Episodes
The Silk Road’s High Passes: Tibetan Trade and Diplomacy
While the Qing conquests and monastic schisms dominate many histories of Tibet, this episode explores the vital economic arteries that sustained the plateau for centuries. We trace the ancient caravan routes connecting Lhasa to Chang’an and beyond, focusing on the critical tea-horse trade that fueled both local economies and imperial ambitions. Lucas and Luna examine how merchants navigated the perilous Himalayan passes, the diplomatic protocols governing cross-border exchanges, and the role of…
The Bronze Horsemen: Tibet's Mongol Cavalry
While previous episodes have explored the spiritual and political dimensions of Tibetan history, this episode shifts focus to the military apparatus that often underpinned those dynamics. We examine the role of the Khoshut Mongols, led by Güshi Khan, who arrived in Tibet in 1637 with a formidable cavalry force. This conversation details how these 'Bronze Horsemen' interacted with local Tibetan powers, particularly the Tsang kings and the rising Gelugpa sect. We explore the tactical advantages…
The Bronze Seal and the Gold Urn: Tibet's Identity Crisis
This episode explores the intricate diplomatic dance between the Qing Court and the Tibetan Ganden Phodrang government in the late eighteenth century, focusing on the implementation of the Golden Urn lottery system. We examine how Qianlong Emperor’s decree in 1793 was intended to curb corruption in the selection of high lamas, specifically the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama reincarnations. Lucas walks through the political tensions surrounding the Nechung Oracle and the role of Desi Sangye…
The Great Tibetan Schism: Gelugpa's Rise
We explore the dramatic 15th-century power struggle that reshaped Tibet, focusing on Tsongkhapa’s reforms and the creation of the four great monastic seats. This episode details how the Gelug school challenged the established Sakya and Kagyu orders through intellectual rigor rather than military force. We examine the pivotal role of Desi Sangye Gyatso in consolidating political power under the Fifth Dalai Lama and the subsequent conflicts with the Khoshut Mongols. By tracing the lineage from…
Tibet's Secret Police: The Nechung Oracle and Statecraft
This episode explores the political machinery behind Tibet’s spiritual leadership, focusing on the role of the Nechung Oracle. We trace the history of this state oracle from its origins in the 17th century under the Fifth Dalai Lama to its critical function in advising the Ganden Phodrang government during times of crisis. Lucas and Luna discuss how a medium, believed to be possessed by a protective deity, provided counsel on everything from monastic disputes to foreign invasions. The…
The Mani Stones of Tibet: Carving Faith into Stone
We trace the origins of the mani stone, exploring how Thangtong Gyalpo turned iron chains into prayer bridges and began inscribing sacred syllables onto rocks. This episode examines the evolution from portable stone tablets to the landscape-dotted mani walls of Lhasa and Kham. We look at the specific geometry of Om Mani Padme Hum, the role of wind horses in Lungta flags, and how this practice became a democratization of merit in Tibetan Buddhism. Join us as we explore the intersection of…
Tibet's Secret Police: The Nechung Oracle and Statecraft
While we often associate Tibet with spiritual detachment, its political machinery was surprisingly sophisticated and ruthless. This episode explores the role of the Nechung Kuten, the state oracle who served as a bridge between the Ganden Phodrang government and the supernatural realm. We look at how the fifth Dalai Lama institutionalized this practice to consolidate power against rival factions like the Tsang kings and later Mongol overlords. Lucas and Luna discuss the specific rituals of the…
The Great Schism: When Tibet Split Into Kingdoms
After the assassination of the last great emperor Langdarma in 842 CE, the centralized Tibetan Empire didn't just fade away; it shattered into competing factions. This episode explores the resulting Century of Fragmentation, a period often overlooked in favor of the imperial golden age but crucial for understanding modern Tibet. We follow the rise of regional warlords like the Phagmodrupa clan in central Tibet and the fierce independence of the Khampa kingdoms in the east. Lucas traces how the…
Tibet's Ghost Army: The Battle of Chamdo
In this episode, we explore the pivotal 1950 Battle of Chamdo, the military engagement that ended Tibet’s de facto independence and initiated its integration into the People's Republic of China. Lucas and Luna examine how the Chinese People's Liberation Army executed a rapid, multi-pronged invasion against the modest Tibetan National Police and local militias. We look at the strategic blunders of the Tibetan government in Lhasa, who believed the Himalayas provided an impenetrable shield, and…
Tibet's Hidden Kingdoms: The Tsang Wars and Imperial Strife
