Sumpa
Encyclopedia
The Sumpa were a tribe living in northeastern Tibet
from ancient times. According to historical sources they descended from the Qiang people, and they likely spoke a Tibetan dialect. Their territory was absorbed by the Tibetan Empire
in the late 7th century, after which point they gradually lost their independent identity. The Sumpa are the same people known to the Chinese as the Supi 蘇毗 or Sunpo 孫波.
(c. 1600-1046 BCE). It has been suugested by Christopher I. Beckwith that their name may have derived from an Indo-European
root meaning 'charioteer'.
After they were annexed by the Tibetans they took the name of Sunpo (= Sumpa). They were the largest of the tribes in the region and consisted of some 30,000 family units. Their territory extended from the border of the Domi people to the east as far as the Houmangxia (or Houmang Gorge) Pass in the west.
The location of the Supi/Sumpa kingdom in the 7th-8th centuries in northeastern Tibet stretched from the southern bank of the Yak River (Chinese: Tongtian River
- known in Tibetan as the Chu-dmar, the largest upper course of the 'Bri-chu or Yangtze River
) in the east about 1,400 li (roughly 452 km) southwest to the Houmangxia Pass (= the Ta-tsang-la) and ranged at times as far as Khotan
.
The Sumpa were considered part of the Tibetan kingdom as early as the 6th century CE, in the time of Songtsän Gampo's father Namri Songtsen
, and are thought to have spoken a Tibetan dialect.
. They are described as being among the invaders of Khotan ('the red-faced (Tibetans), Huns, Chinese, Supiya'). To the Khotanese
, who had been a settled people for about a thousand years, they appeared as savage and uncouth. They are also mentioned as having been in Niya
and Cherchen.
The Supi have also been closely associated with mysterious "Kingdoms of Women" during the Sui dynasty
(581-617 CE). "A queen of the Suvarņagotra in the western 女國 Niu-kuo [Pinyin: Nüguo] of women was called in Chinese Su-p'i, which may indicate a woman of the Supīya."
The Tibetan Annals
record that the Tibetans took the territory of Śo-čhigs of the Sumpa in 692 and in 702 the Emperor Tridu Songtsen and his Council made an inspection of Sumpa territory. According to documents from Dunhuang
the Advisor, Mangporje, brought "the whole country of the Sumpa under tribute" under Songtsän Gampo probably c. 627.
Although the original annexation of the Sumpa by the Chinese appears to have been basically peaceful, and the Sumpa were gradually assimilated into the general Tibetan population, there were occasional tensions between the two groups. The Old Tibetan Chronicle
says that Myang Mangporje advised Songtsän Gampo against attacking the Sumpa, who had been among his father Namri Songtsen
’s feudatory states. "Instead he offered protection for their flocks, wherefore, in the words of the Chronicle, ‘all their households were naturally captured as subjects.’"
Along with the 'Asha (Tuyuhun) they were rapidly absorbed by the Yarlung
Dynasty during the 7th and 8th centuries CE. After their submission to the Tibetans from Yarlung, they were stationed in Minyak or modern Amdo
, to guard the eastern frontier against the Chinese.
According to Tangshu 221b; during the Tianbao era (742-755), the Sumpa king, Molingzan, wanted to submit to the Chinese Empire with all his people, but he was killed by the Tibetans. His son Xinuo, accompanied by some dignitaries sought refuge in Longyou in Gansu
. The Governor sent them with an escort to the capital where the Emperor, Xuanzong
(reigned 712-756 CE), treated them with great honours. The Xin Tangshu 216a places the submission of the son of the Supi king in 755. It gives his name as Xinuoluo and says that he was granted the title of Huaiyi ("he who cherishes justice") Prince, and was given the family name of Li. It adds, "The Supi are a powerful tribe."
Evidence from documents on woodslips found near Khotan
shows that "Tibetan armies, including previously subjugated Sumpa and Zhangzhung elements" were stationed along the Southern Silk Route from the mid-eighth to mid-ninth century CE. A major administrative division or "horn" of Tibet (there were six altogether), was named "Sumpa-ru". It was in northeastern Tibet (Amdo
) near Miran
, and soldiers were sent from there to man camps at Mazar-tagh and Miran in the southern Tarim Basin.
