Pelliot Tibétain 1286

One of the most important historical documents to survive from the Tibetan Empire. Written in Old Tibetan on a scroll recovered from the Dunhuang cave library (sealed c. 1000 CE), this text preserves three layers of Tibetan political memory: the catalogue of the principalities that existed before the empire, the myth of the first king's descent from heaven, and the royal genealogy from divine origin to the ninth century.

The twelve principalities (rgyal phran bcu gnyis) are the petty kingdoms of pre-imperial Tibet — small polities centred on forts, each governed by its own lord and two ministers. The text names seventeen entries, then counts thirteen, preserving a tradition in which the standard "twelve" was already a convention rather than an exact figure. The list includes Zhang Zhung, the great western kingdom, alongside smaller principalities of central Tibet.

The royal genealogy traces the Yarlung dynasty from its divine origin through the seven heavenly kings who ascended back to the sky when their sons could ride, through the middle kings, and into the historical period. The line from Srong Lde Brtsan (Songtsen Gampo, r. c. 604–650) to Khri Gtsug Lde Brtsan (Ral Pa Can, r. 815–838) provides the political backbone of the Tibetan Empire at its height. The manuscript is held in the Bibliothèque nationale de France. First complete standalone English translation from Old Tibetan.

The Four Kinship Boundaries

Regarding the lineage of the four ancient kinship boundaries:

In the snowy passes of Lde — the Lde bride was Gang Rag Ma.
In the lowlands of Skyi — the Skyi bride was [Dro Gtshan?].
In the [Bsen?] fortress of Dags — the Dags bride was Gyim Pang Ma.
In the silver mine of Mchims country — the Mchims bride was Sha Chang Ma.

Kinship has four boundaries. Governance has one pattern. [Wealth?] is one srang. The people's boundary [...]

[...] boundaries [four?] are rock. The governance boundaries four are [...]. The offspring boundaries four are [...]. The garment boundaries [four?] are silk.

The lineage and customs of the four kinship boundaries are thus.

The Twelve Principalities

In each of the principality lands, dwelling each in their own fort — the lineage of those who ruled as lords of the principalities and those who served as their ministers:

In the dominion of Zhang Zhung — Lord Lig Snya Shur.
Ministers: Khyung Po Ra Sangs Rje and Stong Lom Ma Tse, two.

At Pyed Kar of Myang Ro — Lord Rtsang Rje Thod Kar.
Ministers: Su Du and Gnang, two.

At Kling Dgu' of Gnubs — Lord Gnubs Rje Sris Pa.
Ministers: Rme'u and Gro, two.

At Sham Po of Myang Ro — Lord Lo Ngam Byi [Brom Cha?] Tsha.
Ministers: Ngab Myi and 'Bre, two.

At Ljang Sngon of Skyi Ro — Lord Skyi Rje Rmang Po.
Ministers: She'u and [Spug?], two.

At Khra Sum of Ngas Po — Lord Dgug Gri Zing Po Rje.
Ministers: Mgar and Mnyan, two.

At Yul Bzhi of Dbye Mo — Lord Dbye Rje Mkhar Pa.
Ministers: Dbo and Rtug, two.

At Spang Gar of 'O Yul — Lord 'Ol Rje Zin Brang Tsha.
Ministers: Rngo and Dba's, two.

At Gru Bzhi of Rngegs Yul — Lord Rngegs Rje La Brang.
Ministers: Sas Pa and Myang Nad, two.

At Ya Sum of Klum Ro — Lord Nam Pa's son Gseng Ti.
Ministers: Myang and Sbrang, two.

At Ral Mo [Gong?] of Sribs Yul — Lord Drang Rje Rnol Nam.
Ministers: Zhug Tshams and Dbrad, two.

At Bre Snar of Rkong — Lord Rkong Rje Dkar Po.
Ministers: Mkhar Pa and Pha Drug, two.

At Rta Gsum of Myang Yul — Lord Myang Tsun Slang Rgyal.
Ministers: 'O Ru and Sprags, two.

At Gru Bzhi of Dags — Lord Dags Rgyal Sprog Zin.
Ministers: Pha Gu and Pog Rol, two.

