Emperor Taizong's campaign against Tufan
Encyclopedia
Emperor Taizong of Tang
(r. 626
-649
), the second emperor of Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, subjugated the Xianbei
state Tuyuhun in 635
. Thereafter, Tuyuhun's southwestern neighbor, the Tibetan state Tufan, rose in power and soon displaced Tuyuhun as the major threat to Tang's west. In 638
, in retaliation to Emperor Taizong's refusal to give him a Tang princess in marriage, Tufan's Songtsän Gampo, believing that the refusal was due to Tuyuhun interference, attacked Tuyuhun and Tang with a grand force of 200,000, and while Tang's 50,000 forces, commanded by Niu Jinda (牛進達), serving under Hou Junji
, repelled the Tufan attack, Emperor Taizong decided to placate Songtsän Gampo by giving him a distant niece, Princess Wencheng
, in marriage. For the rest of Emperor Taizong's reign, there would be no further major battles between Tang and Tufan, although Tufan would pose major military threats for almost the rest of Tang Dynasty.
until 634
, when Tufan's ruler Songtsän Gampo sent emissaries with tributes to China's Tang Dynasty
and requested that he be allowed to marry a Tang princess. Emperor Taizong of Tang
, who was then battling Tufan's neighbor Tuyuhun, situated between Tang and Tufan, did not initially respond to Songtsän Gampo's marriage overture but did sent the emissary Feng Dexia (馮德遐) to Tufan to establish peaceful relations.
against Tuyuhun and, in a major campaign, overpowered Tuyuhun's Busabo Khan Murong Fuyun
, who was killed in flight. Tang thereafter created Murong Fuyun's son Murong Shun
as Tuyuhun's khan
and, after Murong Shun was assassinated late in 635
, supported Murong Shun's son Murong Nuohebo
as khan.
Feng Dexia appeared to have gotten to Tufan around the same time. By this time, Songtsän Gampo had known that, in the past, Eastern Tujue and Tuyuhun khans had married Chinese princesses, and therefore sent an emissary to accompany Feng back to Tang with further tributes and requesting to marry a Tang princess. Emperor Taizong refused. When the Tufan emissary returned to Tufan, he informed Songtsän Gampo that Emperor Taizong had initially agreed to the marriage proposal, but that Murong Nuohebo had visited Tang and was interfering, leading to Emperor Taizong's refusal. Songtsän Gampo, believing in the report, attacked Tuyuhun in anger, capturing much of the Tuyuhun people and forcing the rest to flee north of the Qinghai Lake
.
Meanwhile, in fall 638
, Tufan forces, numbering some 200,000 and apparently commanded by Songtsän Gampo himself, began attacking Tang itself, first attacking Song Prefecture (松州, roughly modern Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture
, Sichuan
) -- but meanwhile sending emissaries to the Tang capital Chang'an
, again offering tributes and declaring that they were intending to welcome a princess. Emperor Taizong responded by commissioning the general Hou Junji
to command an army, assisted by the generals Zhishi Sili (執失思力), Niu Jinda, and Liu Jian (劉簡). Meanwhile, Tufan forces were putting Song Prefecture's capital under siege, but Tang advance forces, commanded by Niu, surprised them and defeated them. In fear, Songtsän Gampo withdrew and sent emissaries to Chang'an to apologize -- but to again request marriage. Emperor Taizong agreed this time.
, Songtsän Gampo sent his prime minister Lu Dongzan (祿東贊) to Tang to offer tributes of gold and jewels, again requesting marriage. In response, Emperor Taizong created a daughter of a clansman the Princess Wencheng, preparing to give her to Songtsän Gampo in marriage. Impressed by Lu Dongzan's propriety in interacting with him, he also, over Lu Dongzan's own objection -- that he already had a wife and that it would be inappropriate for him to marry before his king -- gave Lady Duan, the granddaughter of Princess Langye, to Lu Dongzan as a wife as well.
In spring 641
, Emperor Taizong sent his cousin, Li Daozong
the Prince of Jiangxia, to accompany Lu Dongzan back to Tufan and to escort Princess Wencheng. When they arrived in Tufan, Songtsän Gampo was said to be so pleased that he bowed to Li Daozong, using ceremony appropriate for a son-in-law toward a father-in-law. He built a palace for Princess Wencheng and changed into Chinese clothing before he met her. It was said that at that time, the Tufan people had a custom that Princess Wencheng hated -- that people would paint their faces red -- and that he prohibited the custom for her sake.
