Episodes
The Rise of the Gelug School and the Birth of Tibet's Dalai Lama System
In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the origins of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism and the political machinery that turned its abbots into Dalai Lamas. Starting with Tsongkhapa, the 14th-century scholar-monk who founded Ganden Monastery and whose reforms sparked a devotional revolution, they follow the school's growth through the patronage of Mongolian khans and the canny alliances of the 5th Dalai Lama. They explore how the title 'Dalai Lama' was first coined by the Mongol ruler Altan…
The Rise of Lhasa: From Yarlung Fort to Sacred Capital
In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace how Lhasa transformed from a small Yarlung-era fortress into the religious and political heart of Tibet. They explore the city's legendary founding under Songtsen Gampo, the building of the Jokhang and Ramoche temples, and the crucial role of the Jowo Shakyamuni statues. The conversation moves through the imperial period, the fragmentation after Langdarma, and Lhasa's re-emergence as the seat of the Gelug school and the Dalai Lamas. Along the way, they…
The Younghusband Invasion: Britain's 1904 March on Lhasa
In 1904, a British expedition led by Francis Younghusband marched into Tibet, defeated a Tibetan army at Guru, and forced the 13th Dalai Lama to flee. This episode looks at the Younghusband Invasion through the lens of a single, devastating battle—Chumik Shenko—where hundreds of Tibetan soldiers were killed by machine-gun fire. We follow the expedition's brutal trek across the plateau, examine the diplomatic maneuvering in Lhasa and London, and reflect on the Treaty of Lhasa, which Tibet was…
The 1913 Simla Convention and Tibet's Lost Autonomy
In 1913, British India and China met at Simla to decide Tibet's fate. The resulting convention—signed by Britain and Tibet but never ratified by China—redrew borders and planted the seeds of the McMahon Line. This episode follows the negotiations, the key figures, and why Tibet's status as 'autonomous but not independent' still drives politics today. We trace the lead-up from the Younghusband expedition, the shifting alliances of the 13th Dalai Lama, and the lasting consequences of a treaty…
Tibet's Iron Age: Zhangzhung and the Yarlung Kings
Before the Potala, before the Dalai Lamas, Tibet was a land of iron and sky. In this episode, Lucas and Luna step back to the mysterious kingdom of Zhangzhung, a rival power that once stretched across western Tibet, centered on the sacred peak of Mount Kailash. We explore the legacy of the Bon religion, the legendary Silver Palace of Khyunglung Ngülkhar, and how the Yarlung dynasty in central Tibet gradually absorbed Zhangzhung's influence, setting the stage for the rise of Songtsen Gampo.…
The Gold Urn Lottery: How Qing Emperors Chose Tibet's Dalai Lamas
In 1793, the Qianlong Emperor introduced a radical new method for selecting Tibetan reincarnations: the Golden Urn. Instead of relying on the whispers of oracles and lineage holders, Qing officials would purify candidates' names, place them in a golden vase before the Jokhang's Jowo statue, and let chance decide. This episode unpacks the political logic behind the urn, the first lottery that selected the 8th Dalai Lama's successor, and the long shadow it cast over Tibetan theocracy. We explore…
The Tibetan Tea-Horse Road: Where Tea Met Empire
In Episode 196 of The History of Tibet, we trace the ancient Tea-Horse Road (Cha-ma-gu) that bound Tibet to China and India. Lucas and Luna explore how tea became the national drink of the Tibetan plateau, the caravans of mules and yaks that braved the high passes, and the political power that flowed along these trade routes. From the Song dynasty's tea monopoly to the Ming dynasty's horse-for-tea markets, and the 18th-century British attempt to smuggle tea plants out of China, this episode…
The Younghusband Expedition: Britain's 1904 Invasion of Tibet
In 1904, a British military expedition led by Francis Younghusband marched into Tibet, ostensibly to settle a border dispute but actually to counter Russian influence. The mission ended in a bloody massacre at Guru, the occupation of Lhasa, and a treaty that the British government disavowed. This episode unpacks the geopolitical pressures, the disastrous diplomacy, the Dalai Lama's flight, and the legacy of an invasion that still shapes Tibet's relationship with the world. We look at the…
The Great Fifth's Secret: The Potala's Hidden Chapels
