Origin of Tsangla

By pekoe Tenzin Tsering

ORIGIN OF TSANGLA: MISSING LINK - There is no recorded evidence to disseminate information about the history of Tsangla. When I was 12, I first felt that I should have some acquaintance on the historical background of my ancestors and my native place. Since then, I have been asking one question “Where are we from”? Some elderly resources say that our native place is very much near to Kongpo. Other fragment information I received iterates that some pilgrims who visited the sacred river (Pemako/Pema River) of our native place, were so enchanted with its beautiful surrounding that they decided to settle, which eventually led to the establishment of human settlement and the place was later named after its river. During my school winter vacation, I spent some substantial time with my grand father…..mostly at the evening. We would lounge outside the courtyard and light bonfire to keep ourselves warm and cozy. He would take long wood rosary off his neck and begin to turn each bead with the recitation of mantra, and having completed the entire round he would close his eyes in sanctity for sometime and commence his story-telling of our native place. "It was situated in the remote area. Vegetables and fruits were in abundance and dwellers live sufficiently on the product of their cultivation. It was serene and enchanting place." says he, with a big grin on his face. Having learnt at school about Lhasa, I could not resist but to show my nodding acquaintance pertaining Tibet. I interrupted and asked “How far is Lhasa from our native place?” “Lhasa is situated at central part of western Tibet, We are at bottom part of Tibet….it is quite far to reach….First we have to cross big rivers….then only Lhasa becomes near.” I heard some people say that our ancestors are from Eastern Bhutan. For once, I thought it might be true owing to the mass migration and settlement of Bhutanese in the southern part of Tibet during early nineteenth century, because of the recurring civil disorder and war in Bhutan. These people were Tsangla who sought a place for survival. From this source of information, I was seemingly convinced that the Tsangla were descendants of Bhutanese people. But when I further delved into the detailed history, I came to know that Tsangla are descendant of Tsangma, who was a prince of Tibet and grandson of Trisong Detsen and borther of Tri Ralpachen and Lang Dharma. King Sadnalegs, youngest son of Trisong Detsen had five Sons: Tsangma, Lang Darma, Tri Ralpachen, Lhaye and Lhundup. The eldest son Tsangma became monk and two youngest died in their early childhood. When king Sadnalegs died in 815 A.D, his ministers bypassed Darma and enthroned the younger son Tri Ralpachen as a king. Failing to acquire the throne, agitated Lang Darma murdered his brother Tri Ralpachen and also succeeded in sending his elder brother Tsangma to the eastern Bhutan into exile. This fateful event led to the flight of many Tsangma followers to Bhutan and settle in exile, subsequently marking the spread of Buddhism in eastern Bhutan. That is how Tsangla People descended in Bhutan and from that to Southern Tibet. And if this information is not just fabricated but legitimately authentic, we are descendants of not Eastern Bhutanese but of the central Tibetan. Friends, as I already mentioned at the beginning that we Tsangla do not have any recorded history, the above information are based on what I have drawn from the sources available (people, internet and book "Tibet: A Political History by Tsepon Shakabpa") Above information may or may not be true, hence there is a need of further research into the same. My feeble foray can be seen as an effort to link the Missing part of history.

There is no recorded evidence to disseminate information about the history of Tsangla.

When I was 12, I first felt that I should have some acquaintance on the historical background of my ancestors and my native place.
Since then, I have been asking one question “Where are we from”?

Some elderly resources say that our native place is very much near to Kongpo.

Other fragment information I received iterates that some pilgrims who visited the sacred river (Pemako/Pema River) of our native place, were so enchanted with its beautiful surrounding that they decided to settle, which eventually led to the establishment of human settlement and the place was later named after its river.

During my school winter vacation, I spent some substantial time with my grand father…..mostly at the evening. We would lounge outside the courtyard and light bonfire to keep ourselves warm and cozy. He would take long wood rosary off his neck and begin to turn each bead with the recitation of mantra, and having completed the entire round he would close his eyes in sanctity for sometime and commence his story-telling of our native place.
"It was situated in the remote area. Vegetables and fruits were in abundance and dwellers live sufficiently on the product of their cultivation. It was serene and enchanting place." says he, with a big grin on his face.

Having learnt at school about Lhasa, I could not resist but to show my nodding acquaintance pertaining Tibet. I interrupted and asked
“How far is Lhasa from our native place?”
“Lhasa is situated at central part of western Tibet, We are at bottom part of Tibet….it is quite far to reach….First we have to cross big rivers….then only Lhasa becomes near.”

I heard some people say that our ancestors are from Eastern Bhutan. For once, I thought it might be true owing to the mass migration and settlement of Bhutanese in the southern part of Tibet during early nineteenth century, because of the recurring civil disorder and war in Bhutan. These people were Tsangla who sought a place for survival.

From this source of information, I was seemingly convinced that the Tsangla were descendants of Bhutanese people. But when I further delved into the detailed history, I came to know that Tsangla are descendant of Tsangma, who was a prince of Tibet and grandson of Trisong Detsen and borther of Tri Ralpachen and Lang Dharma.

King Sadnalegs, youngest son of Trisong Detsen had five Sons: Tsangma, Lang Darma, Tri Ralpachen, Lhaye and Lhundup. The eldest son Tsangma became monk and two youngest died in their early childhood. When king Sadnalegs died in 815 A.D, his ministers bypassed Darma and enthroned the younger son Tri Ralpachen as a king. Failing to acquire the throne, agitated Lang Darma murdered his brother Tri Ralpachen and also succeeded in sending his elder brother Tsangma to the eastern Bhutan into exile. This fateful event led to the flight of many Tsangma followers to Bhutan and settle in exile, subsequently marking the spread of Buddhism in eastern Bhutan.

That is how Tsangla People descended in Bhutan and from that to Southern Tibet. And if this information is not just fabricated but legitimately authentic, we are descendants of not Eastern Bhutanese but of the central Tibetan.

Friends, as I already mentioned at the beginning that we Tsangla do not have any recorded history, the above information are based on what I have drawn from the sources available (people, internet and book "Tibet: A Political History by Tsepon Shakabpa")
Above information may or may not be true, hence there is a need of further research into the same. My feeble foray can be seen as an effort to link the Missing part of history.