For the rest of Emperor Taizong's reign, there would be no further records of conflicts with Tufan. In 647
, for example, when Tang forces attacked the Xiyu state Qiuzi (龜茲)'s king Bai Helibushibi (白訶黎布失畢), Emperor Taizong requisitioned Tufan troops. Moreover, in 648
, when the Tang emissary Wang Xuance
became stuck in political turmoil of an India
n state, he sought aid from both Tufan and Nepal
and received aid from both in helping to defeat one of the factions (649
). There would not be a conflict between Tang and Tufan until 662
, a dozen years after both Emperor Taizong and Songtsän Gampo had died.
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
(r. 626
626
Year 626 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 626 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* August 7 – The Byzantines...
-649
649
Year 649 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 649 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Arabs conquer Cyprus* Soga no Kurayamada no...
), the second emperor of Chinese
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, subjugated the Xianbei
Xianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
state Tuyuhun in 635
635
Year 635 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 635 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Religion :* Saint Aidan founds Lindisfarne in...
. Thereafter, Tuyuhun's southwestern neighbor, the Tibetan state Tufan, rose in power and soon displaced Tuyuhun as the major threat to Tang's west. In 638
638
Year 638 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 638 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* The Muslims capture Jerusalem and Akko.* In...
, in retaliation to Emperor Taizong's refusal to give him a Tang princess in marriage, Tufan's Songtsän Gampo, believing that the refusal was due to Tuyuhun interference, attacked Tuyuhun and Tang with a grand force of 200,000, and while Tang's 50,000 forces, commanded by Niu Jinda (牛進達), serving under Hou Junji
Hou Junji
Hou Junji was a major general and chancellor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, particularly known for his campaigns against Gaochang and Tuyuhun...
, repelled the Tufan attack, Emperor Taizong decided to placate Songtsän Gampo by giving him a distant niece, Princess Wencheng
Princess Wencheng
Princess Wencheng was a niece of the powerful Emperor Taizong of China's Tang Dynasty, who left China in 640, according to records, arriving the next year in Tibet to marry the thirty-seven year old Songtsän Gampo the thirty-third king of the Yarlung Dynasty of Tibet, in a marriage of...
, in marriage. For the rest of Emperor Taizong's reign, there would be no further major battles between Tang and Tufan, although Tufan would pose major military threats for almost the rest of Tang Dynasty.
Initial contacts between Tang and Tufan
The existence of Tufan was unknown to the ChineseChinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
until 634
634
Year 634 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 634 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- British Isles :* Oswald of Northumbria defeats...
, when Tufan's ruler Songtsän Gampo sent emissaries with tributes to China's Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
and requested that he be allowed to marry a Tang princess. Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
, who was then battling Tufan's neighbor Tuyuhun, situated between Tang and Tufan, did not initially respond to Songtsän Gampo's marriage overture but did sent the emissary Feng Dexia (馮德遐) to Tufan to establish peaceful relations.
Conflict in 638
Meanwhile, in late 634, Emperor Taizong had sent the general Li JingLi Jing
Li Jing , né Yaoshi , formally Duke Jingwu of Wei , was a general and one time chancellor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty...
against Tuyuhun and, in a major campaign, overpowered Tuyuhun's Busabo Khan Murong Fuyun
Murong Fuyun
Murong Fuyun , formal title Busabo Khan , was a ruler of the Xianbei/Qiang/Tibetan state Tuyuhun. He first became ruler when his brother Murong Shifu was assassinated in 597, and became one of the longest-ruling monarchs in Tuyuhun history...
, who was killed in flight. Tang thereafter created Murong Fuyun's son Murong Shun
Murong Shun
Murong Shun , regal title Zhugulüwugandou Khan or, in short, Gandou Khan , Tang Dynasty noble title Prince of Xiping , was briefly a khan of the Xianbei/Qiang/Tibetan state Tuyuhun...
as Tuyuhun's khan
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
and, after Murong Shun was assassinated late in 635
635
Year 635 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 635 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Religion :* Saint Aidan founds Lindisfarne in...
, supported Murong Shun's son Murong Nuohebo
Murong Nuohebo
Murong Nuohebo , regal title Wudiyebaledou Khan or, in short, Ledou Khan , Tang Dynasty noble title Prince of Qinghai , was the last khan of the Xianbei/Qiang/Tibetan state Tuyuhun...
as khan.
Feng Dexia appeared to have gotten to Tufan around the same time. By this time, Songtsän Gampo had known that, in the past, Eastern Tujue and Tuyuhun khans had married Chinese princesses, and therefore sent an emissary to accompany Feng back to Tang with further tributes and requesting to marry a Tang princess. Emperor Taizong refused. When the Tufan emissary returned to Tufan, he informed Songtsän Gampo that Emperor Taizong had initially agreed to the marriage proposal, but that Murong Nuohebo had visited Tang and was interfering, leading to Emperor Taizong's refusal. Songtsän Gampo, believing in the report, attacked Tuyuhun in anger, capturing much of the Tuyuhun people and forcing the rest to flee north of the Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake , is a saline lake situated in the province of Qinghai, and is the largest lake in China. The names Qinghai and Kokonor both mean "Blue/Teal Sea/Lake" in Chinese and Mongolian. It is located about west of the provincial capital of Xining at 3,205 m above sea level in a depression...
