Treaty Pillar between Chinese T'ang Dynasty and Tibet (822 CE)

The Treaty Pillar as it appeared in 1950. This pillar still exists outside the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. Besides the Jokhang pillar, one was erected outside the Chinese emperor's palace gate in Ch'ang-an (now known as Xian, in Shanxi province.) and a third pillar was erected in 823 CE, at Gugu Meru on the border between the two countries (cf. "All to the east is the country of Great China; and all to the west is, without question, the country of Great Tibet" see below). The pillars at the Chinese imperial palace at at the border were destroyed when the the Tang dynasty was overthrown by invading Jurchens from present day Manchuria and the founding of the Song dynasty in 904 CE.

"The Lhasa Treaty pillar outside the Jokhang" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. Accessed 09 Nov. 2009

http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_2001.59.17.100.1.html

Frequently Communist propaganda will state that Tibet "has always" been a part of China. As this treaty makes plain, this is not so. The relations between the two countries appears to have been complex. On the one hand, the monument describes connections between China and Tibet as similar to those between uncle and nephew. The Tang dynasty of China and the Yarlung dynasty of Tibet were indeed related by marriage, yet the terms uncle and nephew are not used in relation to other groups with whom the Chinese had connections by marriage. On the other hand, the monument seems to describe the two countries as equals. The pillars were erected at the conclusion of a peace treaty marking the end of 200 years of intermittent warfare between the two kingdoms. The peace lasted for about 20 years. The pillar is inscribed in both Tibetan and Chinese.

East Inscription

The Great King of Tibet, the Miraculous Divine Lord, and the Great King of China, the Chinese Ruler Hwang-ti, being in the relationship of nephew and uncle, have conferred together for the alliance of their kingdoms. They have made and ratified a great agreement. Gods and men all know it and bear witness so that it may never be changed; and an account of the agreement has been engraved on this stone pillar to inform future ages and generations.

The Miraculous Divine Lord Tri-tsug De-tseji and the Chinese King Wen Wu Hsiao-te Wang-ti, nephew and uncle, seeking in their far-reaching wisdom to prevent all causes of harm to the welfare of their countries now or in the future, have extended their benevolence impartially over all. With the single desire of acting for the peace and benefit of all their subjects they have agreed on high purpose of ensuring lasting good; and they have made this great treaty in order to fulfill their decision to restore the former ancient friendship and mutual regard and the old relationship of friendly neighborliness.

Between the two countries no smoke nor dust shall be seen. There shall be no sudden alarms and the very word 'enemy' shall not be spoken. Even the frontier guards shall have no anxiety nor fear and shall enjoy land and bed at their ease. All shall live in peace and share the blessing of happiness for ten thousand years. The fame of this shall extend to all places reached by the sun and the moon.

This solemn agreement has established a great epoch when Tibetans shall be happy in the land of Tibet, and Chinese in the land of China. So that it may never be changed, the Three Precious Jewels of Religion, the Assembly of Saints, the Sun and Moon, Planets and Stars have been invoked as witnesses. An oath has been taken with solemn words and with the sacrifice of animals; and the agreement has been ratified.

If the parties do not act in accordance with this agreement or if they violate it, whichever it be, Tibet or China, nothing that the other party may do by way of retaliation shall be considered a breach of the treaty on their part.

The Kings and Ministers of Tibet and China have taken the prescribed oath to this effect and the agreement has been written in detail. The two Kings have affixed their seals. The Ministers specially empowered to execute the agreement have inscribed their signatures and copies have been deposited in the royal records of each party.

Tibet and China shall abide by the frontiers of which they are now in occupation. All to the east is the country of Great China; and all to the west is, without question, the country of Great Tibet. Henceforth on neither side shall there be waging of war nor seizing of territory. If any person incurs suspicion he shall be arrested; his business shall be inquired into and he shall be escorted back.

Now that the two kingdoms have been allied by this great treaty it is necessary that messengers should once again be sent by the old route to maintain communications and carry the exchange of friendly messages regarding the harmonious relations between the Nephew and Uncle. According to the old custom, horses shall be changed at the foot of the Chiang Chun pass, the frontier between Tibet and China. At the Suiyung barrier the Chinese shall meet Tibetan envoys and provide them with all facilities from there onwards. At Ch'ing-shui the Tibetans shall meet Chinese envoys and provide all facilities. On both sides they shall be treated with customary honor and respect in conformity with the friendly relations between Nephew and Uncle.

North Inscription

The rank, names and lineage of the ministers of Great Tibet, greater and lesser, taking part in the solemnization of the treaty.

The rank, names and lineage of the Great Ministers of the kingdom of Great Tibet taking part in the Council of State.

The Great Monk-minister Dpal-chen-po yon-tan, taking part in the highest Council of State, carrying out the administration with power over both outer and inner affairs.

