Chapter 10 - Imperial lines of Tibet, China, Hor, etc.

[Full title: Imperial lines of Tibet, China, Hor, etc. (bod dang rgya hor la sogs pa’i rgyal rabs kyi skabs. Chandra 46; Chengu 73-84; Roerich 47)]

The story of the (Tibetan kings) from srong btsan to dar ma is well told in the "Chinese Annals" (rgya'i yig tshang) translated into Tibetan by the bla ma rin chen grags pa.^[1] I shall quote from it according to the text of the lord (mi'i bdag po) kun dga' rdo rje (author of the deb ther dmar po or "Red Annals". This shows that ‘gos lo tsā ba did not have the original rgya'i yig tshang, but quoted the deb ther dmar po, which contains extensive passages from the rgya'i yig tshang).

The Ci'u (Chou) dynasty had thirty-six emperors, who ruled for one hundred years. In the time of the fourth Chou emperor Chao-wang (T. Ci'u dbang), the Buddha appeared in the World. After the end of the Chou dynasty, there were two emperors tshing hri hwang (i.e. Ch'in Shih huang-ti and his son, murdered in 207 B.C.). Then the throne was seized by han kao dzung (Kao-ti or Kao-tsu, 202 B.C). During the reign of the twelfth emperor (of this dynasty), a minister called ang mang (Wang-mang 9 A.D.), led a revolt, and seized the throne for eighteen years. Then gle'u (Liu) gong bu (Kuang Wu-ti, 23 A.D.) of the Han clan, killed Wang-mang, and seized the government. His son ming ti (Ming-ti) then became emperor (58-75 A.D.).

In his time a paṇḍita called dzu ha la (Hīnayāna. He erected the temple of pa'i mi'i sa(

The descendants of the "Governor" emperor (ching sang rgyal po) received from the descendants of the "General" emperor (dmag dpon rgyal po) the sandal image of the Lord, relics (ring bsrel) and Paṇḍitas, and honoured them. The line of the "Governor" emperor having come to an end, there appeared two emperors, father and son, called gyang ti of su'i (Yang-ti of the Sui dynasty). Then thang ka'o dzung (T'ang Kao-tsu) seized the throne. He was the first emperor of the thang (T'ang) dynasty. He seized the throne in the year Earth-Male-Tiger (sa pho stag—618 A.D.) and ruled for nine years. He died at the age of seventy. It is said that this Earth-Male-Tiger year (618 A.D.) was the 1566th year since the Nirvāṇa of the Buddha. So it is said in the printed "Annals of China" (rgya'i deb). His son thang tha'i dzung (T'ang T'ai-tsung) mounted the throne in the Fire-Male-Dog year (me pho khyi—627).

After nine years had passed, in the year Wood-Male-Horse (shing pho rta—634 A.D.), the emperor exchanged presents with the Tibetan king and made a treaty of friendship. The Tibetans requested that a Chinese Imperial Princess may be sent (as spouse for the king), but this request was not granted. The Tibetans then took offence, and for about eight years waged war. On the return of their troops, (the minister) ‘gar stong btsan was sent with presents of gold and various precious stones (to the Imperial Court). Wun shing kon jo (Wên ch'êng kung chu), daughter of th'ai dzung (T'ai-tsung), was sent in the year Iron-Female-Ox (lcags mo glang—641 A.D.). According to the Chinese Annals seven hundred years have passed from that date till the year Fire-Male-dog (me pho khyi—1346 A.D.) of ‘tshal pa kun dga' rdo rje’s time.

