before c. 600 C.E. prehistoric and legendary period in Tibet 247 b.c.e. traditional dating of Nyatri Tsenpo’s election as king202 b.c.e.– 220 c.e. Han empire extends Chinese power in Inner Asia 433 c.e. traditional dating of fi rst intimations of Buddhism in

Tibet, under King Lha Totori324 – 1453 Byzantine empire c. 600 – c. 900 C.E. empire of the Pugyel/Yarlung dynasty 581 – 618 Sui dynasty rules China 608 c.e. fi rst recorded Tibetan delegation to China570 – 632 life of Muhammad, prophet of Islam c. 617 or 629 death of Namri Löntsen and enthronement of Songtsen

Gampo618 – 907 Tang dynasty rules China 630s Tibetan conquests of Zhangzhung and Azha (Tuyuhun) 640 Minister Gar Tongtsen’s mission to China 641 Princess Wencheng sent to Tibet 650 death of Songtsen Gampo 650 – 676 reign of Manglön Mangtsen; Tibetan expansion in Tarim

Basin 676 – 704 reign of Düsong; Tibetan domination of the Nanzhao

kingdom

Dates in Tibetan History and Key Events in Neighboring Lands

xxx Dates in Tibetan History and Key Events

680 death of Princess Wencheng680 – 750 Umayyad caliphate 684 – 705 reign of Chinese Empress Wu Zetian 704 – 712 Tibet under the rule of Empress Dowager Tri Malö 710 Princess Jincheng sent to Tibet; marries the future Tri

Detsuktsen 712 – 755 reign of Tri Detsuktsen 739 death of Princess Jincheng 742 birth of Tri Songdetsen750 – 1258 Abbasid caliphate 751 defeat of Tang armies by the Abbasids at the Battle of Talas c. 750 – 1174 Pala dynasty rules northeastern India 755 assassination of Tri Detsuktsen and enthronement of Tri

Songdetsen755 An Lushan rebellion exiles Tang court to Sichuan 762 conversion of Tri Songdetsen to Buddhism 763 Tibetan occupation of the Chinese capital Chang’an c. 767 earliest extant Tibetan writing, the Takdra Lukhong in-

scription, in Lhasa 779 foundation of Samyé monastery c. 781 Tibetan conquest of Dunhuang c. 797 abdication of Tri Songdetsen; succession uncertain c. 804 – 815 reign of Tri Desongtsen 815 – 838 reign of Tri Tsukdetsen, a.k.a. Relpachen, assassinated 838 822 “uncle-nephew” treaty with Tang China 838 – 842 reign of Üdumtsen (Lang Darma); assassinated; suc-

ceeded by Ösung845 persecution of Buddhism in China 842 – c. 900 reigns of Ösung and his son Pelkortsen; local rebellions

and fi nal collapse of the empire851 Governor Zhang Yichao overturns Tibetan rule in Gansu,

including Dunhuang c. 900 – 1250 age of fragmentation 906 – 1099 Tibetan polities in northeastern Tibet 906 – 1016 Lingchu Serkap (Ch. Liangzhou) Silk Road city under

Tibetan rule mid- to late restoration of Central Tibetan Vinaya by monks ordained 10th century in Amdo by Lachen Gongpa Rapsel or his successors c. 950 – 1685 k ingdom of Gugé in far western Tibet 960 – 1279 Song dynasty 958 – 1055 life of the “great translator” Rinchen Zangpo shortly after 1000 sealing of Dunhuang “Library Cave” c. 959 – c. 1036 life of Yeshé-ö, Buddhist ruler of Gugé

Dates in Tibetan History and Key Events xxxi

c. 996 foundation by Yeshé-ö of monasteries at Tabo (now in Hi-machal Pradesh, India) and Toling, west Tibet

