| The Tibetan people came into being through the union | | | | on stone. The treaty stated that the region to the east |
| of a monkey (a manifestation of the Bodhisattva of | | | | be Great China, and the region to the west be Great |
| Compassion - Avalokiteshvara) and an ogress. This | | | | Tibet, and there was to be no warfare, no hostile |
| union, according to the myth, took place on Gangpo Ri | | | | invasion or seizure of territory from either frontier. |
| mountain at Tsetang. The pair produced six offspring | | | | "Tibetans shall be happy in Tibet and Chinese will be |
| who are seen as the ancestors of the six main tribes | | | | happy in China." |
| in Tibet - Se, Mu, Dong, Tong, Dru and Ra. | | | | The founding of Sayme monastery, the first |
| The introduction of Buddhism came about in the | | | | monastery that systemised training of Tibetan monks |
| mid-3rd century when the 28th King of Tibet received | | | | and translation of Buddhist Scriptures, introduced |
| the first Buddhist Scriptures. According to legend, the | | | | Buddhism on a grand scale to Tibet. By the 9th |
| Scriptures fell on the roof of Yambulagong - Tibet's | | | | century, many schools of Buddhism were based on |
| first fortress. Yambulagong is in the Yarlung Valley | | | | the original teachings of the Buddha Sakyamuni. There |
| area, which was controlled by the Yarlung kings, | | | | was, however, far from unified belief with followers |
| where the civilization of central Tibet was born. | | | | divided between the scholastic tradition of Indian |
| By the 6th century, the Yarlung kings had unified much | | | | Buddhism and the mystical tantric teachings of the Bon |
| of central Tibet. The 32nd Tibetan king Namri | | | | faith. |
| Songsten (570 - 619) extended Tibetan influence into | | | | Following the Great Debate of Sayme, King Trisong |
| Asia, defeating the Qiang tribes at the borders of | | | | Detsen adjudicated in favor of Indian Buddhism, which |
| China. | | | | favored a gradual approach to enlightenment. There |
| Tibet became a regional power during the rule of | | | | was much opposition to following the gradual path - |
| Namri Songsten's son, Songsten Gampo. Armies of | | | | mainly by supporters of the Bon faith, which was the |
| Tibet, reaching from northern India, were seen as a | | | | native religion of Tibet. This opposition manifested in |
| threat to the Tsang dynasty in China. They continued | | | | the death of the next Tibetan King, Tritsug Detsen |
| to conquer throughout inner Asia. Nepal and China, in a | | | | Ralpachen, who was assassinated by his brother, |
| bid to halt the Tibetans armies, reluctantly offered | | | | Langdharma. Langdharma was also assassinated in |
| bribes to Songsten Gampo - alliance through marriage. | | | | 842 by a Buddhist monk disguised as a black hat |
| Through the influence of the king's Chinese and | | | | dancer, at a festival. Tibet quickly collapsed into warring |
| Nepalese brides, Buddhism gained royal patronage and | | | | principalities and support for monastic Buddhism fell, |
| became part of Tibetan Culture. King Songsten | | | | leading to a period of dormancy that lasted 150 years. |
| Gampo created a law that made it illegal for Tibetan | | | | Following this collapse, Tibetan expansion into Asia |
| people not to be Buddhist. With Buddhism flourishing, | | | | ceased and Tibet was not to raise arms again. Whilst |
| King Songsten Gampo initiated construction of two | | | | the strength of Buddhism fell away in India, China and |
| temples to house two images of Buddha. A fort was | | | | Nepal, monastic Buddhism was again burgeoning, |
| also constructed on the site that would later become | | | | exerting its influence on the Tibetan mind. Tibet was |
| the Potala palace. | | | | slowly emerging as the most devout Buddhist nation in |
| The Chinese introduced sciences such as medicine | | | | the world. This period (950 - 1200) was so named the |
| and astronomy, and the Tibetan script was developed | | | | Second Diffusion of the Dharma (Law). |
| from Indian origin. Tibetan script was initially used for | | | | During the Song Dynasty of China (960 - 1276), Tibet |
| the translation of Buddhist Scriptures. | | | | and China were isolated from each other. This was all |
| Following the reign of Songsten Gampo, Tibet's | | | | to change towards the end of the dynasty, as the |
| influence grew. Extending across India, Nepal, northern | | | | Mongol overlord Gengis Khan launched a series of |
| Pakistan and Turkestan. Tibetan armies conquered | | | | conquests (1206) that formed a vast empire spreading |
| Sichuan and Gansu forcing the Chinese to recognize | | | | through central Asia and China. The Mongols did not |
| the borders of their conquests. Following such | | | | give Tibet any attention until 1239, when a series of |
| recognition, a second treaty was created and signed | | | | raiding parties were sent in. |