This appears to correspond to the year Iron-Female-Serpent (lcags mo sbrul—'341 A.D.), which precedes the Fire-Dog year (me khyi—1346 A.D.) by five years. Thang th'ai dzung (T'ang T'ai-tsung) ruled for twenty-four years. He died in the year Earth-Female-Hen (sa mo bya—649 A.D.) in his fifty-second year. His son chi ka'u dzung (Li Chih Prince Chin and Emperor T'ang Kao-tsung) ascended the throne. In the year Iron-Male-Dog (lcags pho khyi—650 A.D.) of his reign srong btsan sgam po died. His son gung srong gung btsan having died before (in the life time of his father) mang srong mang btsan mounted the throne at the age of thirteen. He befriended the minister ‘gar, who ruled for fifteen years.^[3]

Then ‘gar died. The sovereigns of China and Tibet at times had friendly relations, at times fought each other about frontiers, with changing fortunes. Especially in the twenty-first year after the coronation of mang srong, in the year Iron-Male-Horse (lcags pho rta—670 A.D.) Tibetan troops invaded the T'ang empire, and conquered the entire country of the Uighurs (yu gur gyi yul). The king died at the age of forty-two in the year Earth-Female-Hare (sa mo yos—679 A.D.), which was the thirtieth year of his reign. The princess Wên ch'êng, after spending forty years in Tibet, died in the year Iron-Male-Dragon (lcags pho 'brug—680 A.D.). The emperor chi ka'o dzung (Kao-tsung) ruled for thirty-five years, from the year Earth-Female-Hen (sa mo bya—649 A.D.) till the year Water-Female-Sheep (chu mo lug—683 A.D.). He died at the age of fifty-six in the year Water-Sheep (683 A.D.). A lady who was formerly in the retinue of the empress of t'ai dzung (T'ai-tsung), and who had become a nun after the death of T'ai-tsung, abandoned her religious vows, and became the queen of chi ka'o dzung (Kao-tsung).

When Kao-tsung died, he left behind his Will, which said that his son should be installed on the imperial throne. But the queen herself took over the government. Since she belonged to the ‘u (Wu) family, she was named ‘u ji then (Wu-tsê t'ien).^[4] Śhe waged wars and wrested away much land from Tibet and other kingdoms. This empress was very wicked, and ruled for twenty-one years, from the Wood-Male-Ape year (shing pho spre'u—684 A.D), and died at the age of eighty in the year Wood-Male-Dragon (shing pho 'brug—704 A.D.). In the same year ‘du srong man po rje also passed away, after having ruled for twenty-six years. After that, dzung dzung (Chung-tsung), son of chi ka'o dzung and the empress, mounted the throne in the year Wood-Female-Serpent (shing mo sbrul—705 A.D.).^[5] In the same year, ‘du srong’s son khri lde gtsug brtan was installed on the throne. Dzung dzung (Chung-tsung) ruled for six years, and died at the age of fifty-five in the year Iron-Male-Dog (lcags pho khyi—710 A.D.). In the year Iron-Female-Hog (lcags mo phag—711 A.D.) his younger brother wi dzung (Jui-tsung) was installed on the throne. The Tibetan king sent a request for an Imperial Princess, and in the year

Water-Male-Mouse (chu pho byi ba—712 A.D.) the kim shing kong jo (Chin-ch'êng kung-chu) was sent to Tibet. In the same year wi dzung (Jui-tsung) died at the age of fifty-five. In the year Water-Female-Ox (chu mo glang—713 A.D.) hen dzung (Hsüan-tsung), aged twenty-nine, mounted the throne. He was the third son of wi dzung (Jui-tsung). The kim shing kong jo (Chin-ch'êng kung-chu) spent thirty years in Tibet, in all about thirty-one new years (that is a little over thirty years), and died in the year Iron-Serpent (lcags sbrul—741 A.D.). Till that year, 116 years have passed since the foundation of the T'ang empire. This seems to have been calculated from the year of thang tha'i dzung (T'ang T'ai-tsung). If one calculates from the year Earth-Male-Tiger (sa pho stag—618 A.D.) of thang ka'o dzung (T'ang Kao-tsung), then 124 years must have passed. In the Wood-Female-Sheep year (shing mo lug—755 A. D.), the fifteenth year since the death of kim shing kong jo (Chin-ch'êng kung-chu), khri lde gtsug brtan died. In the same year his son khri srong lde btsan was installed on the throne. It is stated in the dba' bzhed^[6] that in the time of khri srong lde btsan, 1200 years had passed since the appearance of the Doctrine in China. Hen dzung (Hs ü an-tsung) ruled for forty-three years till the year Wood-Female-Sheep (shing mo lug—755 A.D.). He died at the age of seventy-three in the year Fire-Female-Hen (me mo bya–757 A. D.). In the preceding Fire-Male-Ape (me pho spre'u—756 A, D.) hen dzung’s third son dzung dzung (Su-tsung) was installed on the throne. Having ruled for seven years he died at the age of fifty-two in the year Water-Male-Tiger (chu pho stag—762 A. D.). In the same year, dzung dzung’s eldest son, tha'i dzung (Tai-tsung) was installed on the throne. In the next year (763 A. D.), the Tibetan troops invaded (the empire) and (the emperor) fled to shing cu (Shang-chou).^[7]