In this episode, Lucas and Luna step inside the Potala Palace, not just as a monument but as a living archive of Tibetan history. They explore the secret chapels and relics that reveal the personal faith of the Fifth Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso, and the political genius behind the palace's construction. From the Phakpa Lhakhang, housing a self-created statue of Avalokiteshvara, to the tomb of the Fifth Dalai himself, they uncover how the palace was both a spiritual center and a statement of…
The Tibetan Army: From Imperial Glory to the 1959 Uprising
In this episode of The History of Tibet, Lucas and Luna trace the evolution of Tibet's military forces from the fearsome armies of the Yarlung dynasty that marched on Chang'an in 762, to the guerrilla fighters of the 1959 uprising. They explore how Tibetan soldiers were organized, their weapons and tactics, the role of cavalry, and the impact of Qing rule and later modernization attempts. The conversation highlights key figures like the 13th Dalai Lama's efforts to reform the army and the 14th…
The Gold Urn Lottery: How Qing Emperors Picked Tibet's Dalai Lamas
In 1793, the Qianlong Emperor introduced a golden urn to decide Tibet's most sacred succession — the selection of the Dalai Lama. This episode unpacks the political maneuver behind that ritual, the Gurkha War that triggered it, and the tense relationship between the Qing court, the Tibetan regents, and the Nechung Oracle. We trace how the Gold Urn was used, from the controversy of the 10th Dalai Lama's election to its role in the modern era, culminating in the 14th Dalai Lama's selection in…
The Great Fifth: Tibet's 5th Dalai Lama and the Potala
In 1642, the Mongol prince Gushri Khan handed Tibet to his ally Lobsang Gyatso, making him the 5th Dalai Lama and supreme ruler of a newly united Tibet. But the real power behind the throne was a man who never sought the title: the regent Desi Sangye Gyatso, a brilliant physician and politician who built the Potala Palace, brokered peace with the Qing, and kept the Gelug order dominant for decades. This episode unpacks the Great Fifth's reign — how he consolidated authority, fended off rivals…
Tibet's Iron Age: The Zhangzhung Kingdom and the Yarlung Rise
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna delve into the shadowy world of the Zhangzhung kingdom, the ancient rival that shaped Tibet's destiny long before the rise of the Yarlung dynasty. Discover the kingdom's capital at Khyunglung Ngülkhar, the Silver Palace of the Garuda Valley, and its profound influence on Tibetan culture through the Bon religion. We trace the gradual absorption of Zhangzhung into the expanding Yarlung polity, culminating in the reign of Songtsen Gampo in the 7th…
The Great Treasure Revealer: Tibet's Terma Tradition
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the strange and fascinating world of terma — the hidden treasures of Tibetan Buddhism. From ancient scrolls buried in caves to visionary revelations that shaped entire schools of thought, terma are more than just relics; they are living texts that continue to influence practice today. The conversation begins with the Fifth Dalai Lama's discovery of a terma in the Potala Palace, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the tradition's origins, its…
Tibet's 1959 Uprising: The Dalai Lama's Flight to India
In 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, fled Lhasa for India, ending centuries of monastic rule in Tibet. This episode explores the events leading up to that moment: the 1959 Lhasa Uprising, the roles of the Kashag and the Nechung Oracle, the Chinese occupation, and the CIA's covert support for Tibetan resistance. We also examine the cultural and spiritual resonance of the Potala Palace and the Norbulingka, and the legacy of the 17-Point Agreement. A story of faith, politics, and survival…
Langdarma and the Collapse of the Tibetan Empire
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the violent end of the Yarlung dynasty and the era of fragmentation that followed. They begin with the reign of the Buddhist patron Ralpachen, then pivot to his brother Langdarma, whose persecution of Buddhism—closing monasteries, forcing monks to marry—earned him a historical black mark. The hosts detail the famously dramatic assassination by the hermit Lhalung Pelgyi Dorje, who killed the king with an arrow concealed in his robe. After Langdarma's…
The Mongol Conquest of Tibet and the Sakya Protectorate
In 1240, Mongol armies under Godan Khan swept into Tibet, shattering its post-imperial fragmentation. This episode traces the invasion, the destruction of monasteries, and the remarkable diplomatic turn when Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyeltsen negotiated a peace that placed Tibet under Yuan protection. We explore the priest-patron relationship between Sakya lamas and Mongol khans, particularly Phagpa's role as imperial preceptor to Kublai Khan, and how the Sakya ruled Tibet for nearly a century before…