While Lhasa dominated the spiritual imagination, the real political power in Tibet for centuries lay elsewhere. This episode explores the Tsang dynasty, a rival kingdom based in Shigatse that challenged the authority of the Gelug school and the Dalai Lamas. We trace the rise of Desi Karma Tenkyong and the brutal civil wars of the seventeenth century, where military might often trumped religious prestige. The narrative centers on Güshi Khan, the Khoshut Mongol leader who intervened in Tibetan…
The Kham Uprising: Tibet's Last Armed Resistance
In 1905, a young Chinese official named Zhao Erfeng marched into the eastern Tibetan province of Kham with imperial troops and modern rifles. His mission was to dismantle the monastic power structure that had governed the region for centuries, but his methods sparked a fierce rebellion led by local warlords like Jampel Dorje and monks wielding both swords and faith. This episode explores the brutal Battle of Litang, where Tibetan forces initially repelled the Qing army using traditional tactics…
The Battle of Dartsedo: Tibet's Tea-Horse Trade at Gunpoint
In 1730, a forgotten conflict at the edge of Tibet determined who would control the tea-horse trade for a century. This episode explores the Battle of Dartsedo (Dajianlu), where Qing forces and Tibetan armies clashed over a remote trading post. We follow the rival claims of Lhasa's Kashag and the Khampa chieftains, the strategic importance of the Dartsedo bridge, and how the outcome reshaped Sino-Tibetan relations. With the Gold Urn lottery already in place, this battle added a new layer of…
Tibet's Sacred Lake: The Oracle of Lhamo La-tso
In this episode, we follow the trail of Tibet's most sacred lake, Lhamo La-tso, and the oracle that guided the search for reincarnations of the Dalai Lama. We trace its origins in the visions of the Fifth Dalai Lama, the role it played in the selection of the 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas, and how a tiny lake on a remote mountain pass became a linchpin of Tibetan political legitimacy. We also explore the rituals of the Nechung Oracle and the interplay between divine signs and human power…
The Yarlung Polo: Tibet's Forgotten Royal Game
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the ancient game of polo as it was played in the Tibetan Empire, from its origins in the Yarlung Valley to its adoption by the elite. They uncover the surprising links between this aristocratic sport, military training, and the court of Songtsen Gampo, who may have witnessed or even played the game. The conversation weaves through the earliest references to polo in Tibetan texts, the role of the game in cementing alliances and displaying martial prowess…
Tibet's Last King: The Fall of the Phagmodrupa
In 1435, the Phagmodrupa dynasty—Tibet's last native royal line—ruled from Tsetang with the blessing of the Yuan and Ming courts. But their power unraveled in a web of noble intrigue, religious rivalry, and a single family's rise: the Rinpungpa. This episode traces how the Phagmodrupa's decline opened the door to the Tsangpa kings, the Gelug school's rise, and eventually the Dalai Lamas. We explore the reign of Changchub Gyaltsen, the visionary founder who rebuilt Tibetan law and administration…
The Fall of the Tibetan Empire and the Rise of a New Era
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the dramatic collapse of the Tibetan Empire in the ninth century, focusing on the assassination of King Langdarma and the ensuing civil war. They trace the legacy of the Yarlung dynasty, the role of Buddhism in state power, and how the empire's fragmentation paved the way for the emergence of the Dalai Lama system centuries later. Along the way, they discuss the mysteries surrounding Langdarma's persecution of Buddhism, the 'dharma king' narrative, and…
Tibet's Sacred Landscape: Mountains, Lakes, and the Rise of Pilgrimage
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Tibet's geography became sacred, tracing the rise of pilgrimage routes around Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. They discuss the ancient Zhangzhung kingdom's Bon traditions, the later Buddhist adoption of these sites, and how figures like Milarepa and the Sixth Dalai Lama shaped their spiritual significance. The conversation moves through the legend of the mountain as the cosmic axis, the ritual of the kora, and the political power that controlling…
The Tibetan Tea-Horse Road: Where Tea Met Empire
Long before the Potala gleamed over Lhasa, a network of mountain trails carried a humble cargo from the forests of Yunnan to the high plateau: tea. In Episode 212, Lucas and Luna follow the Cha-ma-gu, the ancient Tea-Horse Road, from the tea gardens of Pu'er through the gorges of the Salween and Mekong rivers to the markets of Lhasa and beyond to India and Nepal. Along the way, they uncover how a simple beverage became the currency of empire, the fuel of monastic life, and the substance of a…
Tibet's Last Queen: The Rise and Fall of the Phagmodrupa