At Dgu' Shul of Mchims Yul — Lord Mchims Rje Ne'u.
Ministers: Dang Dang and Ding Ding, two.

At Ya Sum of Sum Yul — Lord 'Thal Lji Rmang Ru Ti.
Ministers: Rlang and Kam, two.

At Snam Gsum of 'Brog Mo — Lord Se Re Khri.
Minister: Skyang Re Gnag.

Of the twelve principalities, with Se Re Khri, thirteen. Of the twenty-four ministers, with Skyang Re Gnag, twenty-five. Of the twelve forts, with Dbu Lde [Dam Pa?], thirteen. Of the twelve lands, with Byang Ka Snam Brgyad, thirteen. Kings nine, [...] ten. Ministers [...], Mchims ten — thus it is called.

These above are the circumstances of the primordial era.

The Unification

In the old lands, principalities and ministers thus came into being. Being lords of many people, rulers of great lands — powerful kings and wise, great-bellied ministers destroyed one another, one overcoming another, and brought the defeated under subjection.

Until at last, the helmet of 'O Lde Spu Rgyal could not be withstood. By divine compulsion he compelled; by kingly force he subdued, and brought them all under his rule.

The Divine Descent

He who came from the heights of divine heaven — above the vault of the sky, son of the six father-lord gods who dwelt there. Three elder brothers and three younger. Seven Khri generations and seven. Son of the seven Khri generations: Khri Nyag Khri Btsan Po.

He went to Sa Dog to be lord of the father's land, descending as rain upon Dog Yab.

When he came to the divine mountain Gyang Dor — even Mount Meru bowed low. The tree-trunks stood at attention. The river waters rippled softly. The great boulders and all else prostrated, and the phoenix paid homage.

He went as lord of the six yak-ranges of Tibet. Though he first came to the earth, he came as lord of all that lies beneath the sky's edge — the centre of the sky, the middle of the earth, the heart of the continent, the fence of the snows, the headwaters of all rivers. A high mountain, a clean land, a good country — where wise and brave people are born, where virtuous customs are practised, where swift horses multiply. To such a place, chosen by his bearing, he came.

His qualities were unlike those of any other king. The phoenix worshipped him with prostrations, and a ladder of light received him. The noble and dignified ones wore the garments of lordship, and from him arose the dignity of all great men.

Among generations of trees, the tallest is the long poplar.
Among generations of rivers, the greatest is the blue Yarlung.
Yar Lha Sham Po is the crown-god.

The Royal Genealogy

Above the vault of the sky, son of the six lord-father gods who dwell there — three elder brothers and three younger. Seven Khri generations and seven. Son of the seven Khri generations: Lde Nyag Khri Btsan Po. He went to Sa Dog to be lord of the father's land, descending as rain upon Dog Yab. While dwelling as a divine son ruling the kingdom of men, when his time came openly, he ascended to the sky.

The Seven Heavenly Kings

Lde Nyag Khri Btsan Po and Gnam Mug Mug bore a son: Mu Khri Btsan Po.
Mu Khri Btsan Po and Sa Ding Ding bore a son: Ding Khri Btsan Po.
Ding Khri Btsan Po and So Tham Tham bore a son: So Khri Btsan Po.
So Khri Btsan Po's son: De Khri Btsan Po.
De Khri Btsan Po's son: Khri Spe Btsan Po.

These above were all alike: when the son could ride a horse, the father ascended to the sky.

The Earthly Kings

Khri Spe Btsan Po's son: Dri Gum Btsan Po.

Dri Gum Btsan Po's son: Spu De Gung Rgyal, who married seven to heaven and six Legs to the earth. When Spu De Gung Rgyal died — Grang Mo Gnam Gser Brtsig, the Golden Fortress of the Cold Sky.