The 13th Dalai Lama's Tibet: Modernization and the Panchen Lama's Exile
In the wake of the 1904 British invasion and the collapse of the Qing dynasty, the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, returned to Lhasa in 1912 and declared Tibetan independence. Over the next two decades, he embarked on an ambitious program to modernize his country—creating a modern army, a national treasury, a postal system, and a secular education system—while simultaneously trying to curb the power of the great monasteries. His efforts brought him into direct conflict with the 9th Panchen…
1720: The Qing Expel the Dzungars from Lhasa
In 1717, the Dzungar Mongols swept into Tibet, plunging Lhasa into a brutal occupation that ended with murder, looting, and the desecration of sacred sites. The Qing Kangxi Emperor, alarmed at the instability on his border, launched a massive military expedition in 1720 to expel the invaders. This episode tells the story of the fall of Lhazang Khan, the Dzungar reign of terror, and the Qing campaign that installed the 7th Dalai Lama, Kelzang Gyatso, as the new spiritual and temporal leader. We…
The 5th Dalai Lama and the Building of the Potala Palace
Lucas and Luna explore the 17th-century transformation of Tibet under the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso. They trace how a Mongol alliance led by Gushri Khan toppled the Tsangpa dynasty, paving the way for the Gelug school's dominance and the establishment of the Ganden Phodrang government. The centerpiece of this new order was the Potala Palace, built atop the ruins of Songtsen Gampo's ancient fort. Lucas details the nine-year construction of the White Palace, the later addition of the…
Padmasambhava: The Tantric Master Who Tamed Tibet
This episode of The History of Tibet dives into the legendary 8th-century Indian master Padmasambhava, whose tantric powers were said to have subdued the demonic forces of Tibet, enabling the establishment of Buddhism. Lucas and Luna explore the historical context of King Trisong Detsen's reign, the construction of Samye Monastery—Tibet's first Buddhist monastery—and the fierce opposition from local Bon spirits and deities. They discuss how Padmasambhava, known as Guru Rinpoche, used his…
Tsongkhapa and the Birth of the Gelug School in Tibet
This episode dives into the life of Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), the great scholar and reformer who founded the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. We explore his early studies, his visionary reforms that emphasized monastic discipline and a gradual path to enlightenment, and his establishment of Ganden Monastery in 1409. We also cover his two main disciples, Gyaltsab Je and Khedrup Je, and how the Gelug school grew to dominate Tibetan Buddhism, eventually giving rise to the Dalai Lama lineage. Learn…
The Poet Lama: Tibet's 6th Dalai Lama
In this episode, Lucas and Luna pick up where the secret death of the 5th Dalai Lama left off, exploring the life and reign of his chosen successor, Tsangyang Gyatso, the 6th Dalai Lama. Known as Tibet's 'poet lama,' he scandalized Lhasa with his refusal to take monastic vows, his love affairs, and his haunting verses — the Love Songs of the Sixth Dalai Lama. We trace his childhood discovery, his defiance of the Kashag, the Dzungar intervention that toppled him, and the mystery of his death.…
Atisha in Tibet The 1042 Revival That Reshaped Buddhism
In 1042, an aging Indian master named Atisha arrived in the remote kingdom of Purang, in western Tibet. His journey, prompted by the desperate entreaties of the local king Yeshe Ö, ignited the 'later propagation' of Buddhism after the dark centuries following Langdarma's persecution. With his disciple Dromtönpa, Atisha founded the Kadam school, emphasizing monastic discipline, gradual spiritual progress—the lamrim—and a strict moral code. His teachings, especially the 'Bodhipathapradīpa' (Lamp…
Tibet's 1959 Uprising: The Dalai Lama's Flight to India
In 1959, the simmering tensions between Tibet and China erupted into open rebellion. This episode traces the events of March 10, 1959, when thousands of Tibetans surrounded the Norbulingka Palace to protect the 14th Dalai Lama from alleged Chinese abduction. We follow the crackdown that followed, the shelling of the Potala, and the Dalai Lama's dramatic escape to India, where he established the government-in-exile in Dharamshala. Along the way, we revisit the 17-Point Agreement, the failed…
The Samye Debate: When Buddhism Found Its Tibetan Form
