
two highly important 4. (3) Phu-ru-legs (3) Gor-bu-legs (3) Gor-bu-legs
)teworthy. This makes 5. (4) 'Bring-shar-legs (4) 'Bro-bzhi-legs ( 4) 'Bro-bzhi-legs
~ificant also is the fact 6. (6) I-sho-legs (6) I-sho-legs (6) I-sho-legs
two kings ofthe Upper
tgs of the Intermediate BGR NGTMTPH
(197a2-3) (3a2-3)
1. (5) I-sho-legs (5) I-sho-legs
CHBYMTNYP 2. (3) Sho-legs (2) Tho-legs
3. (1) Ngo-legs (3) Sho-legs
X
4. (2) 'Og-rgyu-legs (4) mGo-ru-legs
X
5. (4) 'Bro-zhing-legs (5) 'Bro-sho-legs
6. (6) Ring-gnam zi-legs/ (6) Ri-gnam-zin/
BGR Zi-gnam zi-legs* Zha-gnam zin-legs*
(197a2)
X *This latter name belongs to the subsequent list according to other sources, but
sPu-lde carrying the element legs, it properly belongs to this group. See next group.

4. The Eight lDe I sDe Kings of the Terrestrial Sphere (sa la sde I lde brgyad)
This group enumerates the eight lDe/sDe Kings of the Terrestrial Sphere in
the authorized Buddhist tradition. It is also confirmed in our new sources,
although some of our texts show some remarkable lacuruE in the transmis-
sion.
 Per K. SI/Jrensen
74

KCHKKHM-1 KCHKKHM-2 CHBYMTNYP (A)

(668.5-6) (89.7-11) (172b4-173a2)
(1) Za-nam-zin-te ( 1) rGyal-nam-zin-te
1. X
(2+3) lDe-'phrul-po (3) lDe-'sprul
2. (2) lDe-'od
gzhung-btsan-lde gN am-gzhung-btsan gN am-zhung-btsan
(6) bSe-rnol-nam (7) lDe [rgyal]-nam
3. X
(5) sDe-rnol-nam (2) gNam-spu'o
4. X
gZhung-btsan-lde (!)
(7) bSe-rnol-po (4) lDe-snol-nam
5. (1) lDe-rnol-nam
(4) sDe-rnol-po (6) lDe-gso-nam-nam
6. X
(8) sDe-rgyal-po (5) lDe-rgyal-po
7. X
(8) lDe-khri!Srid-btsan
8. (3) lDe-srin-btsan X

CHBYMTNYP (B) GBCHBY DCHBY

(Tafel361.2.1-3) (248.18-22) (104.5-14)
(1) Gyal-zan Nam- (1) Gyal rNam
1. (1) bZa'-nam-zin-te
zin-lde zin-lde
(2) lDe-'Phrul-po (2) lDe-'Khrul-po
2. (2) lDe-'khrul-po
N am-gzhung-btsan gN am-gzhung-btsan
(4) lDe-gnol-nam (4) bSe-rnol-gnam-de
3. (3) lDe-snol-nam
(5) bSe-lde gnol-po (5) bSe-rnol-po-lde
4. X
(6) bSe-lde gnol-nam (3) lDe-rnol-nam
5. X
6. X (3) lDe-gnol-po X
(7) lDe-rgyal-po (6) lDe-rgyal-po
7. (4) lDe-rGyal-te
X (7+8) rGyal-po sprin
8. X
[dang?] btsan-lde

BGR NGTMTPH
(197a3) (3a3-4)
1. (1) lDe-mnam (!) (2) lDe-rmul-bu (!)
zin-lde
2. (2) 'Phrul-po (1) lDe-gnam 'Khrul-po
gzhung-btsan gzhung-btsan
3. (6) lDe-se-snol-lam (5) lDe-bis rnol-gnam
4. (7) lDe-se rnol-po (7) lDe-se-rnol-po
5. (4) lHo-snol-nam (3) lDe-rnol-nam
6. (5) lDe-snol-po (4) lDe-rnol-lo
7. (8) lDe-rgyal-po (8) lDe-rgyal-po
8. (3) rMan-bum (6) lDe-rmu-la-gnam

5. The Three I Five Mighty Kings of the Underworld ('og gi btsan gsum I lnga)
The last group of the pre-Buddhist lineage of the pre-historic kings is also
very unevenly transmitted. As already shown by Haarh, op. cit., pp. 74-
6, the name of the group alone varies markedly. In some texts the group
 Per K. SI[Jrensen · Dynastie Origins and Regal Successions 75