1032 – 1227 Xixia (Minyak or Tangut) dynasty in northwestern China c. 996 – 1035 life of Shenchen Luga, revealer of Bönpo canonical

scriptures 997 – 1099 Tsongkha kingdom rules in northeastern Tibet 1012 – 65 reign of Gyelsé (Ch. Gusiluo), imperial scion in Tsongkha

kingdom 1017 Tangpoché monastery founded in Yarlung Valley 1027 introduction of Kalacakra tantra and inception of new

calendrical system based upon it 1042 Atiqa (982 – 1054) arrives in Gugé 1045 Atiqa travels to Central Tibet 1054 death of Atiqa at Nyetang 1057 foundation of Radreng (Reting) monastery by Atiqa’s dis-

ciple Dromtön (1004 – 64) 1073 foundation of Sakya monastery by Khön Könchok Gyelpo

(1034 – 1102) 1073 foundation of Sangpu monastery by Ngok Lekpé Sherap 1096 death of Marpa (b. c. 1012), founder of Kagyü tantric

lineage 1099 Tsongkha kingdom falls to the Song dynasty 1123 death of Milarepa (b. 1040), poet-saint of the Kagyü 1143 death of Machik Lapdrön (b. c. 1055), female saint and

founder of the lineage of Severance 1153 death of Gampopa (b. 1079), founder of Kagyü monastic

order 1159 foundation of Katok monastery in Kham by Dampa

Deshek (1122 – 92) 1170 death of Pakmodrupa Dorjé Gyelpo (b. 1110), founder of

Pakmodrupa Kagyü order1169–93 reign of Renzong (b. 1139) in Xixia; extends support to

Tibetan Buddhism 1175 foundation of Tsel Gungtang monastery outside Lhasa by

Lama Zhang (1122 – 93) 1179 foundation of Drikung-til monastery by Kyopa Jikten

Sumgön (1143 – 1217) 1180 foundation of Taklung monastery by Taklung Tangpa

Trashipel (1142 – 1210) 1193 death of Düsum Khyenpa (b. 1110), First Karmapa and

founder of the Karma Kagyü1193 Indian Buddhist university of Nalanda sacked by

Bakhtiyar Khalji

xxxii Dates in Tibetan History and Key Events

1204 arrival in Tibet of the Kashmiri master Sakyaqribhadra c. 1200 – 1769 Malla kings rule the Kathmandu Valley c. 1207 Jagaddala in Bengal, among the last of the major Buddhist

monasteries in India, destroyed 1211 death of Tsangpa Gyaré (b. 1161), founder of Drukpa Kagyü

order, later the state religion of Bhutan 1227 death of Chinggis Khan (b. c. 1167) 1240 fi rst Mongol invasion of Tibet ordered by Köden; razes

Radreng (Reting) monastery 1246 Sakya Pandita (1182 – 1251) meets Köden Khan in Liang-

zhou, Gansu 1252 Mongol armies under Möngke Khan ravage eastern

Tibet 1256 Möngke holds religious debates at Sira-ordos, attended by

Karma Pakshi (1206 – 83), the second Karmapa 1264 – 1350 Sakyapa rule, under Mongol authority 1264 Sakyapa Lama Pakpa (1235 – 80) appointed leader of

Tibet by Qubilai Khan (1215 – 94) 1268 Mongol-sponsored census of Tibetan households 1271 eastern Mongol empire, under Qubilai Khan, adopts the

dynastic title Yuan 1278 xylographic publication of Sakya Pandita’s Logic in Beijing 1285 Hülegü Khan, ruler of Mongols in Persia, assists

Drigungpa assault on Sakya 1280 – 1368 Yuan dynasty rules all of China 1290 Drigung monastery razed by armies of Qubilai Khan 1299 – 1923 Ottoman Empire 1304 comparative catalogue of Tibetan and Chinese Buddhist

canons completed with Yuan support 1339 death of Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorjé (b. 1284) 1350 fall of the Sakyapa hegemony 1350 – 1642 Pakmodrupa, Rinpungpa, and Tsangpa hegemonies 1354 Mongols recognize Tai Situ Jangchup Gyeltsen (1302 – 64)

as ruler of Tibet 1361 death of Jonangpa master Dölpopa Sherap Gyeltsen (b.