The Tibetans installed on the throne the Chinese minister ko'u hi (Kao-hun). Soon after that, Tai-tsung killed him. In all, Tai-tsung ruled for seventeen years, and died at the age of fifty in the year Earth-Female-Sheep (sa mo lug—779 A. D.). Ding dzung (Tê-tsung), Tai-tsung’s eldest son, was installed in the year Iron-Male-Ape (lcags pho spre'u—780 A. D.). In the same year king khri srong lde btsan died. (His) eldest son mu ne btsan po was installed. He ruled for seventeen years, and died in the year Fire-Female-Ox (me mo glang—797 A. D.). Then ju tse btsan po was installed as king (of Tibet), and ruled for eight years, and died in the year Wood-Male-Ape (shing pho spre'u—804 A. D.). In the same year khri lde srong btsan was installed. The emperor ding dzung (Tê-tsung) ruled for twenty-five years, and died at the age of sixty-four in the year Wood-Female-Hen (shing mo bya—805 A.D.). In the same year ding dzung (Tê-tsung’s) eldest son shun dzung (Shun-tsung) was installed. He ruled for one year, and died at the age of forty-six. In the year Fire-Male-Dog (me pho khyi—806 A.D.) shun dzung’s (Shun-tsung) eldest son hun dzung (Hsien-tsung) was installed. He died in the year Earth-Male-Mouse (sa pho byi ba—808 A.D.).

In the year Earth-Female-Ox (sa mo glang—809A.D.—this is evidently a mistake for 821 A.D., a Iron-Female-Ox / Icags mo glang / year) hun dzung (Hsien-tsung)’s son mu dzung (Mu-tsung) was installed. Though it is said that the Tibetan king had died about that time, he must have died in the beginning of the year Wood-Male-Horse (shing pho rta—814 A.D.). In the same year kha li kha chu (< k'a li k'a tsu < khri gtsug lde btsan ral pa can) was installed. On the plain of lha sa the Tibetan ministers assembled and the chief priest (paṇ chen po) read out the text of the oath (to the king), which was sworn by all present. Mu dzung (Mu-tsung) was murdered by a minister in the year Fire-Male-Horse (me pho rta—826 A.D.). In the year Fire Female Sheep (me mo lug—827 A.D.) Mu-tsung’s second son wu dzung (Wên-tsung) was installed.

In the year Fire-Male-Dragon (me pho 'brug—836 A.D.) the Tibetan king (ral pa can) died. In the same year (the king’s) younger brother tha mu (< ta mo < dar ma) was installed on the throne. He was addicted to wine and of a wicked character. Unrest took place in the kingdom of Tibet. At si ha ci'u an artificial hill (ri brtsigs), demarcating the boundary in Tibetan controlled territory, tumbled down. For three days the river klu chu (T'ao-shui in Amdo) flowed up stream. Evil omens appeared, and the kingdom was disintegrating. It is stated that till this Earth-Female-Sheep year (sa mo lug—839 A.D.) 208 years had elapsed (since the founding of the T'ang dynasty).