Gser Brtsig's son: Tho Leg Btsan Po.
Tho Leg Btsan Po's son: Sho Leg Btsan Po.
Sho Leg Btsan Po's son: Go Ru Leg Btsan Po.
Go Ru Leg Btsan Po's son: 'Brong Zhi Leg Btsan Po.
'Brong Zhi Leg Btsan Po's son: Thi Sho Leg Btsan Po.
Thi Sho Leg Btsan Po's son: I Sho Leg Btsan Po.
I Sho Leg's son: Zva Gnam Zin Te.
Zva Gnam Zin Te's son: Lde Pru Bo Gnam Gzhung Brtsan.
Gnam Gzhung Brtsan's son: Lde Gol.
Lde Gol's son: Gnam Lde Rnol Nam.
Gnam Lde Rnol Nam's son: Bse Rnol Po.
Bse Rnol Po's son: Lde Rgyal Po.
Lde Rgyal Po's son: Rgyal Srin Brtsan.
Rgyal Srin Brtsan's son: Rgyal To Re Longs Brtsan.
Rgyal To Re Longs Brtsan's son: Khri Btsan Nam.
Khri Btsan Nam's son: Khri Sgra Sbung Brtsan.
Khri Sgra Sbung Brtsan's son: Khri Thog Brtsan.

The Imperial Dynasty

Khri Thog Brtsan and Ru Yong Za Stong Rgyal Mtsho Ma bore a son: Lha Tho Do Snya Brtsan.

Lha Tho Do Snya Brtsan and Gno' Za Mang Mo Rje Ji Dgos bore a son: Khri Snya Zung Brtsan.

Khri Snya Zung Brtsan and 'Bro Za Dung Pyang Bzher bore a son: 'Bro Mnyen Lde Ru.

'Bro Mnyen Lde Ru and Mchims Za Klu Rgyal Ngan Mo Mtsho bore a son: Stag Bu Snya Gzigs.

Stag Bu Snya Gzigs and 'Ol God Za Stong Tsun 'Bro Gar bore a son: Slon Btsan Rlung Nam.

Slon Btsan Rlung Nam and Tshes Pong Za 'Bring Ma Thog Dgos bore a son: Srong Lde Brtsan.

Srong Lde Brtsan and Mong Za Khri Mo Mnyen Ldong Steng bore a son: Gung Srong Gung Rtsan.

Gung Srong Gung Rtsan and Khon Co Mang Mo Rje Khri Skar bore a son: Mang Slon Mang Rtsan.

Mang Slon Mang Rtsan and 'Bro Za Khri Ma Lod bore a son: 'Dus Srong Mang Po Rje.

'Dus Srong Mang Po Rje and Mchims Za Btsan Ma Thog bore a son: Khri Lde Btsug Brtsan.

Khri Lde Gtsug Brtsan and Sna Nam Za Mang Mo Rje Bzhi Steng bore a son: Khri Srong Lde Brtsan.

Khri Srong Lde Brtsan and Tshes Pong Za Rma Rgyal Ldong Skar bore sons: Mu Ne Brtsan and Lde Srong Brtsan.

Mu Brtsan's lineage was cut. Lde Srong Brtsan and 'Bro Za Lha Rgyal Mang Mo Rje bore a son: Khri Gtsug Lde Brtsan, and 'U 'I Dum Brtan [...]

Colophon

Translated from Old Tibetan by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, April 2026. Source text: Pelliot tibetain 1286, Bibliotheque nationale de France, as transcribed by the Old Tibetan Documents Online project (OTDO, Osaka University). First complete standalone English translation.

This is a Good Works Translation. The English is independently derived from reading the Old Tibetan source text. No existing English translation was consulted as a reference. Portions of the king list have been discussed in English by scholars including H.E. Richardson, E. Haarh, C. Beckwith, and B. Dotson; the present translation is not derived from any of these works. A French translation of the related Old Tibetan Annals and Chronicle texts exists in J. Bacot, F.W. Thomas, and Ch. Toussaint, Documents de Touen-houang relatifs a l'histoire du Tibet (Paris, 1940). Uncertain readings are marked with brackets [?]; damaged or missing text is marked with [...].

The four kinship boundaries section (lines 1-5) is significantly damaged. The numerical summary of the principalities (lines 22-25) presents a complex counting system: the text lists seventeen entries but counts twelve-plus-one as thirteen. The genealogy breaks off mid-line at the end of the manuscript (line 69).