1292) 1363 death of Longchen Rapjampa (b. 1308) 1364 death of Butön Rinchendrup (b. 1290) 1368 – 1644 Ming dynasty rules China 1369 Fourth Karmapa, Rölpé Dorjé (1340-83), dispatches mis-

sion to Nanjing, China, to celebrate the foundation of the Ming dynasty

1385 – 1432 reign of Pakmodrupa ruler Miwang Drakpa Gyeltsen

Dates in Tibetan History and Key Events xxxiii

1403 Ming emperor Yongle (r. 1402 – 24) initiated by Fifth Karmapa, Dezhinshekpa (1384 – 1415)

1405 foundation of Bön monastery Menri in Tsang by Nyammé Sherap Gyeltsen (1356 – 1415)

1409 Tsongkhapa establishes Great Prayer Festival in Lhasa and founds Ganden monastery

1410 Yongle emperor publishes Tibetan Buddhist canon (Kang yur)

1416 foundation of Drepung monastery by Tsongkhapa’s disci-ple Jamyang Chöjé (1379 – 1449)

1418 Choné ruler in southeast Amdo recognized by Yongle emperor; family rules until 1949

1419 foundation of Sera monastery by Tsongkhapa’s disciple Jamchen Chöjé (1354 – 1435)

1419 death of Tsongkhapa (b. 1357) 1432 death of Gyeltsap-jé (b. 1364), Tsongkhapa’s successor at

Ganden 1435 Samdruptsé (later Zhigatsé) seized by the Rinpungpa,

vassals and rivals of the Pakmodrupa 1447 foundation of Trashilhünpo monastery at Samdruptsé by

Gendün-drup (1391 – 1474), posthumously held to be First Dalai Lama

1453 fall of Constantinople to Ottoman Empire 1498 – 1518 suppression of the Gelukpa in the Lhasa region by the

Rinpungpa administration 1501 – 1736 Safavid dynasty in Iran 1526 – 1858 Mughal empire in northern India 1542 death of Gendün Gyatso (b. 1476), posthumously held to

be Second Dalai Lama1542 – 82 reign of Altan Khan; invades Amdo and converts to

Tibetan Buddhism 1565 fall of the Rinpungpa 1578 Sönam Gyatso (1543 – 88) receives title of Dalai Lama from

Mongol leader Altan Khan 1588 foundation of Kumbum monastery in Amdo by Dalai

Lama Sönam Gyatso 1600s – 1700s expansion of Russian empire in Siberia 1603 – 34 reign of Ligdan Khan of the Chahar khanate, last of the

Borjigid line; embraces the Sakya order of Tibetan Buddhism in 1617

1604 foundation of Gönlung monastery in Amdo 1605 Wanli emperor (r. 1572 – 1620) of the Ming dynasty pub-

lishes the Tibetan Buddhist canon

xxxiv Dates in Tibetan History and Key Events

1617 death of Fourth Dalai Lama, Yönten Gyatso (b. 1589), a Tümed Mongol; birth of Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lozang Gyatso

1618 fi nal defeat of the Pakmodrupa by the Tsangpa regime; Tenth Karmapa, Chöying Dorjé (1605 – 74), crowned by the Tsangpa as spiritual leader of Tibet

1630 arrival of Oirat (later called Kalmyk) Mongols in the re-gion of Astrakhan, Russia

1634 death of Taranatha (b. 1575), Jonangpa teacher and histo-rian; foundation of ecclesiastical state in Bhutan

1630s – 1756 Zunghar Khanate rules much of central Eurasia, embrac-ing Tibetan Buddhism

1636 – 1724 Khoshud Khanate, under Gushri Khan and his sons, rules most of Amdo

1638 – 45 Mahakala Temple complex established in Mukden, capi-tal of the Manchu Jin dynasty