IBYMTNYP (A) is called the btsan-kings of the Lower Sphere ('og, smad), in others of the
1
2b4-173a2) Intermediate Sphere, or of the Sphere of Juncture [?, tshigs]. The nurober
rGyal-nam-zin-te of kings belonging to this group also differs pronouncedly, including from
lDe-'sprul three to seven kings. As discussed by Haarh, the crucial figure in this list
gN am-zhung-btsan is King lHa Tho-tho-ri-gnyan-shal, who is included in the btsan-group arid
lDe [rgyal]-nam then al~ays under the name lHa Tho-tho ri giian/snyan-btsan.
gNam-spu'o
gZhung-btsan-lde (!) KCHKKHM-1 KCHKKHM-2 CHBYMTNYP (A)
lDe-snol-nam (668.6-669.2) (89.12-15) (173a3-176a4)
lDe-gso-nam-nam 1. (1) rGyal-lde (1) [rGyal-po (1) rGyal-thod re-
lDe-rgyal-po long-btsan sPrin-btsan]*/ long~btsan
lDe-khri/Srid-btsan Thog-re long-btsan
2. (2) Khri-de'i (2) Khri-btsan-nam (2) Khri-btsan-nam
:!HBY btsan-gnam
14.5-14) 3. (3) Khri-sgra (3) Khri-sgra (3) Khri-sgra dpung
Gyal rNam dpung-btsan spuhg-btsan btsan
zin-lde 4. (4) Khri-thog-:rje- (4) Thog-:rje- (4) Khri-thog-:rje-
lDe-'Khrul-po thog-btsan thog-btsan thog-btsan
gN am-gzhung-btsan 5. (5) lHa Tho-tho-ri- X (5) lHa Tho-tho-ri
bSe-rnol-gnam-de snyan-shal snyan-shal
bSe-rnol-po-lde [6.] X X (6) Khri~gnyan
lDe-rnol-nam gzung-btsan*
X
lDe-rgyal-po CHBYMTNYP (ß) GBCHBY DCHBY'
-8) rGyal-po sprin (Tafel 361.2.;3-4,) (249.6-25Q.16) . . (104.15-105.12)
[dang?] btsan-lde · 1. (1) To-re long btsan (1+2) rGya1-po · (1) rGyal-to-to
sPrin-btsaiJ.t/ re-long-btsan
rGyal sto-re-lo-btsan
2. (2) Khn~btsan (3) Khri-btsan-nam (2) Khri-btsan-nam
rnam-rnal
3. (3) Khri-btsan (4) Khri-sgra (3) Khri-sgra
rgyal-dpung-btsan sgrungs-btsan bsgrungs-btsan
4. (4) Thog-rje (5) Khri-thog-:rje (4) Khri-thog-:rje
thog-btsan thog-btsan thog-btsan
5. (5) Tho-tho (6) lHa Tho-tho-ri (5) lHa Tho-tho-re-
gnyan-btsan btsan snyan-btsan
[6.] (7) Khri-gnyan
gzung-btsan*

BGR NGTMTPH
:>g gi btsan gsum I lnga) (197a3-6) (3a4-5)
·e-historic kings is also 1. (1) rGyal-tho los-btsan (1) rGyal-po-long btsan
laarh, op. cit., pp. 74- 2. (2) Khri-btsan-nam (2) Khri-btsan
1 some texts the group 3. (3) Khri-sgra yungs btsan (3) Khri-sgra spungs-btsan
76 Per K. Sf)rensen

4. (4) Khri-thog-rje-thog-btsan (4) Khri-thog-rje thog-btsan

5. (5) Tho-tho-ri-snyan-btsan (5) lHa mTho-tho-ri snyan-btsan

* This text lists this group as the six bTsan-kings of the intermediate sphere (bar ka
btsan drug ). See also next section.
t This is in fact the last king of the eight lDe-kings, see above.
:j: This text, as the only one, lists seven bTsan-kings (tshigs la btsan bdun ), among
them also the son of lHa-tho-tho-ri snyan-shal.

The Group of Buddhist Kings of the Pre-historic Line

This last group of kings carries no name in the Tibetan transmission of the
pre-historic kings.

KCHKKHM-1 KCHKKHM-2 CHBYMTNYP (A)

(674.6-675.1) (97.1-10) (176a3-176b4)
1. (1) Khri-snyan (1) Khri-gnyan (1) Khri-gnyan
bzung-btsan bzung-btsan gzung-btsan*
2. (2) 'Bro-snyan lde-ru (2) X (2) mNyes lde-gu
3. (3) sTag-gu gzigs (3) sTag-gu (3) sTag-ri
gnyan-gzigs gnyan-gzigs
4. (4) gNam-ri (4) gNam-ri (4) gNam-ri
long-btsan srong-btsan srong-btsan
CHBYMTNYP (ß) GBCHBY DCHBY
(Tafel 361.2.4-5) (250.15-252.4) (107.1-108.4)
1. (1) X (1) Khri-gnyan (1) Khri-snya[n]
gzung-btsan zungs-btsan
2. (2) 'Brong-gnyan lde'u (2) 'Bro-snyan lde-ru (2) 'Bro-gnyen lde'u
3. (3) sTag-gu (3) sTag-gu (3) sTag-gu
gnyan-gzigs nyan-gzigs snyan-gzigs
4. (4) gNam-ri (4) gNam-ri (4) gNam-ri
long-btsan srong-btsan srong-btsan
BGR NGTMTPH
(197b6-197a1) (3a5)
1. (1) Khri-gnyen bzung-btsan (1) Khri-gnyan gzung-btsan
2. (2) 'Bro-gnyen lde-ru (2) 'Brong-gnyen srong-btsan
3. (3) sTag-ri gnyen-gzigs (3) sTag-ri gnya'-gzigs
4. (4) gNam-ri srong-btsan (4) gNam-ri srong-btsan
*This king actually belongs to the previous group.
 Per K. S{!Jrensen
Dynastie Origins and Regal Successions 77

