Tibetan Historical Works in THDL History Collections

While hundreds of Tibetan historical works contain a wealth of information about people, places, and practices, finding this information can often be a time consuming and difficult process. The History Collections seek to make useful historical works available to interested readers by providing e-texts, outlines in Tibetan and English, summaries, and eventually digital images of texts. Works from all regions and eras are included, from ninth century chronicles to studies by contemporary Tibetan historians. The e-texts presented here are not intended to be critical editions, and should be used in conjunction with the printed texts.

1. Situ's Guide to Samyé Monastery
Translated by Dan Martin

A translation of: Si tu Chos kyi rgya mtsho (1880-1924). Si tu chos kyi rgya mtsho'i gangs ljongs dbus gtsang gnas bskor lam yig nor bu zla shel gyi se mo do. Bod ljongs bod yig dpe rnying dpe skrun khang, Lhasa. 1999. (Gangs can rigs mdzod 33). pp. 136-151.

This e-text is detailed guide of the art, architecture, and religious paraphernalia of Samyé Monastery. This translation is intended primarily for consultation with the Tibetan text, and should not be taken as a definitive translation.

2. The Testament of Ba
Input by Dan Martin

The Sba bzhed, or Testament of Ba, is among the oldest Tibetan historical works presently available. This e-text is intended to be a searchable companion to the printed work, which should be consulted for any detailed research. For more information on the Sba bzhed, see the following works:

3. The Ruby Key: A General History of Tibet. Tupten Püntsok
Table of contents: Input and translated by Kurtis Schaeffer

Thub bstan phun tshogs (1996). Bod kyi lo rgyus spyi don padma ra'a ga'i lde mig. Si khron mi rigs dpe skrun khang. 2 volumes. [Not listed in Martin (1997)].

The Padma ra'a ga'i lde mig is a survey of Tibetan history from its early origins to the modern period. Tupten Püntsok discusses social life, the development of technology and the arts, and regional history in the framework of a political history of major ruling institutions. We present here the Tibetan table of contents along with a translation in order to facilitate use of Tupten Püntsok's historical survey and to provide some idea of the scope of modern Tibetan historical writing. Tupten Püntsok, from Dege (sde dge), is a member of the Tibetan Language Teaching and Research Section of the Central Institute of Nationalities, Beijing (Krung dbyang mi rigs slob grwa chen mo'i bod yig slob dpyod).

4. A List of Reincarnations
Input by Dan Martin

Bod kyi gal che'i lo rgyus yig cha bdams bsgrigs. Bod ljongs bod yig dpe rnying dpe skrun khang, Lhasa. 1991 (Gangs can rig mdzod 6). Section entitled "Bod dang /_bar khams/_rgya sog bcas kyi bla sprul rnams kyi skye phreng deb gzhung" on pp. 281-369.

This list of over one-hundred and thirty reincarnations was evidently ordered to be compiled in a Wood Dog year (1814, with little doubt) for the Tibet-resident Amban Hu-zhang (perhaps this is the Amban Hu'u-zhang who was in Tibet from 1823-1827, although note that there was no Wood Dog year during his tenure). It was compiled on the basis of previous such lists. Evidently someone updated the list 6 years after it was first made (in 1820?), and added intralinear numerals to indicate the then-current age of the incumbent Rinpoches.

5. Guru Trashi's History of Buddhism (pdf file)
Outline developed by Bryan Cuevas

Bstan pa'i snying po gsang chen snga 'gyur nges don zab mo'i chos kyi byung ba gsal bar byed pa'i legs bshad mkhas pa dga' byed ngo mtshar gtam gyi rol mtsho. Edited by Rdo rje rgyal po. Beijing: Krung go'i bod kyi shes rig dpe skrun khang, 1990.

This annotated outline of Guru Trashi's important history of Buddhism and Tibetan culture is intended to aid readers in quickly locating information in the Beijing edition.