In the fourteenth century, as the Mongol Yuan dynasty crumbled, a new power rose on the Tibetan plateau: the Phagmodrupa. This episode traces the unlikely ascent of Tai Situ Changchub Gyaltsen, a monastic official who toppled the Sakya administrators and founded a dynasty that would rule central Tibet for over a century. We explore his legal reforms, his revival of Tibetan identity after Mongol rule, and the cultural flowering under his successors, including the building of the great monastery…
Tibet's Sacred Letters: The Mani Stones and Prayer Flags
From the Qinghai plateau to the Kathmandu valley, Tibetan pilgrims have carved sacred syllables into stone and strung prayer flags across high passes for centuries. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Buddhist practice of mani stones and prayer flags, from their origins in the Indian mantra tradition to their role in Tibetan daily life. They discuss the famous Mani Rnam Thar, the autobiography of the 15th-century saint Thangtong Gyalpo, who is said to have inscribed mantras on cliffs to…
The Qing Conquest of Tibet 1720
In 1720, a Qing army marched into Lhasa and changed Tibetan history forever. This episode follows the dramatic overthrow of Lhabzang Khan, the installation of the 7th Dalai Lama, and the heavy hand of Manchu power that followed. We look at the role of the amban — the emperor's men in Lhasa — and how the Qing presence reshaped the Ganden Phodrang government. Along the way, we consider the curious tale of the 6th Dalai Lama's disappearance, the Kham uprising of 1727, and the quiet persistence of…
Tibet's Missing Years: The 6th Dalai Lama
The 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, is one of the most enigmatic figures in Tibetan history — a poet-monk who preferred wine and romance to monastic discipline. His life and mysterious death in 1706 became a lightning rod for political intrigue, as the Mongol khans and the Lhasa aristocracy vied for power. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the young Dalai Lama's poetic legacy, his famous love songs, and the controversy that led to his removal. They also examine the power struggle…
The Mongol Yoke: Tibet Under Kublai Khan and the Sakya Priests
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a defining chapter in Tibetan history: the 13th-century Mongol conquest and the rise of the Sakya school as imperial viceroys. How did a Tibetan lama become the spiritual teacher of Kublai Khan? What was the 'priest-patron' relationship, and how did it reshape Tibetan politics and religion for centuries? Lucas unpacks the 1247 meeting between Sakya Pandita and Köden Khan, the brutal Mongol invasions that forced Tibet's submission, and the administrative…
The Karmapa's Golden Crown: Tibet's Black Hat Mystery
In this episode of The History of Tibet, we trace the rise of the Karmapa lineage and the legendary Black Hat — a crown said to have been woven from the hair of a hundred thousand dakinis. From the visionary first Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa, to the Mongol court where Karma Pakshi stunned Kublai Khan, we follow how the Karmapas became the first recognized reincarnation lineage in Tibet, centuries before the Dalai Lamas. Lucas and Luna explore the political tightrope the Karmapas walked between…
The Rise of Tibetan Nyingma: From Persecution to Power
In episode 205 of The History of Tibet, Lucas and Luna explore the turbulent history of the Nyingma school — the oldest of Tibet's Buddhist traditions. From the persecution under Langdarma in the 9th century to their resurgence under the rule of the Fifth Dalai Lama, the Nyingma carried their teachings through centuries of political upheaval. Discover how the tradition survived not through political power but through hidden texts called terma, revealed by mystic tertöns like Nyang Ral Nyima…
The Many Lifetimes of the Nechung Oracle
For centuries, the Nechung Oracle has been the most powerful spirit medium in Tibet, bridging the human and divine to guide the fate of the Ganden Phodrang government. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the oracle's origins from a small Bon shrine to its role as the state oracle of the Dalai Lamas, and follow its dramatic influence through pivotal moments: the 5th Dalai Lama's reliance on it to outmaneuver rivals, the 13th Dalai Lama's wartime consultations, and the famous 1959 prediction…
The Barkhor: Pilgrimage, Power, and the Heartbeat of Lhasa
In this episode of The History of Tibet, Lucas and Luna step into the swirl of Lhasa's Barkhor—the ancient pilgrimage circuit that has circled the Jokhang Temple for over a millennium. They trace its origins from the founding of the Jokhang under Songtsen Gampo, through the era of the Dalai Lamas when the street became a stage for religious processions and political theater, and into the modern era where it witnessed both the 1959 uprising and today's tightly controlled tourist zone. Along the…
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.…
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