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
from ancient times. According to historical sources they descended from the Qiang people, and they likely spoke a Tibetan dialect. Their territory was absorbed by the Tibetan Empire
Tibetan Empire
The historic name for the Tibetan Empire is different from Tibet's present name.Traditional Tibetan history preserves a lengthy list of rulers, whose exploits become subject to external verification in the Chinese histories by the seventh century. From the 7th to the 11th century a series of...
in the late 7th century, after which point they gradually lost their independent identity. The Sumpa are the same people known to the Chinese as the Supi 蘇毗 or Sunpo 孫波.
Origins and territory
The Tangshu, chap. 221b, says that the people of the country of Supi (Sumpa) were originally of Western Qiang descent. The Qiang had been in the region for a very long time - they were the main foreign enemies of the Shang dynastyShang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty or Yin Dynasty was, according to traditional sources, the second Chinese dynasty, after the Xia. They ruled in the northeastern regions of the area known as "China proper" in the Yellow River valley...
(c. 1600-1046 BCE). It has been suugested by Christopher I. Beckwith that their name may have derived from an Indo-European
Indo-European
Indo-European may refer to:* Indo-European languages** Aryan race, a 19th century and early 20th century term for those peoples who are the native speakers of Indo-European languages...
root meaning 'charioteer'.
After they were annexed by the Tibetans they took the name of Sunpo (= Sumpa). They were the largest of the tribes in the region and consisted of some 30,000 family units. Their territory extended from the border of the Domi people to the east as far as the Houmangxia (or Houmang Gorge) Pass in the west.
The location of the Supi/Sumpa kingdom in the 7th-8th centuries in northeastern Tibet stretched from the southern bank of the Yak River (Chinese: Tongtian River
Tongtian River
The Tongtian River is a section of the Yangtze River within China's Qinghai Province. . It is one of the...
- known in Tibetan as the Chu-dmar, the largest upper course of the 'Bri-chu or Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
) in the east about 1,400 li (roughly 452 km) southwest to the Houmangxia Pass (= the Ta-tsang-la) and ranged at times as far as Khotan
Khotan
Hotan , or Hetian , also spelled Khotan, is the seat of the Hotan Prefecture in Xinjiang, China. It was previously known in Chinese as 于窴/於窴 and to 19th-century European explorers as Ilchi....
.
The Sumpa were considered part of the Tibetan kingdom as early as the 6th century CE, in the time of Songtsän Gampo's father Namri Songtsen
Namri Songtsen
Namri Songtsen , also known as "Namri Löntsen" was, according to tradition, the 32nd King of Tibet , despite the fact he formerly ruled only the Yarlung valley, and later the central part of the Tibetan plateau...
, and are thought to have spoken a Tibetan dialect.
History
The Sumpa/Supi are associated with the Supiya of Kharosthi documents of about 300 CE from the Tarim BasinTarim Basin
The Tarim Basin is a large endorheic basin occupying an area of about . It is located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China's far west. Its northern boundary is the Tian Shan mountain range and its southern is the Kunlun Mountains on the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. The...
. They are described as being among the invaders of Khotan ('the red-faced (Tibetans), Huns, Chinese, Supiya'). To the Khotanese
Kingdom of Khotan
The Kingdom of Khotan was an ancient Buddhist kingdom that was located on the branch of the Silk Road that ran along the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert in the Tarim basin. -Early names:-Capital:...
, who had been a settled people for about a thousand years, they appeared as savage and uncouth. They are also mentioned as having been in Niya
Niya
Niya may refer to* Ruins of Niya , a site on the southern edge of the Tarim Basin, in modern-day Xinjiang, China* Niya, county seat of Minfeng County in the Tarim Basin, China...
and Cherchen.
The Supi have also been closely associated with mysterious "Kingdoms of Women" during the Sui dynasty
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
(581-617 CE). "A queen of the Suvarņagotra in the western 女國 Niu-kuo [Pinyin: Nüguo] of women was called in Chinese Su-p'i, which may indicate a woman of the Supīya."
The Tibetan Annals
Tibetan Annals
The Tibetan Annals, or Old Tibetan Annals , are composed of two manuscripts written in Old Tibetan language found in the early 20th century in the "hidden library", the Mogao Grottoes near Dunhuang, which is believed to have been sealed in the 11th century CE...
record that the Tibetans took the territory of Śo-čhigs of the Sumpa in 692 and in 702 the Emperor Tridu Songtsen and his Council made an inspection of Sumpa territory. According to documents from Dunhuang
Dunhuang
Dunhuang is a city in northwestern Gansu province, Western China. It was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. It was also known at times as Shāzhōu , or 'City of Sands', a name still used today...
the Advisor, Mangporje, brought "the whole country of the Sumpa under tribute" under Songtsän Gampo probably c. 627.