The text contains three manuscript section divisions (marked $ /:/ in the OTDO transcription): lines 1-29 (kinship boundaries, principalities, and unification), lines 30-41 (divine descent), and lines 42-69 (royal genealogy). The divine descent passage (Section IV) and the opening of the genealogy (Section V) both begin with the same formula describing the six father-lords and seven Khri generations, with slight variants in the first king's name (Khri Nyag vs. Lde Nyag).

Key correspondences between Old Tibetan and standard historiographic forms: Lde Nyag Khri Btsan Po = Gnya' Khri Btsan Po (the mythological first king); Srong Lde Brtsan = Srong Btsan Sgam Po (Songtsen Gampo, r. c. 604-650); Khri Srong Lde Brtsan = Trisong Detsen (r. 755-797); Khri Gtsug Lde Brtsan = Ral Pa Can (r. 815-838).

Scribed by Tanko (Expeditionary Tulku, Life 25 of the tulku lineage).

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Source Text: Pelliot Tibétain 1286

Old Tibetan transliteration from the OTDO project (otdo.aa-ken.jp). Presented for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.

(1) $ /:/ gna' gnyen mtha' bzhi ['i?] rabs la / / lde 'i gangs [bar?] na / lde za'I gang rag m'a / / skyI 'i la mda' na / skyI za ['i? dro?]
(2) [gtshan?] / / [dags kyI bsen?] mkhar na / dags za 'I gyIm pang ma' / mchIms yul gyI dngul [khung na?] / mchims
(3) [za?] sha chang ma' / / gnyen nI mtha' bzhi / / chab [nI?] lugs gchig / [yos?] nI srang gchig / myI mtha' [---]
(4) [---] mtha' [bzhi?] ni [brag?] / chab mtha' bzhI ni [---] pyib mtha' bzhI ni [---] / gos m[tha'?]
(5) [bzhI?] [n?]i dar / / gnyen mtha' [bzhI?] [nI?]'I rabs dang lugs nI ['dI? lags?] / /
(6) $ / / rgyal pran yul yul na / mkhar bu re re na gnas te / rgyal pran bgyId pa dang / rgyal pran gyI blon po bgyid pa 'I [rabs?]
(7) la / / zhang zhung dar pa 'I rjo bo lig snya shur / blon po khyung po ra sangs rje dang / stong lom ma tse gnyIs / / [myang?]
(8) ro 'i pyed kar na / rje rtsang rje 'i thod kar / blon po su du dang gnang gnyIs / / yul gnubs gyI kling dgu' na
(9) rje gnubs rje 'I sris pa / / blon po rme 'u dang gro gnyis / / yul myang ro 'i sham po na / rje lo ngam byi [brom?]
(10) [cha?]tsha / blon po ngab myi dang 'bre gnyis / yul skyi ro 'i ljang sngon na / rje skyi rje 'I rmang po / blon po she 'u dang [spug?]
(11) gnyis / / yul ngas po 'i khra sum na / rje dgug grI 'i zing po rje / blon po mgar dang mnyan gnyis / /
(12) yul dbye mo yul bzhI na / rje dbye rje 'I mkhar pa / blon po dbo dang rtug gnyis / / yul 'o yul gyi spang
(13) gar na / / rje 'ol rje 'I zin brang tsha / blon po rngo dang dba's gnyis / / yul rngegs yul gyi gru
(14) bzhI na / rje rngegs rje 'I la brang / blon po sas pa dang myang nad gnyis / / yul klum ro 'i ya sum na
(15) rje nam pa 'i bu gseng ti / / blon po myang dang sbrang gnyis / / yul sribs yul gyi ral mo [gong?] /
(16) [rje?] drang rje 'I rnol nam / blon po zhug tshams dang dbrad gnyis / / yul rkong la bre snar na / / rje
(17) rkong rje 'I dkar po / blon po mkhar pa dang pha drug gnyis / / yul myang yul gyI rta gsum [na'?] /
(18) rje myang tsun slang rgyal / / blon po 'o ru dang sprags gnyis / / yul dags kyi gru bzhi na / rje dags
(19) rgyal gyI sprog zin / blon po pha gu dang pog rol gnyis / / yul mchIms yul gyi dgu' shul