1642 – 1959 Ganden Podrang regime 1642 the Khoshud Gushri Khan (1582 – 1655) defeats the Tsangpa

regime; beginning of the Fifth Dalai Lama’s rule; enthronement of Püntsok Namgyel, fi rst Tibetan King of Sikkim

1644 – 1911 Qing (Manchu) dynasty rules China 1644–61 reign of Emperor Shunzhi (b. 1638) 1645 construction of the Potala Palace begins c. 1651 death of Zhapdrung Ngawang Namgyel (b. 1594),

Tibetan founder of the Drukpa Kagyü ecclesiastical state in Bhutan

1652 – 53 journey of Fifth Dalai Lama to Beijing; meets Emperor Shunzhi

1658 – 1707 life of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb; Mughal empire reaches largest extent

1661 – 1722 reign of Qing Emperor Kangxi 1662 death of Chökyi Gyeltsen (b. 1570), tutor of Fourth and

Fifth Dalai Lamas and fi rst recognized Panchen Lama (numbered Fourth)

1682 death of Fifth Dalai Lama, concealed by Regent Sanggyé Gyatso until 1696

1684 – 92 Kangxi edition of Tibetan Buddhist canon published 1700 Lhazang Khan becomes chief of Mongol forces in

Tibet 1705 assassination of Regent Sanggyé Gyatso (b. 1653) by order

of the wife of Lhazang Khan; Lhazang rules central Tibet until his death in 1717

Dates in Tibetan History and Key Events xxxv

1706 death of Sixth Dalai Lama (b. 1683) following his de-thronement by Lhazang Khan

1709 foundation of Labrang monastery in Gansu by Jamyang Zhepa (1648 – 1721)

1717 invasion of Tibet by Zunghar Mongols1718 – 20 Kangxi edition of Mongolian translation of Tibetan

Kangyur published 1720 Tibetan and Manchu forces repel Zunghars; Seventh Dalai

Lama, Kelzang Gyatso (1708 – 57), installed at Potala Palace

1722 – 35 reign of Qing Emperor Yongzheng 1723 – 24 Mongols and Tibetans in Amdo rebel against Manchus

but are harshly suppressed 1727 – 47 Polhané (1689 – 1747), with Manchu support, rules Tibet 1727 – 35 Seventh Dalai Lama exiled to Kham 1727 Qing court establishes a mban as resident envoy in Lhasa;

position lasts until 1911 1730 – 32 publication, under Polhané’s sponsorship, of Kangyur at

Nartang 1733 completion of Dergé printed edition of Kangyur 1744 completion of Dergé printed edition of Tengyur (canoni-

cal commentaries) 1744 foundation of Yonghe gong Gelukpa monastic university

in Beijing 1737 – 96 reign of Qing Emperor Qianlong 1747 – 50 Tibet ruled by Polhané’s son Gyurmé Namgyel, who dies

in abortive rebellion against Manchus 1750 Seventh Dalai Lama becomes head of state 1757–77 regency of Sixth Demo Khutughtu (1723 – 77)1757 – 1858 British East India Company rule in India 1768 Prithvi Narayan Shah (1742 – 75) establishes Shah (Gurkha)

dynasty in Nepal 1774 death of Situ Panchen Chökyi Jungné (b. 1699), founder

of Pelpung monastery in Dergé1774 East India Company Governor Warren Hastings dispatches

George Bogle to Tibet 1777 – 86 regency of Tsemönling, former chaplain of the Qianlong

emperor1778 Ulan Bator, capital of modern Mongolia, founded 1780 death in Beijing of Sixth Panchen Lama, Pelden Yeshé