.
Meanwhile, in fall 638
638
Year 638 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 638 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* The Muslims capture Jerusalem and Akko.* In...
, Tufan forces, numbering some 200,000 and apparently commanded by Songtsän Gampo himself, began attacking Tang itself, first attacking Song Prefecture (松州, roughly modern Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture
Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture
The Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture in Sichuan, whose capital is Barkam town . It has an area of 83,201 km²....
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
) -- but meanwhile sending emissaries to the Tang capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
, again offering tributes and declaring that they were intending to welcome a princess. Emperor Taizong responded by commissioning the general Hou Junji
Hou Junji
Hou Junji was a major general and chancellor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, particularly known for his campaigns against Gaochang and Tuyuhun...
to command an army, assisted by the generals Zhishi Sili (執失思力), Niu Jinda, and Liu Jian (劉簡). Meanwhile, Tufan forces were putting Song Prefecture's capital under siege, but Tang advance forces, commanded by Niu, surprised them and defeated them. In fear, Songtsän Gampo withdrew and sent emissaries to Chang'an to apologize -- but to again request marriage. Emperor Taizong agreed this time.
Marriage between Songtsän Gampo and Princess Wencheng
However, no further action was taken to carry out the marriage for about two years. In fall 640640
Year 640 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 640 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Tulga succeeds his father Suinthila as king...
, Songtsän Gampo sent his prime minister Lu Dongzan (祿東贊) to Tang to offer tributes of gold and jewels, again requesting marriage. In response, Emperor Taizong created a daughter of a clansman the Princess Wencheng, preparing to give her to Songtsän Gampo in marriage. Impressed by Lu Dongzan's propriety in interacting with him, he also, over Lu Dongzan's own objection -- that he already had a wife and that it would be inappropriate for him to marry before his king -- gave Lady Duan, the granddaughter of Princess Langye, to Lu Dongzan as a wife as well.
In spring 641
641
Year 641 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 641 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* February 11 – Byzantine...
, Emperor Taizong sent his cousin, Li Daozong
Li Daozong
Li Daozong , courtesy name Chengfan , was an imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was a cousin of Emperor Taizong, and in Emperor Taizong's reign commanded forces in campaigns against Eastern Tujue, Tuyuhun, Goguryeo, and Xueyantuo...
the Prince of Jiangxia, to accompany Lu Dongzan back to Tufan and to escort Princess Wencheng. When they arrived in Tufan, Songtsän Gampo was said to be so pleased that he bowed to Li Daozong, using ceremony appropriate for a son-in-law toward a father-in-law. He built a palace for Princess Wencheng and changed into Chinese clothing before he met her. It was said that at that time, the Tufan people had a custom that Princess Wencheng hated -- that people would paint their faces red -- and that he prohibited the custom for her sake.
Other points
Thanks to another side of the agreement, he also sent nobles and family members to Chang'an to study at Tang's imperial university. In an old custom which make this people are de facto use as hostages by Tang, while they also learn Chinese custom and culture for better future relationships. Songtsän Gampo also requested Chinese scholars. Early in Gaozong's reign, Tibet also requested technology transfers for sericulture, wine-brewing, grain mills and paper industries.For the rest of Emperor Taizong's reign, there would be no further records of conflicts with Tufan. In 647
647
Year 647 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 647 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* A stone tower astronomical observatory named...
, for example, when Tang forces attacked the Xiyu state Qiuzi (龜茲)'s king Bai Helibushibi (白訶黎布失畢), Emperor Taizong requisitioned Tufan troops. Moreover, in 648
648
Year 648 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 648 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Literature :* The Book of Jin is compiled in China...
, when the Tang emissary Wang Xuance
Wang Xuance
Wang Xuance , fl. 7th century) was a Tang Dynasty guard officer and diplomat. In 648, Tang Taizong sent him to India in response to Harshavardhana sending an ambassador to China. However once in India he discovered Harshavardhana had died and the new king attacked Wang and his 30 mounted subordinates...
became stuck in political turmoil of an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state, he sought aid from both Tufan and Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and received aid from both in helping to defeat one of the factions (649
649
Year 649 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 649 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Arabs conquer Cyprus* Soga no Kurayamada no...
). There would not be a conflict between Tang and Tufan until 662
662
Year 662 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 662 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* The regent Grimuald usurps the kingship of...
, a dozen years after both Emperor Taizong and Songtsän Gampo had died.