e thog-btsan
ho-ri snyan-btsan

mediate sphere (bar ka

e.
Sigla
la btsan bdun ), among

BZH: sBa-bzhed, also bSam-yas kyi dkar-chag chen-mo or mNga'-bdag Khri-

srong lde'u-btsan gyi zhal-chems bSam-yas Ka-brtsigs chen-mo.
1. pp. 1:-92, ed. Stein, 1961. 2. Modern book ed., pp. 1-82, Mi-rigs
Line dpe-skrun-khang, 1980.
Author: sBa gsal-snang.
1 transmission of the Date: The core (oldest part) probably from the mid-9th cent., but from
the phyi dar period, BZH was repeatedly revised. The annotated
(zhabs btags ma) (Stein ed.) at the earliest from c. AD 1300 and later
lBYMTNYP (A) recensions revised during the 13-14th cent.
6a3-176b4) Tr.: cf. paraphrase, Stein, 1961.
Khri-gnyan CHBYMTNYP: Chos-'byung me-tog snying-po'i sbrang-rtsi'i bcud, rNying-
gzung-btsan* ma'i chos-'byung chen-mo, or mNgaJ-bdag Nyang gi chos-'byung, Dam-
mNyes lde-gu chos chos-'byung.
sTag-ri 1. ed., Facsimile ofMS, 515 fols (Tafel1-366), ed. R. 0. Meisezahl, 1985.
gnyan-gzigs 2. Mod. book ed., pp. 1-544, Gangs-can rigs-mdzod," Vol. 5, ed. Chab-
gNam-ri spel Tshe-brtan phun-tshogs, Bod-ljongs mi-dmangs dpe-skrun-khang,
srong-btsan 1988.
:HBY Author: mNga'-bdag Nyang-ral Nyi-ma 'od-zer (AD 1136-92/1204).
'7.1-108.4) Date: ? c. AD 1175-90.
Khri -snya[n] Tr.: cf. L. S. Dagyab's survey in Meisezahl, 1985, pp. 21-3.
zungs-btsan DCHBY: lDe'u chos-'byung; also Chos-'byung chen-mo bstan pa'i rgyal-
'Bro-gnyen lde'u mtshan lDe'u Jo-sras kyis mdzad-pa.
sTag-gu Ed. pp. 1-163, Bod-ljongs mi-dmangs dpe-skrun-khang, 1987.
snyan-gzigs Author: lDe'u Jo-sras.
gNam-ri Date: around AD 1175. Cf. intro. and intro. to GBCHBY, infra.
srong-btsan Thematically and textually closely affiliated with GBCHBY and as in
the case with the relationship between CHBYMTNYP and MBNTH,
both by Nyang-ral, this may add credence to the contention that IDe'u
Jo-sras and mKhas-pa lDe'u are one and the same person. If this
:ung-btsan contention holds true, it must be assumed that lDe'u Jo-sras, or the
;;rong-btsan Noble-son lDe'u is the younger and mKhas-pa lDe'u is the older IDe'u,
~zigs
in which case it must be assumed that DCHBY predates GBCHBY, in
:-btsan contradiction to what is currently .assumed.
GBCHBY: mKhas-pa lDe'us mdzad-pa'i rGya-bod kyi chos-'byung rgyas-pa.
1. Modern ed., pp. 1-412; Gangs-can rigs-mdzod, III, ed. Chab-spel
Tshe-brtan phun-tshogs, Bod-yig dpe-rnying dpe-skrun-khang, 1987.
Author: dGe-bshes alias mKhas-pa IDe'u.
78 Per K. SI,!Jrensen