If one calculates properly, the T'ang empire must have lasted for 222 years (till 839 A.D.). This Earth-Female-Sheep year (sa mo lug—839 A.D.) is the fourth year since the accession of glang dar ma. In the following Iron-Male-Ape year (lcags pho spre'u—840 A.D.) till the year Iron-Female-Hen (lcags mo bya—841 A.D.) dar ma again ruled. In this Iron-Hen year (lcags bya—841 A.D.) the (Buddhist) Doctrine ceased to exist. Immediately after that, the king was murdered by dpal gyi rdo rje. Therefore scholars consider this year Iron-Hen (lcags bya—841 A.D.) to be the first year of the period which began after the setting of the Doctrine. Thang ka'u dzung (T'ang Kao-tsung) occupied the throne in the Earth-Male-Tiger year (sa pho stag—618 A.D.) which is the fiftieth year of king srong btsan sgam po.^[8]

Having added the 49 years which preceded this year, one gets 271 years which have passed since the birth of srong btsan till the year Earth-Female-Sheep (sa mo lug—839 A.D.). It is stated in the nel pa'i chos 'byung that the Holy Doctrine had set in the year Earth-Female-Sheep (sa mo lug—839 A.D.). (This calculation) exceeds by about two years (the other calculation which stated that the setting of the Doctrine had taken place in 841 A.D.). The emperor wu dzung (Wên-tsung) ruled for thirteen years, and died at the age of thirty in the year Earth-Female-Sheep (sa mo lug—841 A.D.). In the same year mu dzung’s (Mu-tsung) fifth son wu dzung (Wu-tsung) was installed. He ruled for six years and died at the age of thirty-four in the year Wood-Female-Ox (shing mo glang—845 A.D.).

In the year Fire-Male-Tiger (me pho stag—846 A.D.) hen dzung’s thirteenth son zwan dzung (Hsüan-tsung) was installed. The T'ang empire had spread from kin byang hu (Chin-ch'êng-fu) as far as Tibet for about 9900 li (sa le bar). Later after the accession of dzung dzung (Chung-tsung) three hundred fortified towns were lost to Tibet, but were recovered by the T'ang empire at a later date. Zwan dzung (Hsüan tsung) ruled for fourteen years, and died at the age of fifty in the year Earth-Female-Hare (sa mo yos—859 A.D.). His eldest son ghi dzung (I-tsung) was installed in the year Iron-Male-Dragon (lcags pho 'brug—860 A.D.). From then on the mutual friendship between China and Tibet came to an end. Thus it is stated that since the T'ang emperor ka'o dzung (Kao-tsu) 239 years have passed. If properly calculated, 244 years have elapsed till the year Iron-Male-Dragon—(lcags pho 'brug—860 A.D.). Ghi dzung (I-tsung) ruled for fourteen years and died in the year Water-Female-Serpent (chu mo sbrul—873 A.D.). The fifth son of ghi dzung (I-tsung) hyi dzung (His-tsung) was installed in the year Wood-Male-Horse (shing pho rta—874 A.D.) He ruled for fifteen years, and died in the year Earth-Female-Ape (sa pho spre'u—888 A.D.). His seventh son je'u dzung (Chao-tsung) was installed in the year Earth-Female-Hen (sa mo bya—889 A.D.), and ruled for fifteen years and died in the year Water-Female-Hog (chu mo phag—903 A.D.).

In the year Wood-Male-Mouse (shing pho byi ba—904 A.D.) his ninth son nga'i ding (Ai-ti) was installed. He ruled for four years and died in the year Fire-Female-Hare (me mo yos—907 A.D.). Then the imperial line came to an end. Altogether there have been twenty T'ang emperors and empresses. They are stated to have ruled the empire for 288 years (i.e. Till 906 A.D.). From the founding of the empire by T'ang Kao-tsu in the year Earth-Male-Tiger (sa pho stag—618 A.D.) till the year Fire-Female-Hare (me mo yos—907 A.D.) four cycles of sixty years, and fifty years have elapsed.

In the time of thang tha'i dzung (T'ang T'ai-tsung) there lived a translator called thang zam tshang (Ch. T'ang San-tsang, Hsüan-tsang), who had translated many sacred texts. Till his time there had been two hundred Chinese translators. Thang (T'ang) was his family name.^[9] zam (piṭaka). Thus he was called "One possessing the Three Baskets" (sde snod gsum pa). It is said that he had been a disciple of the Indian ācārya Vasubandhu (dbyig gnyen). The last T'ang emperor was a contemporary of the period of the protecting of the Doctrine by grum ye shes rgyal mtshan in khams. Further, after the end of the T'ang dynasty the imperial throne was transferred to the lyang. (Liang).

