617-649

Srong-btsan Gam-po invites medical doctors to his court from India, China, Nepal, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Greece. Collaborations of these doctors produces the now lost medical treatise "Fearless Weapon" ('Jigs-med mtshon cha).

11th c.

Rin-chen bzang-po (958-1055) establishes inlfuential medical school in Western Tibet at monastery Tho-ling. School based on the thesis of "the new medical school" (started in 8th c with Srong-btsan Gam-po), based on Indian traditions.

Under Rin-chen bzang-po many medical treatises translated, most importantly Vagbhata's "Astangahridayasamhita".

11th c.

Terton Zla-ba mngon shes-can (also named Grwa-pa mgon shes) reveals "rGyud-bzhi".

12th c.

A school established in Central Tibet connected with gYu-thog Junior (gTu-thog yon-tan mgon-po, 1112-1203). This is generally related to beginning of the tradition of the "rGyud-bzhi".

Tradition states that the "rGyud-bzhi" was translated by Vairocana in the 8th c. and presented to Srong-btsan Gam-po. During the construction of bSam-yas, the text was hidden in a pillar and rediscovered 150 years later by the terton Zla-ba mngon shes-can (also named Grwa-pa mgon shes). The treatise was given to dKon-mchog skyabs-bu, and passed along until it reached gYu-thog Junior.

Principle commentaries to the "rGyud-bzhi" include the "Dul-dkar me-ling", "Bye ba ring-bsrel", "Mes-po'i zhal-lung", "Vaidurya sngon-po".

In the colophon of Desi Sangs-rgyas rgya-mtsho's "Vaidurya sngon-po", he states that the principle sources of the "rGyud-bzhi" were the Tibetan translations of the "Astangahridaya-samhita" and the "Soma-raja", a Chinese medical text (it seems that pulse analysis and urinalysis come from this text). It seems that details about the use of Himalayan flora and fauna comes from a uniquely Tibetan tradition. Some do not agree that Soma-raja is a Chinese text, however, stating rather that it is Indian.

13th c.

Brang-ti dpal-ldan tsho-byed composes "The Brilliant Lamp of Anatomy" and "Illustrations of Medicaments".

14th c.

Two medical schools co-existed, the Byang and Zur, after the men Byang-ba zham rgyal grags bzang and Zur-khar-ba nyams nyid rdo-rje. Schools differed in interpretation of the "rGyud-bzhi". Produced many commentaries.

17th c

Desi Sangs-rgyas rgya-mtsho (1653-1705; 5th DL's regent) wrote "Vaidurya sngon-po" and "Vaidurya dkar-po", a text on astrology. Also wrote "Khog-'bugs"(also called "Vaidurya me-long") on the history of medicine, and "The Atlas of Tibetan Medicine". Also wrote the "Lhan-thabs" as a supplement to the 3rd colume of "rGyud-bzhi".

Bolsokhoyeva states about the "Vaidurya sngon-po" that "the experience of the various oriental medical systems, in particular the Indian and Chinese systems, brought forth synthesis according to the standard of the tantric theory of the medicine. (21)"

"Khog-'bugs" has 38 chapters, the first 9 about the developemnt of medicine in India, the rest about history of medicine in Tibet from 8th-17th c. Text discusses biographies and important of gYu-thog yon-tan mgon-po Senior (708-833) and gYu-thog yon-tan mgon-pa Junior (1112-1203). Text analyzes 15th c. activities of Byang and Zur schools, providing history of both medical schools in context of general history of Tibetan state.

Chags-pa chos-'phel (also called gZhon-nu Chags-pa rnam-chos-'phel; became a geshe at Phun-ling monastery) played important role in production of "The Atlas of Tibetan Medicine", the "Vaidurya sngon-po", and a 1723 edition of the "rGyud-bzhi" (in which Bolsokhoyeva states that he "connected the tenets of the medicine with dogmas of the Tantric teaching (26)).

Establishment of medical center sMan-rtsi khang in lCags-po ri under 5th DL and Desi Sangs-rgyas rgya-mtsho unifies different medical schools.

18th c.

Pharmacologist bsTan-'dzin phun-tshogs writes pharmacological treatises "Shel-'phreng" and "Shel-gong"

20th c

Physician mKyen-rab nor-bu (1883-1962) founds the Institute of Tibetan Medicine and Astrology (sMan-rtsi khang) in Lhasa.

mKyen-rab nor-bu writes complete commentary to the "rGyud-bzhi"

1970's

Pa-sang yon-tan, in Dharamsala, writes "Bod-kyi gso-ba rig-pa'i lo-rgyus kyi bang mdzad gYu-thog bla-ma dran pa'i pho-nya", containing a history of tibetan medicine, based on Tibetan and European sources. Author notes role of the kings of centralized Tibetan state in spreading medical knowledge. Discusses role of bSam-yas conference. Notes Greek, Arab, and Chinese sources as well as Indian. Includes biographies of Tibetan doctors. Attaches much importance to influence of Bon-po medical texts. Discusses the spread of medicine in Eastern Tibet, including biographies of physicians and list of texts from this area. Also talks about spread of Tibetan medicine to Mongolia, China, and Himalayan regions (Bhotia). Includes bibliography of Tibetan and European sources.