In the late 8th century, King Trisong Detsen hosted one of history's most consequential religious debates at Samye Monastery. On one side stood Kamalaśīla, championing the gradual Buddhist path from India; on the other, the Chinese Chan master Moheyan, preaching sudden enlightenment. The outcome would determine the course of Tibetan Buddhism for centuries. This episode unpacks the arguments, the political and cultural stakes, and the king's final verdict. We also explore the role of…
Tibet's 1792 Gold Urn: The Qing Choose the Dalai Lama
After centuries of Mongol and Tibetan factions contesting the selection of reincarnated lamas, the Qianlong Emperor imposed a radical solution: a golden urn from which the name of the next Dalai Lama or Panchen Lama would be drawn by lot. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the 1792 Gold Urn Ceremony — how the Qing dynasty used Tibetan Buddhist ritual to assert political control, why the Nechung Oracle lost its monopoly on identifying incarnations, and how the system worked in practice for…
Tibet's 8th Century Iron Age: Zhangzhung and the Yarlung Rise
Before the Tibetan Empire unified the plateau, the ancient kingdom of Zhangzhung ruled the western highlands from its capital Khyunglung Ngülkhar, the Silver Palace of the Garuda Valley. This episode explores the enigmatic Iron Age civilization that flourished around Mount Kailash, its Bon religion, and the gradual Yarlung Valley conquests that absorbed it into a new imperial order. We discuss the Zhangzhung language, the mythic King Ligmincha, the Sutra of Sagacious and Foolish, and how the…
Tibet's 8th Century Iron Age: The Zhangzhung Legacy and the Rise of Yarlung
Before the Yarlung emperors, before Buddhism reached the Tibetan plateau, the kingdom of Zhangzhung ruled western Tibet for centuries. This episode explores the Zhangzhung civilization—its capital at Khyunglung Ngülkhar, its Bon religion, the unique writing system it may have passed to the Yarlung dynasty, and the 7th-century conquest by Songtsen Gampo. We trace archaeological evidence, including the mysterious silver casket from the 6th century, and discuss how Zhangzhung's legacy lived on in…
Tibet's 762 Chogro Conquest: The Emperor Who Marched on Chang'an
In 762 CE, Tibetan Emperor Trisong Detsen launched one of the most audacious military campaigns in East Asian history. This episode unpacks the Chogro clan's role in the Tibetan advance through the Hexi Corridor, the capture of Chang'an for eleven days, and the installation of a puppet emperor. We explore the complex geopolitics of Tang China, Uyghur interventions, and the Tibetan strategy of leveraging internal Chinese rebellions. Key figures include the Chogro general Nyentak, Emperor…
Tibet's 7th Century Emperor Songtsen Gampo and the Birth of an Empire
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the life and legacy of Songtsen Gampo, the 7th-century emperor who unified Tibet, created its first written script, built the Jokhang Temple, and transformed a collection of valleys into a regional power. They discuss his strategic marriages to Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal and Princess Wencheng of Tang China, the introduction of Buddhism, the construction of the Potala Palace's original structure, and the debate over how much of the empire's foundation was…
Tibet's 1793 Iron Tiger Peace: The Qing Gurkha Settlement
In 1793, the Qing Empire and the Gurkha kingdom of Nepal signed the Iron Tiger Peace Treaty, ending a decade of border wars that saw the Gurkhas sack Tashilhunpo Monastery and the Tibetan army routed. This episode follows the aftermath of the 1792 Qing invasion of Nepal, the treaty terms that fixed Tibet's southern border for a century, and the lives of the key players: the 8th Panchen Lama Jamphel Yeshe, who fled to Lhasa; the Gurkha king Rana Bahadur Shah; and the brilliant Qing general…
Tibet's 1904 British Invasion: The Younghusband Mission and the Treaty of Lhasa
In 1904, a British military expedition led by Colonel Francis Younghusband marched into Tibet, fighting through the Chumbi Valley to reach Lhasa. This episode explores the causes and consequences of the Younghusband Mission, including the bloody Battle of Guru, the Tibetan resistance led by the 9th Panchen Lama, and the Treaty of Lhasa that opened Tibet to British trade. We also examine the role of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, who fled to Mongolia, and the tensions between Britain…
Tibet's 1788 War with the Gurkhas: The First Invasion of Tashilhunpo