The contention that the nebulous figures lDe'u Jo-sras (cf. DCHBY)
and mKhas-pa lDe'u refer to one and the same person (as younger and
older, resp.) still remains tobe proved. Cf. above.
Date: possibly around AD 1141-5, prior to DCHBY, q.v. Chab-spel's
intro., I-X.
KCHKKHM: bKa'-chems ka-khoZ-ma: two different versions:
KCHKKHM-1: A: rGyaZ-rabs dang I gser gyi Zha shäkya mu-ne bzhengs
na bod-yuZ dbus-su gdan-drangs Zugs dang rigs-gsum mgon-po mdzad-
spyod I rgyaZ-po srong-btsan sgam-po rnam-thar bsdus-pa (also de-
notedpassim: rGyaZ-po'i bka'-chems ), MS, lbl-81a2, Collection Dy-
bykov, Akademija Nauk SSSR, Institut Narodov Azii, St. Petersburg;
cf. Vostrikov, 1962, pp. 25-9.
B: id., but differently titled: 'Phags-pa sPyan-ras-gzigs dbang-phyug
gyi rnam-thar I rigs gsum mgon-po'i mdzad-spyod I jo-bo-rje'i bzhengs
Zugs I ma-1Ji padme'i Zung-bstan I mes-mgon gsum gyi dpe'i rgyaZ-po
srong-btsan sgam-po'i rnam·spruZ I bod-yuZ dbus kyi yon-tan gtsug-Zag·
khang gi bshad-pa I rgyaZ-po bka'-chems kyi shog-riZ mdo-tsam byas-pa
I bka' khoZ-ma, MS, fase., reprod. 613.1-803.4, embodied in Ma-'ongs
Zung-bstan gsaZ-ba'i sgron-me, Vol. 1, The Stog Manuscript, Leh 1973.
13 chapters.
KCHKKHM-2: Bod kyi rgyaZ-po Srong-btsan sgam-po'i bka'-chems gser gyi
'phreng-ba (or bKa'-chems Ka-khoZ-ma ).
1. book ed., pp. 1-321, copied from two identical MSS kept in Bejing
Nationalities Library and the Library of Bla-brang bKra-shis 'khyil;
ed. sMon-lam rgya-mtsho, Kan-su'u mi-rigs dpe-skrun-khang, Lanzhou,
1989.
16 chapters.
The above versions are all later revised apographs (dpe phyi mo) of an
original (ma phyi) KCHKKHM, now no more extant, if or when version
2 is identified as the original version.
Author: Apocryphon (gter ma), putative authorship rGyal-po Srong-
btsan sgam-po; gter ston Atisa, alias Dfpa11}karasrijnäna, discovered
(spyan drangs) c. AD 1049-50 beneath the ka-ba bum-pa-can pillar
of Ra-sa 'Phrul-snang or Jo-khang in Lhasa. Such mythographical-
revelatory discoveries (spyan drangs) usually stand for a compilation
of such texts. KCHKKHM was originally part of ~ mdo-skor,
cf. ~' dkar-chag, 6a2, and infra.
Date: Parts of the original plausibly already from the dynastic pe-
riod, but probably first compiled in the 12th cent. The KCHKKHM-
apographs from the 13th-15th centuries.
KTHDNG: bKa'-thang sde-Znga: 5 books: (1) KA: ZHa-'dre bka'i thang-yig;
(2) KHA: rGyaZ-po bka'(thang-yig; (3) GA: bTsun-mo bka'i thang-yig;
(4) NGA: Lo-pal'f bka'i thang-yig; (5) CA: BZon-po bka'i thang-yig.
 Per K. Sijjrensen · Dynastie Origins and Regal Successions 79