(b. 1738), Bogle’s host in Tibet 1786 death of Changkya Rölpé Dorjé (b. 1717), Buddhist tutor

of the Qianlong emperor

xxxvi Dates in Tibetan History and Key Events

1792 Nepalese invasion of Tibet repulsed by Qing army; Qian-long emperor enacts reforms of Tibetan administration

1794 Qianlong edition of Manchu translation of Tibetan Kangyur published

1796 – 1820 reign of Qing Emperor Jiaqing 1804 death of Eighth Dalai Lama, Jampel Gyatso (b. 1758) 1815 death of Ninth Dalai Lama, Lungtok Gyatso (b. 1805)1814 – 16 Anglo – Nepal War 1819 – 44 regency of Tsemönling Jampel Tsültrim Gyatso, scion of

Choné’s ruling family 1837 death of Tenth Dalai Lama, Tsültrim Gyatso (b. 1816) 1837 – 65 Nyarong wars in Kham, concluded by Manchu and Cen-

tral Tibetan intervention1839 – 42 Opium War weakens China 1845 – 62 regency of Radreng (Reting) Yeshé Tsültrim Gyeltsen1846 British annexation of Ladakh 1850 – 64 Taiping Rebellion 1851 death of Amdo poet-saint Zhapkar Tsokdruk Rangdröl

(b. 1781) 1855 death of Eleventh Dalai Lama, Khedrup Gyatso (b. 1838);

Nepalese invade Tibetan border regions1857 Indian Rebellion (formerly known as the Sepoy Mutiny)

aims to overthrow the rule of the British East India Company

1858 – 1947 British Raj rules India following the dissolution of the East India Company

1861 British annexation of Sikkim 1864 – 73 regency of Dedruk Khyenrap Wangchuk 1875 death of Twelfth Dalai Lama, Trinlé Gyatso (b. 1856)1874 – 1908 reign of Qing Emperor Guangxu 1875 – 86 regency of Tatsak Ngawang Pelden 1876 birth of Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tupten Gyatso 1883 anti-Nepalese riots in Lhasa 1884 – 1908 China governed by Empress Dowager Cixi (b. 1835) 1886 – 95 regency of Demo Khutughtu Lozang Trinlé 1895 Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tupten Gyatso, becomes head of

state 1899 death of Jamgön Kongtrül (b. 1813) 1904 Younghusband Expedition invades Central Tibet; Thir-

teenth Dalai Lama fl ees to Mongolia 1905 Chinese general Zhao Erfeng’s campaigns crush monas-

teries in southern Kham 1906 – 11 reign of infant Emperor Puyi (1906 – 67)

Dates in Tibetan History and Key Events xxxvii

1907 Bhutanese monarchy founded; coronation of King Ugyen Wangchuk (1862 – 1926)

1908 Thirteenth Dalai Lama, still in exile, visits Beijing for imperial audience

1909 Thirteenth Dalai Lama returns to Tibet 1910 General Zhao Erfeng invades Tibet; Thirteenth Dalai

Lama fl ees to India 1912 return of Thirteenth Dalai Lama; Chinese garrison driven

from Central Tibet; death of Mipam Rinpoché (b. 1846)1912 – 49 Chinese Republic founded following the fall of the

Manchu Qing dynasty 1924 Ninth Panchen Lama (1883 – 1937) fl ees into exile in China 1924 Mongolian People’s Republic founded 1929 Qinghai made a province under the Chinese Muslim Ma

family, who oppress the Amdo Tibetans 1933 death of Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tupten Gyatso 1934 Radreng (Reting) Rinpoché (1911 – 47) made regent 1935 birth of Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, in

Taktsé, Qinghai 1937 Ninth Panchen Lama dies in Jyekundo while seeking to

return to Central Tibet 1938 birth of Tenth Panchen Lama (d. 1989) in Bindo, Amdo 1941 Radreng (Reting) Rinpoché steps down as regent in favor

of Takdra Rinpoché 1947 Reting Rinpoché seeks to regain power in abortive

rebellionAugust 15, 1947 India becomes independent, marking the end of the

British Indian Empire October 1, 1949 establishment of the People’s Republic of China under

Mao Zedong 1950 Fourteenth Dalai Lama made head of state at age 15 October 24, 1951 Tibet is incorporated into the People’s Republic of China

by the “Seventeen-Point Agreement”