In 1788, Gurkha forces from Nepal invaded Tibet, seizing border fortresses and marching on Tashilhunpo Monastery. This episode unpacks the geopolitical crisis that preceded the better-known 1792 Qing-Gurkha War. We look at the Gurkha king Rana Bahadur Shah and his commander-in-chief Damodar Pande, the Tibetan amban and Kashag's failed diplomacy, and the Panchen Lama's role in a ransom that bought time. The war exposed the Ganden Phodrang's military weakness and set the stage for the Qing…
Tibet's 1950 Battle of Chamdo and the Fall of the Ganden Phodrang
In October 1950, as the People's Liberation Army advanced on Tibet, the last stand of the Tibetan army at Chamdo marked the beginning of the end for the Ganden Phodrang government. This episode explores the Battle of Chamdo: the Tibetan commander Ngabö Ngawang Jigme's desperate defense, the role of the Chamdo Tax Commission and local militia, the strategic failure of the Tibetan army's British-trained 'New Model' units, and the political fallout that forced the 14th Dalai Lama's regent to flee.…
Tibet's 1729 Qing Garrison: The Ambans Who Ruled from Lhasa
After the 1728 civil war that brought Polhané Sönam Tobgyé to power, the Yongzheng Emperor established a permanent Qing military and political presence in Lhasa. This episode traces the origins of the ambans — the imperial residents who would represent Beijing in Tibet for over a century. We explore the first resident commissioner, Zhou Ying, who arrived with 2,000 troops and built the amban's yamen near the Potala. The ambans had the power to approve or depose Dalai Lamas, oversee foreign…
Tibet's 1913 Throne Letter to the Viceroy of India
In 1913, as the Qing dynasty collapsed and the dust of the Xinhai Revolution settled, the 13th Dalai Lama — Thubten Gyatso — sat in exile in Darjeeling. From there, he penned a remarkable letter to Lord Hardinge, the Viceroy of India, declaring Tibet a fully independent state and requesting recognition from the British Empire. This episode unpacks that letter: what it said, the geopolitical context that produced it, and whether it was a genuine bid for sovereignty or a calculated diplomatic…
The Mongol Invasion of Tibet: 1240 Sack of Rva-sgreng Monastery
In 1240, a Mongol army under the general Doorda Darkhan swept into central Tibet, sacking the Rva-sgreng Monastery and killing hundreds of monks. This episode examines the first major Mongol incursion into Tibet, the political fragmentation of the Sakya and Drigung sects, and the figure of Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyeltsen, who would later negotiate Tibet's submission to the Mongols. We explore the strategic calculations of both sides: the Mongols seeking to control trade routes and Buddhist…
Tibet's 836 Anti-Buddhist Purge: King Langdarma's Dark Reign
In this episode of The History of Tibet, Lucas and Luna delve into one of the most controversial periods in Tibetan history: the reign of King Langdarma in the 9th century. Known as the 'anti-Buddhist' king, Langdarma is said to have persecuted monks, destroyed monasteries, and banned Buddhist practices, leading to the collapse of the Tibetan Empire. But how much of this story is historical fact versus later propaganda? We examine the sources—from the Old Tibetan Annals to later Buddhist…
Tibet's 1920s Modernization Crisis: The 13th Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Army
This episode explores the 13th Dalai Lama's ambitious modernization drive in the 1920s, a time when Tibet tried to build a modern military and education system while fending off both British and Chinese influence. Lucas and Luna discuss the formation of the Tibetan Army under the command of the Dalai Lama's British-trained brother, the founding of the first Tibetan telegraph and postal systems, and the controversial 'New Education' program that sent Tibetan students abroad, only to spark a…
Tibet's 1682 Secret Death: The Dalai Lama Hidden for 15 Years
In 1682, the Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, died in the Potala Palace. His death was concealed for fifteen years by his regent, Desi Sangye Gyatso, who ruled Tibet in secret while pretending the Dalai Lama was still alive. This episode explores how the Desi maintained the ruse — forging documents, issuing edicts, even selecting a successor in secret — and what it reveals about the fragile politics of the Ganden Phodrang government. We also look at the role of the Nechung Oracle in…
Tibet's 1774 Mission: George Bogle Meets the Panchen Lama
In 1774, a young Scottish adventurer named George Bogle embarked on a secret mission for the British East India Company. His goal: to open trade with Tibet and counter Russian influence. This episode follows Bogle's journey across the Himalayas to Tashilhunpo Monastery, where he formed a remarkable friendship with the Third Panchen Lama, Lobsang Palden Yeshe. We explore the Panchen Lama's political balancing act between Qing China and the British, the tension between Tibet's Gelug leadership…