Although the original annexation of the Sumpa by the Chinese appears to have been basically peaceful, and the Sumpa were gradually assimilated into the general Tibetan population, there were occasional tensions between the two groups. The Old Tibetan Chronicle
Old Tibetan Chronicle
The Old Tibetan Chronicle is a scroll containing 536 lines, however the end is missing. There are Chinese Buddhist texts on the reverse side of the scroll...
says that Myang Mangporje advised Songtsän Gampo against attacking the Sumpa, who had been among his father Namri Songtsen
Namri Songtsen
Namri Songtsen , also known as "Namri Löntsen" was, according to tradition, the 32nd King of Tibet , despite the fact he formerly ruled only the Yarlung valley, and later the central part of the Tibetan plateau...
’s feudatory states. "Instead he offered protection for their flocks, wherefore, in the words of the Chronicle, ‘all their households were naturally captured as subjects.’"
Along with the 'Asha (Tuyuhun) they were rapidly absorbed by the Yarlung
Yarlung
Yarlung can refer to:*Yarlung Kingdom, see also: Tibetan empire*Yarlung Dynasty, see also: List of emperors of Tibet*Yarlung Valley, formed by the Yarlung River and refers especially to the district where it joins with the Chongye River, and broadens out into a large plain about 2 km wide, before...
Dynasty during the 7th and 8th centuries CE. After their submission to the Tibetans from Yarlung, they were stationed in Minyak or modern Amdo
Amdo
Amdo is one of the three traditional regions of Tibet, the other two being Ü-Tsang and Kham; it is also the birth place of the 14th Dalai Lama. Amdo encompasses a large area from the Machu River to the Drichu river . While culturally and ethnically a Tibetan area, Amdo has been administered by a...
, to guard the eastern frontier against the Chinese.
According to Tangshu 221b; during the Tianbao era (742-755), the Sumpa king, Molingzan, wanted to submit to the Chinese Empire with all his people, but he was killed by the Tibetans. His son Xinuo, accompanied by some dignitaries sought refuge in Longyou in Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
. The Governor sent them with an escort to the capital where the Emperor, Xuanzong
Xuanzong
Xuanzong can be the name of the following Chinese emperors:* Emperor Xuánzong of Tang * Emperor Xuānzong of Tang...
(reigned 712-756 CE), treated them with great honours. The Xin Tangshu 216a places the submission of the son of the Supi king in 755. It gives his name as Xinuoluo and says that he was granted the title of Huaiyi ("he who cherishes justice") Prince, and was given the family name of Li. It adds, "The Supi are a powerful tribe."
Evidence from documents on woodslips found near Khotan
Khotan
Hotan , or Hetian , also spelled Khotan, is the seat of the Hotan Prefecture in Xinjiang, China. It was previously known in Chinese as 于窴/於窴 and to 19th-century European explorers as Ilchi....
shows that "Tibetan armies, including previously subjugated Sumpa and Zhangzhung elements" were stationed along the Southern Silk Route from the mid-eighth to mid-ninth century CE. A major administrative division or "horn" of Tibet (there were six altogether), was named "Sumpa-ru". It was in northeastern Tibet (Amdo
Amdo
Amdo is one of the three traditional regions of Tibet, the other two being Ü-Tsang and Kham; it is also the birth place of the 14th Dalai Lama. Amdo encompasses a large area from the Machu River to the Drichu river . While culturally and ethnically a Tibetan area, Amdo has been administered by a...
) near Miran
Miran
Miran may refer to:Places*Miran, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan*Miran, Kabul, Afghanistan*Miran, Wardak, Afghanistan*Miran People* Miran better known nickname of Mir Sadiq Ali Khan son of Mir Jafar*Miran Bux*Mahmoud Miran*Miran Shah...
, and soldiers were sent from there to man camps at Mazar-tagh and Miran in the southern Tarim Basin.
Further reading
- Zeisler, Bettina. (2010). "Ëast of the Moon and West of the Sun? Approaches to a Land with Many Names, North of Ancient India and South of Khotan." In: The Tibet Journal, Special issue. Autumn 2009 vol XXXIV n. 3-Summer 2010 vol XXXV n. 2. "The Earth Ox Papers", edited by Roberto Vitali, pp. 371-463.