(20) na' / rje mchims rje 'I ne 'u / blon po dang dang ding ding gnyis / / yul sum yul gyI ya sum na' / /
(21) rje 'thal ljI rmang ru ti / blon po rlang dang kam gnyIs / / yul 'brog mo snam gsum na' /
(22) rje se re khrI / blon po skyang re gnag / / rgyal pran bcu gnyis na / se re khri dang bcu gsum / blon po
(23) nyI shu rtsa bzhi na / skyang re gnag dang nyi shu rtsa lnga / mkhar bcu gnyis na / dbu lde [dam (/ngam)] pa dang bcu gsum /
(24) yul bcu gnyIs na / byang ka snam brgyad dang bcu gsum / rgyal dgu' sngo bcu / / blon [dgu'?] /
(25) mchims bcu zhes bya ste / / de yan chad ya yogs ni / gdod byin rum gyi nI rkyen zhes bya ste / /
(26) gna' yul yul na rgyal pran dang / blon po 'dI ltar bab ste / / myi mang gI rje / yul che 'i bdag
(27) byed byed pa las / rgyal po btsan ba dang / blon po 'dzangs pa dku' bo che rnams kyis / gchig
(28) gIs gchig brlag ste / 'bangs su bkug na / mtha' ma 'o lde spu rgyal gyI dbu rmog ma thub ste /
(29) mnar nI lha nar gyis mnard / thun nI rje thun gyis bthun te bkug go / /
(30) $ /:/ lha gnam gyI steng nas gshegs pa' / / gnam lhab kyi bla na / / yab lha bdag drug bzhugs pa 'i sras / gcen
(31) gsum gcung gsum na / khrI 'i bdun tshIgs dang bdun / khri 'i bdun tshigs kyI sras / khri nyag khrI btsan po' / /
(32) sa dog la yul yab kyi rje / dog yab kyi char du gshegs s'o / / lha rI gyang dor gshegs na / rI rab lhun po yang
(33) dgu' dud dud / shIng sdong po yang bang thang thang / chab lu ma yang dngo sil sIl / gor pha bong la stsogs pa yang
(34) mnyed khrung khrung gis pyag 'tshal lo / / bod ka g.yag drug gI rjer gshegs so / thog ma sa la gshegs
(35) pa yang / gnam mtha' 'og gI rjer gshegs pas / gnam gyI ni dbus / sa 'I ni dkyil / glIng gi ni snying
(36) po / gangs kyi nI ra ba / chu bo kun kyi ni mgo bo / / rI mtho sa gtsang / yul bzang / myi 'dzangs shing
(37) dpa' du skye / chos bzang du byed / rta mgyogs su 'phel ba 'I gnas su / tshul kyis bdams ste gshegs'o /
(38) rgyal po gzhan dang myI mtshungs pa 'I chos / pyag mnyed khrung khrung gIs 'tshal zhIng / sle ba 'od kyis
(39) len / myI btsun son pa 'I rnams / rje sa 'I gos gyon zhing / skyes pa ched po rnams btsun ba 'i [rnams?]
(40) pa yang de nas byung ba yIn no / / shIng rabs kyI nang na nI thang shIng ring po ring / chu rabs kyi nang na ni
(41) yar cu sngon po che / / yar lha sham po ni gtsug gI lha 'o / /
(42) $ /:/ gnam lhab kyI bla na yab bla bdag drug bzhugs pa pa 'I sras / / gcen gsum gcung gsum na / / khri 'i bdun tshIgs dang bdun / /
(43) khrI 'i bdun tshIgs kyi sras / / lde nyag khri btsan po / sa dog la yul yab kyi rje dog yab kyI char du gshegs nas / / lha sras myi
(44) yul gyI rgyal mdzad cing bzhugs pa las / mngon du thal byung dgung du gshegs pa / / lde nyag khri btsan po dang / gnam mug
(45) mug du bshos pa 'I sras / / mu khri btsan po mu khri btsan po dang sa dIng ding du bshos pa 'I sras / / dIng khri btsan po ding khri
(46) btsan po dang / so tham tham du bshos pa 'I sras / so khri btsan po / so khri btsan po 'i sras / de khri btsan po / de khri btsan
(47) po 'i sras / khri spe btsan po / / 'dI yan chad 'dra' ste / sras chIbs ka thub na / yab dgung du gshegs so / / khri spe