In the time of the T'ang emperor, a dissolute man (bsi'u tsha

The dynasty was called ta'i gle'u (T'ai-Liao).^[12] shang hwang’s lame son, called kha dbang (emperor Kao-tsung of the Śouthern Sung dynasty) went to the country of sman rtse (i.e. Man-tzu (%), S. China), and took over half of the empire. The Mongols call it nam tha'i (namtai). Khyen khan (

In the thirteenth year of ci dben (Chih-yüan, title of reign adopted in 1264 A.D.), in the reign of the emperor se chen (Secen, Qubilai), and in the third year of the reign of the emperor gye'u ju^[13] (emperor Tu-tsung, 1265-1274) of sman rtse (Man-tzu(%)), under the command of ba yan ching sang (Bayan cingsang (%), 1237-95) the empire was conquered. The emperor (Kung-ti) was sent to sa skya (in Tibet), where he became a priest. Later in the time of the emperor ge gen (Gegen(%)), he was killed, and his "blood turned into milk" (khrag'o mar byung—an expression meaning that he was killed being innocent).

The history of the Mongol empire, called ta'i dben (T'ai-Yüan), as told by dzambha la (Jambhala) Ti śrī (Ti-shih) mgon, was written down by kun dga' rdo rje (in his deb ther dmar po). Thirty-six emperors of the Ci'u (Chou) dynasty. Tshing hri hwang (Chin Shih Huang-ti), two emperors. Twelve emperors of the Han. Two ang mang (Wang-mang). Twenty-six Hans. Five tsh'o tsha (the Wei dynasty, 220 A.D.- 265 A.D.). One ‘u ma (Śsu ma Chao (%)). One he'u tsing (Hou-Ch'in). One bsi tsing (Hsi-Chin). Twelve emperors of gyang di yi (Yang Ti) of su'i (Sui), descendants of ching sang (cingsang (%)). In the time of man min ti (Ming-Ti), the second emperor of the twenty-six emperors of the Han, the Doctrine appeared (in China).

The imperial line (rgyal rabs) of the Mongols (hor)^[14] : First sbor ta che (Börte cino-a (%)), the Son of Heaven (gnam gyi bu). His son ba da chi gan (Bata ciqan (%)). The latter’s son tham chag (Tamaca; Sayang Secen: Tamaca)(%). His son chi ji mer gan (Qoricar mergan)(%), who is said to have been the demon subduing Padmasambhava (Padma 'byung gnas). His son la'u jang bhe re 'ol (A'ujang boro'ul). His son pas ka ni dun (probably a mistake of the cutter for yas ka ni dun, Yeke nidun). His son sems dza'o ji (Semsoci(%)). His son kha ju (Qarcu(%)). His son du bon mer gan (Dobun mergan). Bo don char mu gan (Bodoncar mungqav in the Yuan cha'o pi shih, ed. Haenisch, p.2; Sayang Secen: Bodancar mungqan) (%), born to nag mo (the Tibetan nag mo usually translates the Mongol voa)(%) a lan kho (Alan yoa) from the rays of the Sun and Moon, after (Dobun mergan’s) death. His son ga'i chi (Qabici)(%). His son sbi khir (Biker). His son ma nan tho don (Menen tudun). His son ga'i thu gan (Qaidu qan). His son ba'i shing. His son khor thog shing (here ‘gos lo tsā ba has split the name of Baisingqor doysin (%) into two). Dum bi ha'i khan (Tunbinai qan; Sayang Secen:

Tumbayai secen). His son ka bu la gan (Qabul qan). His son bar than ba dur (Bartan ba'atur). His son ye phur ga ba dur (Yesügei ba'ātur). His and queen Hu lun (%)(Hö'elün)’s son the emperor jing gin (Cingis)(%) was born in the year Water-Male-Tiger (chu pho stag—1182 A.D.)^[15] . He had five brothers.^[16] At the age of thirty-eight he conquered the empire, and ruled for twenty-three years. He is also called tha'i dzung (T'ai-tsu). He died in the country of the mi nyag gha (mi nyag, Hsi hsia) at the age of sixty-one on the twelfth day of the first autumn month of the year Water-Male-Tiger (chu pho stag—1242 A.D.).^[17]