Commander-in-chief of the army, Zhang Khri-sum rje. The Great Minister, Blon (Lo-bzher).

The Minister, Deputy Commander-in-chief Bzang.

The Great Minister of the kingdom, Blon Rgyal.

The Great Minister of the kingdom, Blon Khri-btsan () bzher.

The Great Minister of the kingdom, Zhang Khri-btsan khod ne-tang.

The Great Minister of the kingdom, Zhang Khri-bzher lha-mthong.

The Great Minister of the kingdom, Blon Rgyal-bzang dus-kong.

The rank, names and lineage of the ordinary ministers of Great Tibet. The Minister of the Interior. Mchims Zhang Rgyal-bzher khod ne-brtsan.

The Minister of the Exterior taking part in the Council of State, Crg-ro Blon Btsan-bzher lho-gong.

The Snam-phyi-pa, Mchims Zhang Brtan-bzher stag-tsab.

The Mngan-pon, head of the district officials, Bal Blon Klu-bzang myes-rma.

The Secretary General, Bran-ka Blon Stag-bzher bab-ken.

The Accountant-General, Rogegs Blon Stag-zigs rgan-kol.

The Exterior Minister, Bro-zhang Klu-hzang lha-bo-brtsan.

The Chief Judge, head of the justiciary, Myang Blon Rgyal-nyen Eegs-tsang

South Inscription

The rank, names, and lineage of the ministers of Great China, greater and lesser, taking part in the solemnization of the treaty.

The rank, names, and lineage of the Great Ministers of the kingdom of Great China, taking part in the Council of State.

With the rank of Chen I Ta Fo and provisionally Vice-President of Imperial Chancellery, taking part in the Great Council of State.

With the rank of () Ta Fo and Provisionally Vice-President of the Imperial Secretariat, taking part in the Great Council of State, Ts'ui Chih.

With the rank of T'ai Chung Ta Fu and provisionally Vice-President of the Imperial Secretariat, taking part in the Gre at Council of State, 'Wang Pha (i.e. Wang Po)

With the rank of Chung Ta Fu and provisionally Vice-President of the Board of Finance in the Department of Government Affairs, taking part in the Great Council of State, D'o 'Gwan Yweng (i.e. Tu Yuan-ying)

With the rank of Cheng I Ta Fo and tLe office of President of the Board of War, taking part in the Great Council of State, Se'u 'B'en (i.e. Hsiaa Mien).

The rank, names and lineage of the ordinary minister of Great China.

With the rank of Chin Tzu Kuang Lu Ta Fu and the office of Left Vice-President of the Department of Government Affairs, Han Ka'u (i.e. Han Kao)

With the rank of Ch'ao I Lang and the office of Vice-President of Tribunal of Censor, 'Gi'u Sing Zhu (i.e. Niu Seng-ju).

With the rank of T'ai Chung Ta Fa and the office of Acting Right Vice-President of the Department of Government Affairs and President of the Board -of Civil Office, Li Kang (i.e. Li Chiang).

With the rank of Yin Ch'iang Kuang Lo Ta Fu and the office of President of the Board of Finance, Yang U Ling (i.e. Yang Yu-ling).

With the rank of T'ung I Ta Fo and provisionally President of the Board of Rites, 'Wu'i Zhi'u (i.e. Wei Shou).

With the rank of Yin Ch'ing Kuang Lu Ta Fu and the office of Acting Right Vice-President of the Department of Government Affairs and concurrently Pre-sident of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Ca'u Tsong Zhu (i.e. Chao Tsung-ju).

With the rank of T'ai Chung Ta Fu and the office of President of the Board of Rites and concurrently President of the Court of Agricultural Administra-tion, Be'i Bu (i.e. Pe'i Wu).

With the rank of the Chent I Ta Fu and provisionally Prefect of The Capital and concurrently President of the Tribunal of Censors, Lu'u Kong Cag (i.e. Liu Kung-ch'o)

With the rank of Yin Ch'ino Kuang Lu Ta Fu and the office of Acting Presi-dent of the Board of Public Works and Concurrently Grand general of the Right Guard of Chin Wu, Kwag Tshung (i.e. Kuo Ts'ung).

With the rank of ... Ta Fu and the office of President of the Court Supreme Justice and currently President of the Tribunal of Censors, Li u 'Gwan Teng (i.e. Liu Yuan-ting)

With the rank of Ch'ao I Lang provisionally Director of the Left Bureau in the Department of Government Affairs and concurrently Vice-President of the Tribunal of censors, Li'u Shi La'u (i.e. Liu Shll-lao) .

With the rank of Ch'ao San Lang and the Office of Ching Chao.

translation: Richardson, Hugh, "The Sino-Tibetan Treaty Inscription of A.D. 821/823 at Lhasa," Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 1978, no.2, pp.137-162.

The Jokhang today, the treaty pillar can be seen to the left of the main entrance