(48) btsan po 'I sras / drI gum btsan po / dri gum btsan po 'i sras / / spu de gung rgyal gnam la dri bdun / sa le legs
(49) drug bshos na / spu de gung rgyal grongs na / / grang mo gnam gser brtsig / gser brtsig gI sras / / tho leg
(50) btsan po / / tho leg btsan po 'i sras / sho legs btsan po / sho legs btsan po 'i sras / / go ru legs btsan po
(51) go ru legs btsan po 'i sras / / 'brong zhi legs btsan po / 'brong zhi legs btsan po 'i sras / thi sho leg btsan po' /
(52) thI shog leg gi sras / ^I sho leg btsan po / / ^i sho leg gI sras / zva gnam zIn te / / zva gnam zIn te 'i sras /
(53) lde pru bo gnam gzhung brtsan / gnam gzhung brtsan gyI sras / / lde gol / lde gol / lde gol gyi sras / gnam lde rnol
(54) nam / gnam lde rnol nam gyI sras / bse' rnol po / bse rnol po 'i sras / lde rgyal po / lde rgyal po 'i sras /
(55) rgyal srIn brtsan / rgyal srin brtsan gyI sras / rgyal to re longs brtsan / rgyal to re longs brtsan gyi sras /
(56) khri btsan nam / / khrI brtsan nam gyI sras / khri sgra sbung brtsan / khrI sgra sbung brtsan gyi sras / / khrI thog brtsan
(57) khri thog brtsan dang / ru yong za stong rgyal mtsho mar bshos pa 'I sras / lha tho do snya brtsan / lha tho do
(58) snya brtsan dang / gno' za mang mo rje ji dgos su bshos pa 'I sras / / khrI snya zung brtsan / khrI snya zung
(59) brtsan dang / 'bro' za dung pyang bzher du bshos pa 'I sras / 'bro mnyen lde ru / 'bro' mnyen lde ru dang /
(60) mchims za klu rgyal ngan mo mtshor bshos pa 'I sras / / stag bu snya gzigs / stag bu snya gzigs dang /
(61) 'ol god za stong tsun 'bro gar bshos pa 'I sras / / slon btsan rlung nam / slon btsan rlung nam dang /
(62) tshes pong za 'bring ma thog dgos su bshos pa 'I sras / / srong lde brtsan / srong lde brtsan dang / mong
(63) za khrI mo mnyen ldong steng du bshos pa 'I sras / / gung srong gung rtsan / gung srong gung rtsan dang / khon co mang mo
(64) rje khri skar du bshos pa 'I sras / / mang slon mang rtsan / mang slon mang rtsan dang / 'bro' za khri ma lod
(65) [khrI?] steng du bshos pa 'I sras / / 'dus srong mang po rje / 'dus srong mang po rje dang / mchims za btsan
(66) ma thog / thog steng du bshos pa 'I sras / / khrI lde btsug brtsan / / khri lde gtsug brtsan dang / sna nam za'
(67) mang mo rje bzhI steng du bshos pa 'i sras / khri srong lde brtsan / khri srong lde brtsan dang / tshes pong za rma rgyal
(68) ldong skar du bshos pa 'I sras / mu ne brtsan dang / lde srong brtsan / mu brtsan gdung chad nas / lde srong
(69) brtsan dang / 'bro za lha rgyal mang mo rjer bshos pa 'I sras / khrI gtsug lde brtsan dang / 'u 'I dum brtan

Source Colophon

Old Tibetan transliteration from the Old Tibetan Documents Online (OTDO), Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. URL: archives?p=Pt_1286. The original manuscript is Pelliot tibetain 1286, Bibliotheque nationale de France, Paris. Manuscript recovered from the Library Cave (Mogao Cave 17), Dunhuang, Gansu, China.

Bracketed text [ ] indicates uncertain readings of damaged portions. [---] indicates text lost to damage. (/X) indicates variant readings. $ /:/ marks major section divisions in the manuscript; $ alone marks paragraph beginnings. The transliteration follows OTDO conventions for Old Tibetan.

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