After him o go ta (Ögedei) /ruled/ for six years.^[18] His son emperor go lug (probably a mistake of the cutter for go yug / Güyük) /ruled/ for six months.^[19] mong gol gan (Mongke qan) for nine years (1251—1259 A.D.). Se chen gan (Secen (%) qan, Qubilai) from the year Iron-Ape (lcags spre—1260 A.D.) till the year Wood-Horse (shing rta—1294 A.D.), in all thirty-five years. He died at the age of eighty. Ol ja du (Öljeit ü, Temür, d. 1307 A. D.). During his time the snar thang bstan 'gyur was collected (by bcom ldan rigs ral). The emperor go lug (Külüg, d. 1311 A.D.). A yu par pa ta bu yan du (Ayurparibhadra Buyantu) for nine years (d. 1320 A.D.). Siddhi-pa-la (Siddhipāla) gying dzung (Ying-tsung) for three years (d.1323 A.D.). ye sun the mur (Yes ün Temür) cing dbang (ching-wang) for five years (d. 1328 A.D.). Ra khyi phag (Raja-pika) for forty days (d. 1328 A.D.). Ku sha la (Kuśala) go thug (qutuvtu)(%) rgyal po (qan) for one month (d. 1329 A.D.). Thog thi mur ‘ja ‘ya du (Toy Temür Jayayātu)(%) for five years (Toy-Tem ür seized the imperial throne in 1328 A.D., but was deposed by Kuśala.

After the death of the latter in 1329 A.D., Toy (%)Temür again occupied the throne and died in October, 1332 A.D.). Rin chen dpal for one month (proclaimed emperor on October 23, 1332 A.D., died on December 14, 1332). For six months the throne remained empty, and the government was carried on by el tha mur (El Temür) tha shrī (T'ai shih). In the year Water-Female-Hen (chu mo bya—1333 A.D.) tho gan thi mur (Toyon Temür) was installed on the throne. In the year Earth-Male-Ape (sa pho spre'u—1368 A.D.), in the thirty-sixth year of his reign, he fled to Mongolia (hor yul). From this Earth-Male-Ape year (sa pho spre'u—1368 A.D.) the ta'i ming (T'ai Ming) dynasty began its rule.

From that Earth-Male-Ape year (1368 A.D.) till the present Fire-Ape (me spre—1476 A.D.) 108 years have elapsed. The emperor ta'i ming (Hung Wu) for thirty-three years (d. 1398 A.D.). Kyi hun (Chien-wên) for two years. Ye dbang (Yung Lo) for twenty-two years (1425 A.D.). Bzhin dzung (Jên-tsung) for four years (1424-25 A.D.). Zon de (Hsüan Tê) for eight years (1426-1435 A.D.). Cing thung (Chêng T'ung) for thirteen years (1435-49 A.D.). Gyin tha'i (Ching T'ai) for seven years (1449-1457). Then shun (T'ien-shun) ascended the throne in the year Fire-Female-Ox (me mo glang—1457 A.D.) and ruled till the year Water-Ape (chu spre, evidently a mistake for shing spre, Wood Ape, 1464 A.D.) for eight years. The emperor ching hwa (Chêng Hua) began to rule in the year Water-Hen (chu bya, a mistake for Wood-Hen, shing bya, 1465 A.D.), for eleven years till the year Wood-Sheep (shing lug—1475 A.D.). At the beginning of the Fire-Ape year (me spre—1476

A.D.), 108 years of the line of the ta'i ming emperor (Hung Wu) have passed. This should be taken as basis in calculations. The Mongol emperors from bying ging (Cingis)(%) to tho gan thi mur (Toyon Temür)(%), and the Chinese emperors from ta'i ming (Hung Wu) to the present emperor, in general venerated the Three Jewels (Triratna, dkon mchog gsum). Especially se chen gan (Secen qan) and ye dbang (Yung Lo) honoured priests from India and Tibet, and it is impossible to calculate the amount of money spent on them. By admiring the virtuous deeds of these emperors, one acquires merit equal to theirs.