Tibet's 822 Treaty of Lhasa: Peace Carved in Stone
This episode takes you to the windswept plain of Lhasa in 822 CE, where emissaries of the Tibetan Empire and Tang China carved a peace accord into a stone pillar—an agreement that still stands today. We explore the long-running wars between Tibet's King Ralpachen and the Tang, the brutal assassination that nearly derailed the treaty, and the unexpected details written into the monument: a shared patronage of Buddhism, defined borders, and an oath to gods. Along the way, we discuss the…
Tibet's 763 Battle of the Talas and Central Asian Ambitions
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the 763 CE Battle of the Talas River, a pivotal conflict between the Tibetan Empire under Trisong Detsen and the Abbasid Caliphate, allied with the Uyghur Khaganate. They examine how Tibet's ambitions in the Pamir and Wakhan corridors challenged both Tang China and the Islamic world, and how the battle reshaped Central Asian geopolitics. The episode delves into the role of the Zhangzhung kingdom, the strategic importance of the Tarim Basin, and the…
Tibet's 1642 Mongol Alliance: Gushri Khan Crowns the Dalai Lama
Before the Potala Palace rose over Lhasa, before the Ganden Phodrang government took shape, Tibet was fractured by sectarian war. In 1642, a Mongol prince named Gushri Khan rode down from the steppes, defeated the rival Tsangpa king, and handed supreme power to the Gelug school's young leader, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso — the Fifth Dalai Lama. This episode explores the alliance that reshaped Himalayan politics: how the Khoshut Mongols became Tibet's military protectors, why the Dalai Lama accepted…
Tibet's 1728 Civil War: The Polhané Uprising and Qing Intervention
In 1728, Tibet was torn apart by a brutal civil war. The powerful minister Polhané Sönam Tobgyé, who had helped the Qing expel the Dzungars a decade earlier, turned against his rival Khangchenné and launched a rebellion that swept across U-Tsang. This episode follows the siege of Lhasa, the pivotal battle of the Yamdrok Yumtso, and the Qing general Zhou Ying's dramatic march from Sichuan to restore order. We explore how Polhané's victory reshaped the Ganden Phodrang government and set the stage…
The Tibetan Snow Leopard Falls: Tsering Wangchuk's 1957 Ambush
In late 1957, Khampa guerrilla leader Tsering Wangchuk — the 'Snow Leopard of Tibet' — was ambushed and killed by Chinese forces near the Golok Pass in Qinghai. This episode follows his final campaign, from the 1956 Khampa uprising to his death, and examines how his resistance shaped the broader Tibetan struggle. We trace his alliances with the Chushi Gangdrug, his raids against Ma Bufang's supply lines, and the aftermath that scattered his fighters into Amdo and Kham. The episode also explores…
The 1706 Death of Tsangyang Gyatso: Tibet's Sixth Dalai Lama Mystery
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the mysterious death of Tsangyang Gyatso, the Sixth Dalai Lama, in 1706. Lucas recounts his early life in Mon, his recognition as the Dalai Lama, and his poetic, rebellious nature that clashed with the Gelug establishment. They discuss the political machinations of Lhazang Khan, the Dzungar invasion, and the conflicting accounts of Tsangyang Gyatso's death at Kokonor. Lucas also covers the role of the Kangxi Emperor, the amban system, and the aftermath…
The 1718 Battle of the Salween: Qing China Crushes the Dzungars in Tibet
In 1718, a massive Qing army marched from Xining into the Tibetan Plateau to expel the Dzungar Mongols who had sacked Lhasa the year before. This episode follows the disastrous first campaign, where General Erentei's forces were annihilated at the Salween River, and the successful second campaign in 1720, which established Qing control over Tibet for nearly two centuries. We explore the strategic miscalculations, the role of local Tibetan support, the dramatic siege of Lhasa, and how this war…
Tibet's 1959 Norbulingka Siege and the Dalai Lama's Escape
In March 1959, as Tibetan resistance fighters surrounded the Norbulingka summer palace in Lhasa, the 14th Dalai Lama made a daring nighttime escape across the Lhasa River to begin his exile in India. This episode examines the three-day siege of the Norbulingka, the role of the Khampa guerrilla Chushi Gangdrug, and the Chinese People's Liberation Army's brutal crackdown that killed thousands. We explore the diplomatic aftermath — the Dalai Lama's arrival in Dharamshala, the establishment of the…
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