Zhangzhung

**Zhangzhung** (Tibetan: ཞང་ཞུང; Tibetan pinyin: Xangxang; Chinese: 象雄; pronounced Shangshung) was a kingdom in western Tibet before the 7th century. The religion of Zhangzhung was Bon, and the people are sometimes called Bonpo. The Bon religion influenced Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism. The Zhangzhung are mentioned frequently in Tibetan texts as the original rulers of central and western Tibet.

We are still trying to learn more about them.

## Location

Zhang Zhung had three different regions:

1. sGob-ba, the outer; Western Tibet, from Gilgit in the west to Dangs-ra khyung-rdzong in the east, next to lake gNam-mtsho, and from Khotan, Xinjiang in the north to Chu-mig brgyad-cu rtsa-gnyis in the south.
1. Phug-pa, the inner; The inner region is said to be sTag-gzig (Tazig) often identified with [Bactria, Central Asia.
1. and Bar-ba, the middle, not yet identified.

It was an independent kingdom and covered all of Western Tibet, Baltistan and Ladakh.

The capital was Khyunglung, the "Silver Palace of Garuda", southwest of Mount Kailash, with palaces found in the upper Sutlej Valley.

### Iron Age

Scientists dug stuff in the Chang Tang plateau and found iron. These may be the Zhangzhung's iron.

### Unification of Tibet

The _Tang Annals_ say that the Tibetan emperor Songtsen Gampo conquered and unified the Zhangzhung. In 634, Yangtong (Zhang Zhung) and various Qiang tribes, "altogether submitted to him." Gampo then united the Yangtong to defeat the 'Azha or Tuyuhun and conquer two more Qiang tribes. He then threatened Songzhou (China) with an army of more than 200,000 men. He then sent gifts of gold and silk to the Tang emperor to marry a princess. At first the Emperor Gaozong of Tang refused so Gampo attacked Songzhou. But Gampo later gave up and apologized so the emperor married him to Princess Wencheng.

## Language

There are some Zhangzhung texts and 11th century bilingual Tibetan documents. The Zhangzhung language was related to Kinnauri, a Sino–Tibetan language.

The Bonpo claim that the Tibetan writing system is derived from the Zhangzhung alphabet. However Tibetan script comes from the subcontinent. Non-Bon Tibetan texts agree.

## History

Bonpo religion was founded by a Buddha-like person named Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche. Tonpa's teachings are very similar to Gautama Buddha. Bonpos claim that Tonpa lived 18,000 years ago and visited Tibet from the land of Tagzig Olmo Lung Ring.

The Bonpo claim that during this time Lord Tonpa's teachings entered the Indian subcontinent and helped develop the Vedic religion (Hinduism). An example of this link between Bon and Hinduism is Mount Kailash, the center of Zhang Zhung culture and also most sacred mountain to Hindus. As a result, the Bonpos claim that Hinduism owes its origin to Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche.

## Infobox (country)

- **native name**: Xangxung
- **conventional long name**: Kingdom of Zhangzhung
- **common name**: Zhang Zhung
- **year start**: c. 500 BC
- **event end**: Conquest of Songtsen Gampo
- **year end**: 625 AD
- **p1**: Neolithic Tibet
- **s1**: Tibetan empire
- **flag s1**: Tibetan snow leopard.svg
- **capital**: Kyunglung
- **common languages**: Zhangzhung language
- **religion**: Bön
- **government type**: Monarchy
- **title leader**: Brtsanpo