The Chapter on the Royal Chronology of Tibet, China and Mongolia (hor).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This is the rgya'i deb ther zu thu chen, translated by ‘u gyan ju, and edited by gu shri (

[2]:

P. Pelliot, J,. As. (1914), p. 387, n. 3; T'oung Pao (1920), p. 345, 429 ff. On the legendary character of the story of the dream of emperor Ming-ti, see H Maspero; "Le songe et l'ambassade de l'Empereur Ming. Etude critique des sources." BEFEO, X pp. 95-130; Pelliot, T’oung Pao (1920), p. 255ff.

[3]:

I.e. the king ruled the country for fifteen years assisted by the minister ‘gar.

[4]:

L. Wieger: Textes historiques, II, p. 1360 ff.

[5]:

I.e. resumed the throne

[6]:

sba bzhed, an historical work attributed to sba gsal snang.

[7]:

H. Bichurin: "Istoriya Tibetai Khukhunora," I (St. Petersburg, 1833), p.177 Sir Charles Bell: "Tibet, Past and Present." Oxford, 1924, p. 274, where a translation is given of the inscription on the southern face of the stone pillar below the Potala.

[8]:

According to ‘gos lo tsā ba king srong btsan sgam po was born in 509 A.D. (Earth-Female-Ox year, sa mo glang). ‘gos lo tsā ba based his calculations of dates on the prophecy contained in the Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa, which stated that king Mānavendra had lived for eighty years. See Jayaswal: "Imperial

History of India," p. 20, p. 40 of Sanskrit Text.

[9]:

gos lo tsā ba mistook the name of the dynasty for the family name of Hs üan-tsang.

[10]:

Chao K'uang-'yin, emperor T’ai tsu (960-976).

[11]:

The author has evidently in mind the emperors Hui-tsung and Ch'in-tsung of the Sung dynasty.

[12]:

This passage refers to the conquest of K'ai fêng by the Chin in 1126 A.D.

[13]:

gye'u ju

[14]:

E. Haenisch: ' Mongḥol un niuca tobca’an" (Yūan-ch'ao pi-shi). Leipzig l937, p I; Sa yang Secen, ed. I. J. Schmidt, p. 56-ff.; Archimandrite Palladius "Starinnoye Mongol'skoye Skazaniyc o Cingis-khane," Trudï Rossiyskoy Dukhovnoy Missii, Peking, 1910, Vol. IV, p. 1 ff. Prof. S. A. Kozin has published in 1941 the first volume of his exhaustive study on the Mongol Text of the Yüan-ch'ao pi-shih (Sokrovennoye Skazaniye, Vol. I, (Leningrad, 1941).

[15]:

According to Tibetan chronicles the year of Cingis' birth was 1162 A.D., a Water-Male-Horse year (chu pho rta). The Water-Male-Tiger year (chu pho stag—1182 A.D.) of the "Blue Annals" possibly represents a lapsus calami on the part of the author. In 1938 Prof. Pelliot has shown that according to Chinese sources of 1340 A.D. Cingis qan had been born in 1167 A.D., and died in 1227 A.D., at the age of sixty (R. Grousset: "L'Empire des Śteppes." Paris, 1939, p. 639).

[16]:

Qasar, Qa ci'un, Temüge, and two half brothers—Begter and Belgütei.

[17]:

August 18, 1227 A.D. according to the Yüan-shih, ch. 107. The date given in the "Blue Annals" must be due to a misunderstanding, or the miscalculation of the year of the birth. Most of the Tibetan chronicles place Cingis' death in 1226/7 A.D. (see sum pa mkhan po’s re'u mig). Subtracting 61, we obtain 1166 for the year of Cingis’ birth.

[18]:

Ögedei ruled from 1229 to 1241 A.D. The six years mentioned in our text must correspond to the period of regency of Türegene (1242-46 A.D.)

[19]:

Instead of two years, August, 1246—April, 1248 A.D.