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Ancient Tibet (Tibetan History Series)

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replete with data, of Tibetan prehistory and the Old Tibetan kingdom/empire. Numerous sketch maps, (comparative) chronological tables, genealogical lists, etc. enhance the points made in the written material. The language and level of discussion resemble those of a high school book rather than those found in academic studies.

Part I (pp. 1-74): geological formation and geography of the Tibetan Plateau, regions of Tibet, fauna and flora.

Part II (pp. 75-180): Stone Age archaeological sites; legends describing the eight classes of non-human beings (sde brgyad mi-ma-yin) inhabiting the land in ancient times; the nomadic K'iang/Ch'iang/Qiang people (with their supposed Indo-European connections) of contemporary Chinese accounts; semi-mythical Tibetan rulers from gNya'-khri btsan-po (2nd half of the 3rd century BCE?) through Gri-gum btsan-po (1st c. BCE?) to the historical gNam-ri Slon-mtshan (late 6th c. CE); ancient Tibetan progenitor(ial) tribes like the bSe, dMu, sTong and lDong, which in certain sources were viewed as being related to neighbouring ethnicities such as the (Turko-?) Mongolic 'A-zha/T'u-yü-hun of the Koko Nor area, the Indo-Iranian (?) Zhang-zhung in the West, the Sum-pa of Byang-thang (Northern Plains), and the Tibeto-Burman Mi-nyag (later Tangut) in the East/NE, respectively.

Part III (pp. 181-322): the expansion and consolidation of Tibetan rule in Inner Asia during the Yar-lung dynasty's reign (618-842 CE); military campaigns; shifting strategic alliances with local powers; political marriages w/ Tang princesses; invention of the Tibetan script; the gradual introduction of Buddhism from China and India (via Nepal); the 3 dharma kings (chos-rgyal: Srong-b[r]tsan Sgam-po, Khri Srong-lde-btsan, Ral-pa-can) and others; the role noble councillors/ministers from influential clans played in the royal court; fragmentation of the empire under Glang-dar-ma's successors, Yum-brtan and 'Od-srung (2nd half of the 9th c.).

Appendices (pp. 323-38), bibliography (pp. 339-49), glossary (pp. 350-56), index (pp. 357-71).

A land absorbed by the communist Chinese, Tibet has a history as ancient as any other Chinese nation. "Ancient Tibet" turns to this civilization's ancient culture and heritage drawing on the thousands of years of recorded history for this most sacred place for the Buddhist religion. Tracing both the political and cultural history of the region, it paints a picture of one of the most religious regions on the planet and lays out the basics of understanding its people. A great first step for those who wish to further study Tibet, "Ancient Tibet" is very highly recommended reading.