Bringing Buddhism to Tibet : History and Narrative in the DBA BZHED Manuscript Bringing Buddhism to Tibet is a landmark study of the Dba’ bzhed a text recounting the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet. The narrative of Buddhism’s arrival in Tibet is known from a number of versions but the Dba’ bzhed—preserved in a single manuscript—is the oldest complete copy. Although the Dba’ bzhed stands at the head of a long tradition of history writing in the Tibetan language and has been known for more than two decades this book provides a full transcription of the Tibetan for the first time together with a new translation. The book also introduces Tibetan history and the Dba’ bzhed with several introductory chapters on various aspects of the text by experienced scholars in the field of Tibetan philology. These detailed studies provide analysis of the text’s narrative context its position within traditional and current historiography and the organisation and structure of the text itself and its antecedents. Bringing Buddhism to Tibet is essential reading for anyone interested in Tibetan history and kingship the nature of Tibetan historical narrative or the traditions of text transmission and codicology. The book will also be of general interest to students of Buddhism and the spread of Buddhism across Asia Frontmatter Preface Contents In Memoriam: Tsering Dhundup Gonkatsang (1951–2018) Abbreviations Transliteration Figures and Tables Part One Chapter 1 The Testimony of Ba: Literature and Exemplars Chapter 2 An Archaeology of the Dba’ bzhed Manuscript Chapter 3 Reflections on the Original Form and Function of the Testimony of Ba From Dunhuang Chapter 4 Archaisms and the Transmission of the Dba’ bzhed Chapter 5 Narrative Sources of the Great Debate Chapter 6 History Identity and Religious Dynamics in the Portrayal of Khri Srong lde btsan Part Two Text and Translation Tibetan Language Sources Non Tibetan Language Literature Index to the Dba’ bzhed Manuscript Subject Index