1 J o-sras (cf. DCHBY) Ed.: 2. Tib. print Mundgod, 1975. 3. book ed., (based upon a sDe-dge
)erson (as younger and print, pp. 1-539, Mi-rigs dpe-skrun-khang, Beijing, 1988.
·e. Author: Apocryphon (gter ma). Discovered/compiled by 0-rgyan gling-
UBY, q.v. Chab-spel's pa (1323-67/74?) and Kun-dga' tshul-khrims.
Date: Various dates, cf. most convincingly, but still tentatively, Blon-
rersions: deau, 1971, pp. 42-48: KA: AD 1347; KHA: prior to AD 1368; GA:
AD 1368-93; NGA: AD 1393-95; CA: AD 1368-93. Cf. also Vostrikov,
~hiikya mu-ne bzhengs
gsum mgon-po mdzad- 1962, pp. 39-42; Tucci, 1949, pp. 110-15.
:ar bsdus-pa (also de- Tr.: Vol. KA paraphrased by Blondeau, 1971; Vol. GA, cf. B. Laufer,
-81a2, Collection Dy- 1911.
v Azii, St. Petersburg; MBNTH: Mi-rje-lhas mdzad byang-chub sems-dpa' chen-po Chos-rgyal Mes-
dbon rnam-gsum gyi rnam-par thar-pa rin-po-che'i phreng-ba.
·as-g~igs dbang-phyug 1b1-151a4 (= 1.1-302.4), in Rin-chen gter-mdzod chen-po'i rgyab-chos,
>d I JO-bo-rje'i bzhengs Vol. 7, Paro 1980.
~um gyi dpe'i rgyal-po Author: Myang (or Nyang)-ral Nyi-ma 'od-zer (1136-92/1204)? As-
kY_i yon-tan gtsug-lag- cribed, in all probability, to Nyang-ral, but the colophon (151b4 = 301.3)
•-rzl mdo-tsam byas-pa asserts that it was the work [(bya'i dpe-) = compilation?] of a certain
embodied in Ma-'ongs bTsun-pa Shakya Rin-chen of 'Bri-khung, whom Szerb, 1990, op. cit.,
Ianuscript, Leh 1973. XXVI, n. 56, makes a contemporary of spyang-snga Grags-pa 'byung-
gnas (1175-1255). See below.
Date: c. AD 1190-1200 (written simultaneously .with or slightly poste-
/i bka'-chems gser gyi
rior to Nyang-ral CHBYMTNYP, q.v.).
Judging from the contents, Nyang-ral's Mes-dbon rnam-gsum gyi rnam-
1 MSS kept in Bejing thar appears to be nothing but a condensed or abbreviated version of
·ang bKra-shis 'khyil;
the magnum opus CHBYMTNYP, as large parts of the text and topics
crun-khang, Lanzhou
' both sequentially and textually are completely congruous. This topi-
cal concordance corroborates that MBNTH, whether formally compiled
or copied from CHBYMTNYP by bTsun-pa Shakya Rin-chen or not,
ts (dpe phyi mo) of an
should in alllikelihood be attributed to Nyang-ral.
mt, if or when version
~: Chos-skyong-ba'i rgyal-po Srong-btsan sgam-po'i bka'-'bum, alias
Ma-'!i bka'-'bum: 3 Glegs-bam: stod kyi cha: I. dkar-chag + Bla-ma'i
ship rGyal-po Srong-
brgyud-pa
lsrijfiiina, discovered
II. Vol. E (= A-D)
>a bum-pa-can pillar
mdo-skor:
:uch mythographical-
A. Sangs-rgyas stong-rtsa'i zhal-gdams zhes-bya-ba Lo-rgyus chen-mo
md for a compilation
(36 le'u).
of M~ mdo-skor,
B. Ärya-Kara'!cf,avyuha-niima-mahiiyiinasutra.
Ba. 'Phags-pa byang-chub sems-dpa' sPyan-ras-gzigs dbang-phyug
·om the dynastic pe-
phyag-stong spyan-stong dang ldan-pa thogs-pa mi-mnga' ba'i thugs-
t. The KCHKKHM-
rje chen-po'i sems rgya-cher yongs-su rdzogs-pa zhes-bya-ba'i gzungs.
C. Chos-skyong-ba'i rgyal-po Srong-btsan sgam-po'i mdzad-pa rnam-
·'dre bka'i thang-yig; thar gyi skor.
~-mo bka'i thang-yig ·
bka'i thang-yig. '
80 Per K. Sf,!Jrensen

Ca. Sangs-rgyas Shakya thub-pa'i bstan-pa la mdzad-pa'i lo-rgyus (16

skabs).
Cb. Sangs-rgyas gzhan gyi bstan-pa la mdzad-pa'i lo-rgyus (11 skabs).
Ce. rGyal-bu 'Jig-rten dbang-phyug gi skyes-rabs.
Cd. rGyal-po'i mdzad-pa nyi-shu rtsa gcig-pa (21le'u).
sgrub-skor:
D. Thugs-rje chen-po'i sgrub-thabs kyi cho-ga skor.
Da. bShad-thabs kyi yan-lag bShad-'grel chen-mo spyi'i khog-dbub sogs
(or Thugs-rje chen-po nor-bu'i rgyan gyi bshad-'grel chen-mo).
smad kyi cha:
III: WA' (= F-G).
zhal-gdams-skor:
F. Chos-skyong-ba'i rgyal-mo Srong-btsan sgam-po'i bka'-'bum smad kyi
cha zhal-gdams kyi skor.
G. sGrub-thabs kyi phran (inel. Gab-pa mngon-phyung gi skor ).
Ed.: Two-vol. fase. of a Punakha-bloek.
Author: Apoeryphon (gter ma ). Putative authorship Srong-btsan sgam-
po. Non-Tantrie vita-eycle. ~ represents a eorpus of variously
transmitted text-eycles. The sütra-eycle (A+B (minus C) +G) was dis-
eovered/eompiled (spyan drangs) by gTer-ston rJe-btsun Shäkya bzang-
po; thesadhana-eycle CD+E) by Mahäsiddha dNgos-grub; and the bulky
instruction-eycle (zhal-gdams-skor (F)) was reeovered by mNga'-bdag
Myang (or Nyang)-ral Nyi-ma 'od-zer.
Date: Some of its eore material, albeit mythographieal, no doubt dates
from the dynastie period, but the detailed and elaborate composition of
~ and the dates of the gTer-ston-s suggest a date for the overall
eomposition-cum-eomposition of ~ between AD 1150-1200.
NGTMTPH: sNgon gyi gtam me-tog phreng-ba, alias Ne'u chos-'byung.
1. Ed. Uebaeh, 1987 2. Mod. print ed., pp. 3-54, Gangs-can rig-mdzod
IX, Bod-ljongs Bod-yig dpe-rnying dpe-skrun-khang, Lhasa 1990.
Author: Ne'u (or Nel-pa) Pal).<;li-ta Grags-pa smon-lam blo-gros.
Date: AD 1283, eol. chu-mo-lug.
Tr.: Uebaeh, 1987.

