Yumbu Lhakhang, Palace of the Yarlung Kings in the Yarlung Valley of Tibet

At the time when the first ruler of Tibet was established, the empire of Zhang Zhung was vast, the practice of Yungdrung Bön was flourishing and the Buddhism of India founded by Shakyamuni had not yet entered the territory of Tibet.  The principality of Tibet consisted of minor kingdoms but was not yet unified under the rule of a single monarch.  In order to consolidate power, the leaders of central and eastern Tibet decided to appoint a sole ruler of the entire realm.

During this time, it is said that Nyatri Tsenpo, the first king of Tibet, appeared and was chosen to rule over the Tibetans.  His ancestry is of other-worldy origins and has been variously detailed as descending from either the gods or the powerful theurang spirits.  In either case, it is believed that his power and magnificence were greater than that of a normal human being.  It was believed that he had a supernatural connection to heaven known as a mu cord, which resulted in his being able to ascend the cord and return to heaven upon his death.  Therefore, he did not leave a corpse behind.  This was true of all of the first seven Tibetan kings.

The Thirty-Four Tibetan Kings of the Yarlung Dynasty*

1-7 The Seven Tri of the Sky, During their reign, the teachings of Yungdrung Bön flourished.  Connected with the celestial sphere by a mu cord, these kings are said to have ascended to heaven by this cord at the time when their sons were old enough to rule, thereby not leaving a corpse behind.

12-17 The Six Good Ones Upon the Earth, During their reign, lamas of the Zhang Zhung empire acted as the Royal Bön Shen

18-25 The Eight Dé of the Water, During their reign, the teachings of Dzogchen were spread

26-30 The Five Tsen of the Middle

31-34 The Four Bönpo Kings of Prosperity, During their reign, the Yungdrung Bön teachings and practices flourished under the guidance of many knowledgeable lamas.

1. NyatriTsenpo: He was anointed the first king of Tibet in the Wood Mouse year of 1136 BC
2.  Mutri Tsenpo, son of Nyatri Tsenpo:  During his reign, thirty-seven Yungdrung Bön practice centers were established.  During their reign, the Yungdrung Bön teachings and practices flourished under the guidance of many knowledgeable lamas.
3.  Dingtri Tsenpo, son of Mutri Tsenpo
4.  Sotri Tsenpo, son of Tingtri Tsenpo
5.  Dingtri Tsenpo, son of Sotri Tsenpo
6.  Daktri Tsenpo, son of Dingtri Tsenpo
7.  Siptri Tsenpo (aka Tride Yakpo), son of Daktri Tsenpo who was enthroned at the age of thirteen.
8. Drigum Tsenpo, son of Siptri Tsenpo.  Although he practiced Yungdrung Bön in his youth, he feared the power of the Bön Shen and therefore began the first suppression of Yungdrung Bön.  (See previous post: The Second Spread of the Yungdrung Bön in Tibet. https://ravencypresswood.com/2016/10/16/the-second-spread-of-the-yungdrung-bon-in-tibet/)   Because his mu cord with heaven was severed during his battle with Lo Ngam Ta Dzi, he was the first Tibetan King to leave a corpse behind after his death.
9. Lo Ngam Ta Dzi: He ruled Tibet for thirteen years after having killed the eighth Tibetan King Drigum Tsenpo, marrying the king’s daughter, and sending the rest of his family into exile.
10. Pude Gung Gyal, aka Tolek Tsenpo: He was the son of the eighth Tibetan King Drigum Tsenpo who returned from exile in order to claim his right to the throne, and who invited the yogi Tong Gyung Tuchen to Tibet in order to reestablish the Yungdrung Bön teachings
11. (Unnamed by most historical sources including the Dar rGyas gSal Ba’i sGron Ma.  It is theorized that there was no appropriate heir immediately after the death of Pude Gung Gyal and that power was wielded for a time by a minister.)
12. Ah Sholek Tsenpo, son of Tolek Tsenpo
13. De Sholek, son of Ah Sholek Tsenpo
14. Te Sholek, son of De Sholek
15. Guru Lek, son of Te Sholek
16. Drong Zherlek, son of Guru Lek
17. Sho lek, son of Drong Zherlek
18. Zanam Zindé, son of Sho lek
19. Dé Namtrul Zhungtsen, son of Za Nam Zin Dé
20. Se Nol Nam Dé, son of Dé Nam Trulzhung Tsen
21. Se Nol Dé, son of Se Nol Nam Dé
22. Dé Nol Nam, son of Se Nol Dé
23. Dé Nolpo, son of Dé Nol Nam
24. Dé Gyalpo, son of Dé Nolpo
25. Dé Srintsen, son of Dé Gyalpo
26. Gyal Toro Lobtsen, son of Dé Srintsen
27. Tri Tsen Nam
28. Tri Dra Pungtsen
29. Tri Tokje Toktsen: He invited many Bön Shen to Tibet from Zhang Zhung and therefore strengthened ties between to the two countries.
30. To To Ri Nyentsen: He led an army into India and claimed many small Indian territories.  During his reign, the first contact was made with Indian Buddhism.  However, it did not have a large impact.
31. Trinyen Zungtsen
32. Drong Nyen Déru
33. Takri Nyenzik: He was born blind but his eyesight was restored by the royal Bön Shen of the court, Khu Bön Mangjé Lopo.
34. Namri  Songtsen: During his reign, Chinese influenced medicine and astrology were introduced into the country of Tibet.

*Due to political reasons, historical lists of the Tibetan Kings differ among Buddhist and Bön accounts as well as differing among texts within the same tradition.  I have relied upon the Yungdrung Bön text: Dar rGyas gSal Ba’i sGron Ma written by Pa Ton Tengyal Zangpo in 1345.

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