Western Sources
Blondeau, A. M., 1971
"Le Lha-'dre bka'-thang", A. Maedonald (ed.), Etudes tibetaines dediees
a la memoire de Mareelle Lalou, Paris, pp. 29-126.
---,1985
"mK.hyen-bree'i dbang-po-la biographie de Padmasambhava selon la
tradition du bsGrags-pa Bon et ses sourees", Orientalia Iosephi Thcci
Memoriae Dictata, SOR, LVI, Vol. I, Roma, pp. 111-58.
 Per K. Sfijrensen Dynastie Origins and Regal Successions 81

zad-pa'i lo-rgyus (16 ---,1990

"Identification de la tradition appellee bsGrags-pa bon-lugs", in: T.
: lo-rgyus (11 skabs). Skorupski (ed.), Indo-Tibetan Studies, Buddhica Britannica II, Tring,
pp. 37-54.
le'u). Haarh, Erik, 1969
The Yar-lung Dynasty. A Study with Particular Regard to the Contri-
butions by Myths and Legends to the History of Ancient Tibet and the
~pyi'i khog-dbub sogs Origin and Nature of its King, Copenhagen.
?l chen-mo ). Karmay, S. G., 1988
"The Etiological Problem of the Yar-luil Dynasty", Uebach and Pan-
glung (eds.), Tibetan Studies, pp. 219-222.
Macdonald, A., 1971
'i bka'-'bum smad kyi "Une Lecture des Pelliot tibetain 1286, 1287, 1038, 1047, et 1290",
Macdonald (ed.), Etudes tibetaines dediees a la memoire de Mareelle
yung gi skor ). Lalou, Paris, pp. 190-321.
Meisezahl, R. 0., 1985
p Srong-btsan sgam- Die große Geschichte des tibetischen Buddhismus nach alter Tradition,
corpus of variously Monumenta Tibetica Historica, Abt. 1, Band 3, Sankt Augustin.
nus C) +G) was dis-
Panglung, J. L., 1988
Jtsun Shäkya bzang-
"Die metrischen Berichte über die Grabmäler der tibetischen Könige.
-grub; and the bulky
Ihre Überlieferung und ihr Beitrag zur Identifizierung'', Uebach and
ered by mNga'-bdag
Panglung (eds.), Tibetan Studies, München, pp. 321-68.
Sorensen, P. K.
ücal, no doubt dates
The Clear Mirrar of Royal Genealogies, Asiatische Forschungen, Wies-
10rate composition of
baden (forthcoming).
date for the overall
U) 1150-1200.
Stein, R. A., 1961
e'u chos-'byung. Une chronique ancienne de bSam-yas sBa-bzhed, Paris.
~angs-can rig-mdzod
Szerb,Janos, 1990
.g, Lhasa 1990. Bu ston's History of Buddhism in Tibet, Beiträge zur Kultur- und Geis-
lam blo-gros. tesgeschichte Asiens, Vol. 5, Wien.
Uebach, Helga, 1987
Nel-pa Pa'!c/itas Chronik Me-tog Phreng-ba, Studia Tibetica, Band I,
München.

~es tibetaines dedüies

asambhava selon la
ntalia Iosephi Tucci
l-58.

'
1
'

~
'
·.
Fig. 1: The Hongfo Pagoda (see page 86).
 FORUM

A Survey of
Institutes and Research Centres of Tibetology in
The People's Republic of China-cant.*

TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION

LHASA CITY

• Tibet University (Xizang Daxue, Bod-ljongs slob-grva chen-mo), established

1985.
President (yuanzhang): Tshe-dbang 'gyur-med. Tlf. 24786; 24375.
Vice-President: lHag-pa phun-tshogs.
Staff of researchers and teachers, primo 1991: 73 people.
The Tibet University has six major departments (tshan-khang); the most
important include:
The Department of Ti betan Letters (Bod-yig tshan-khang)
Director: bSod-nams phun-tshogs. Staff (mi-grangs) of 20 people. Three
researchers (zhib-'jug-pa): Prof. Yang Huaquan, Assoc. Prof. Zhong Xiaodi,
Assoc. Prof. 'Jigs-med.
In addition to this department, there are departments of Chinese Let-
ters (rgya-yig tshan-khang ); Politics (chab-srid tshan-khang ), the head of
which, Tshe-brtan bkra-shis, and his three researchers carry out studies on
Tibetan political history; a Department of Mathematics and Chemistry; of
Culture; and of Medicine, led by Mrs. Zhang Tinhuai, Byams-pa chos-grags,
and bSam-gtan, respectively, each with a staff of teachers and researchers.
At the university a number of leading scholars hold seminars. One may
mention Prof. Dung-dkar Blo-bzang 'phrin-las, who holds the following po-
sitions: Vice-Chairman of the China Tibetology Research Center (Zhong-
guo zangxue yanjiu zhongxint Beijing; Honorary President of the Tibetan
*Due to a postal interception by the Chinese authorities in Lhasa, the following portion of
"A. Survey of Institutes and Research Centres of Tibetology in the People's Republic of China",
originally intended tobe included in the previous issue of SCEAR, was unfortunately prevented
from being published. We thus regret that we are only now able to conclude this survey. (PKS)
84 Forum

Academy of Social Seiences (Xizang Shehui Kexueyuan, Bod-ljongs sPyi-

tshogs tshan-rig-khang ); and President (huizhang, tshogs-gtso) ofthe Tibetol-
ogy Association of the TAR (Xizang zizhiqu zangxuehui, Bod-ljongs rang-
skyong-ljongs Bad rig-pa'i tshogs ), 1 Lhasa; Tel. 24696.
• The Tibetan Academy of Social Seiences (Xizang Shehui Kexueyuan, Bod-
ljongs sPyi-tshogs tshan-rig-khang) Lhasa, office (las-khungs) Tel. 24908,
24072, 23808.
President (yuanzhang ): lHag-pa phun-tshogs.
Vice-Presidents: Ma-gcig; Huang Wenhuan (Tel. 24301, 24547); Pa-sangs
tshe-ring.
The Academy in the TAR, now slowly approaching its tenth anniversary,
comprises a number of important research institutes and departments:
1. The Research Institute of the History of the Tibetan Nationalities (Bad kyi
mi-rigs lo-rgyus zhib-'jug tshan-pa).
Director: Pa-sangs dbang-'dus.
Vice-Director: brTson-'grus rnam-rgyal.
Staff of eleven researchers, among whom figure some of Tibet's foremost
scholars: Professors Chab-spel Tshe-brtan phun-tshogs, Tel. 24163; Hor-
khang bSod-nams dpal-'bar; and Dung-dkar Blo-bzang 'phrin-las, Tel. 24696.
2. The Research Institute of Language and Literature (sKad-yig rtsom-rig
zhib-'jug tshan-pa ).
Director: bSam-gling 'Jigs-med; bsKal-bzang ye-shes.
Staff of seven researchers, including (as above): Profs. Chab-spel, Hor-
khang, etc.
3. The Research Institute of Buddhist Religion (Chos-lugs zhib-'jug tshan-pa ).
Directors: He Zhorigyi and Tshe-dbang lhun-'grub.
Staff of six persons, including Prof. 'Brog-mi Byams-pa blo-gros, mKhyen-
rab 'od-zer, etc.
In addition to these research institutes, we find a number of departments,
such as the important Department of Documentation, whose heads, Ngag-
dbang tshe-ring and Tshe-dbang rig-'dzin, and staff of twenty-two persons
are engaged in collecting material.
Another central office is the Department for the Publication of the Journal
of Ti betan Studies (Bod-ljongs zhib-'jug rtsom-sgrig tshan-pa ). Three Edi-
tors: 'Phrin-las stobs-rgyal (Editor-in-chief (gtso-bo )); Ji Yuanyuan (Deputy
Editor (gzhon-pa )); and Kun-dga'. Staff of 16 people. Tibetan Studies (Xizang
Yanjiu, Bod-ljongs zhib-'jug): the (Tib./Chin.) edition is published quarterly,
the English edition, semi-annually.
1This association, established in 1986, now numbers thirty scholars, but also includes mem-
bers from other regions. For the names of the members, cf. Bod-rig·pa "i ched·rtsom gces-bsdus,
1987, pp. 527-30.
 Forum
Forum 85

~n, Bod-ljongs sPyi-

Recently (1990), a new publishing house of great importance was estab-
~-gtso)ofthe Tibetol-
lished, attached to the Tibetan Academy of Social Sciences: The Publication
ti, Bod-ljongs rang-
House for the Printing of Old Books in Tibetan (Bod-yig dpe-rnying dpe-
skrun-khang). Editor-in-chief: Mi-'gyur rdo-rje (Tel. 23942); Deputy Editor:
~ui Kexueyuan, Bod- Tshe-dbang dpal-'byor; staff of six persons.
~hungs) Tel. 24908, In the Lhasa area a number of important academic and semi-academic
journals and magazines are published, namely: Bod-ljongs zhib-'jug, Bod-
ljongs sgyu-rtsal zhib-'jug, Bod kyi rtsom-rig sgyu-rtsal, Gangs-ljongs rig-
ll, 2454 7); Pa-sangs gnas, Bod-ljongs nang-bstan, Bod-ljongs slob-gso, sPan-rgyan me-tog, etc.
• The Tibetan College of Medicine (sMan-rtsis-khang) Staff includes Prof.
~ tenth anniversary,
Byams-pa 'phrin-las (Tibetan medicine, astrology, and divination, Tibet's
td departments:
leading expert in this field); and Prof. mKhan-po Tshe-rnam.
ationalities (Bod kyi The Administrative Commission for the Cultural Relics of Tibet (Xizang
Wenwu Guanli weiyuanhui)
The Office for The Collection of Cultural and Historical Data (Wenshi ziliao
zhengjishi ).
~ of Tibet's foremost
(PKS)
;s, Tel. 24163; Hor-
•hrin-las, Tel. 24696.
(sKad-yig rtsom-rig
Recent Finds in Ningxia Province Pertaining to
Buddhism in the State of Xixia, 1038-1227
)fs. Chab-spel, Hor- Introduction
In recent years academic interest in Xixia culture has increasingly capiti-
: zhib-'jug tshan-pa). vated the minds of sinologists and scholars working with the cultures and
religions of Central Asia. This interest has been further stimulated by the
a blo-gros, mKhyen- finds of several hoards of cultural relics which have come to light in the
PRC. 1 Although the interest in Tangut culture covers most aspects includ-
ing its law codex, architecture, history and language, the overall importance
1her of departments,
of Buddhism has been generally acknowledged. 2 Most of the material relat-
whose heads, Ngag-
ing to Buddhism and the material culture has been found in pagodas and
twenty-two persons
stüpas in connection with preservation carried out by the Chinese author-
ities. In 1987 the Hongfo Stupa in Helan County first came to the notice
:ation of the Journal
of the local authorities, but only in the late summer of 1990 were extensive
~an-pa). Three Edi-
repairs and investigation done. 3
i Yuanyuan (Deputy
~tan Studies (Xizang 1 For a recent survey of these finds, see Bai Bin, ''Xixia wenwu kaogu de xin faxian jiqi yanjiu"
published quarterly, [New Finds of Ancient Cultural Remains from the Xixia and Their Study], Beifang wenwu 4
(1991), pp. 48-56.
2 For a highly useful study, see Shi Jinbo, Xixia fojiao shilüe [A Brief History of Xixia Bud-

>, but also includes mem- dhism], Yingchuan: Ningxia renmin chuban she, 1988.
3 Cf. Ningxia huiyu zitaiqu wenwu guanli weiyuan hui chuanggong shi Helan xian wenhua
z"i ched-rtsom gces-bsdus,
ju, "Ningxia Helan xian Hongfo ta qingli jianbao" [Report on the Excavations of the Hongfo
Stupa in Helan County], Wenwu (hereafter WW) 8 (1991), pp. 1-13.
86 Forum

The investigation of the twin pagodas in Jinshan, also in Helan County,

began in 1986 and extensive repairs were carried out between April and
October of the same year. In the course of the restorations, numerous relics
were found. 4 The One Hundred and Eight Stupas in Qingtong County were
restored in 1986-7, and here too a number of relics, mainly clay images,
were found. 5

1. The Hongfo Stupa in Helan County

The Hongfo Stupa, also known as the Wangdeng Stupa, is located some
twenty kilometres from the provincial capital Yinchuan, near the village of
Hongxing in Helan County, Ningxia Province. Its three lower levels are
octagonal, and it is otherwise built in a non-Chinese style reminiscent of
Nepali and Western Tibetan dagobas. It is built entirely of bricks and was
originally coated with a layer of whitish plaster. It measures almost thirty
metres, although the top spire with the discs has long since fallen down due
to carthquakes (see Fig. 1, p. 82).
The stupa has yielded numerous cultural relics, including fourteen Bud-
dhist paintings (thmi-ka) ofwhich ten are in very good condition and the rest
in various states of damage. They show various Tantric and esoteric images,
including a Cakrasa1p.vara yab-yum, the Thousand Buddhas, Tejaprabha,
the Lord of the Constellations, Vairocana Buddha, and the Thousand-armed,
Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara. Among the damaged paintings there is one
which features an image of what appears tobe the Daoist god of the North,
Zhenwu. Around two thousand wood blocks for printing, with roughly half
of them in Tangut characters and the rest in Chinese, were also retrieved
from the stupa. Several of the blocks have been severely damaged, but the
vast majority are in fair condition.
A number of fragments of terracotta Buddhist images have also been
found. They include six full heads and two face masks of Buddhas, eighteen
smaller heads of the arhats, two face masks of dvarapälas (dali jingang ),
ten torsos of arhats, and numerous fragments of limbs, etc. Several of the
images have Xixia scriptures inside them in the form of the usual so-called
"empowered innards" (fuzang ). A number of small wooden images were also
recovered. They consist of a dancing female devatä, and a standing bodhi-
sattva. In addition there are lesser items and fragments, including a small
wooden stupa, fragments of printed texts in Xixia, wooden tablets with writ-
ing on them, end tiles, and a bronze head of a dragon.
4 Cf. Ningxia huiyu zitaiqu wenwu guanli weiyuan hui chuanggong shi Helan xian wenhua ju,

"Ningxia Helan xian Baisi kou shuang ta kanze weixiu jianbao" [Report on the lnvestigation and
Repair ofthe Twin Pagodas ofBaisi kou in Helan County ofNingxia], WW 8 (1991), pp. 14-26.
5 Cf. Ningxia huiyu zitaiqu wenwu guanli weiyuan hui chuanggong shi Helan xian wenhua
ju, "Ningxia Qingtong xia shi yibai lingba ta qingli weixiu jianbao" [Report on the Excavation
and Repair of the One Hundred and Eight Stupas at Qingtong Hili in Ningxia], WW 8 ( 1991),
pp. 27-35.