The Dawn of Tibet: The Ancient Civilization on the Roof of the World

363 Pages·2014·5.13 MB·English

by  John Vincent Bellezza

The Dawn of Tibet
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The Dawn of Tibet
The Ancient Civilization
on the Roof of the World
John Vincent Bellezza
ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD
Lanham • Boulder • New York • London
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Published by Rowman & Littlefield
A wholly owned subsidiary of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706
www.rowman.com
16 Carlisle Street, London W1D 3BT, United Kingdom
Copyright © 2014 by John Vincent Bellezza
Except where noted all photos were taken by the author.
All maps and figures were created by Sally Walkerman.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems,
without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote
passages in a review.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bellezza, John Vincent.
The dawn of Tibet : the ancient civilization on the roof of the world / John Vincent
Bellezza.
page cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4422-3461-1 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-4422-3462-8 (electronic)
1. Ngari Diqu (China)—Civilization. 2. Ngari Diqu (China)—Antiquities. 3. Tibet
Autonomous Region (China)—Description and travel. I. Title.
DS797.82.N437B448 2014
931'.5—dc23
2014008853
™
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper
for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
Printed in the United States of America
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Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
1 Discovering the First Civilization of Tibet 13
From Nowhere to Somewhere 13
Something Definite Begins to Emerge 19
Gaining Ground to Further Revelation 23
The Means and Methods of Chronicling Zhang Zhung Sites 27
2 The Great Sky Realm: The Land of Upper Tibet 29
The Pinnacle on the Roof of the World 29
The Enchanting Domain of Upper Tibet 31
Lakes of Sanctity and Beauty 35
Cosmic Center Mount Tise 39
Divine Denizens, the Wildlife of Upper Tibet 42
3 Tillers and Herders, Warriors and Saints: The People of Upper Tibet 47
A Union of Farmers and Shepherds 47
The Drokpas, Wanderers of the Tibetan Upland 48
The Drokpa Attire of Gods and Kings 50
The Drokpa Tent as a Microcosm of the Universe 52
Bestowed by Heaven and Earth, the Sustenance of the Drokpas 57
Human Minds and Animal Spirits 59
Farming the Top of the World 64
The Cycle of Faith, Festivals and Passages 67
Manifold Changes Buffet Modern Upper Tibet 70
v
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vi Contents
4 From Sky to Earth: The History of Zhang Zhung 75
The Magic and Mystery of Tibetan Scriptures 75
The Coming Together of the Tribes 78
Descended from Paradise, the Royal Line Appears 86
The Dominion’s Embrace in Kings and Castles 95
The Gods Withdraw Their Favor 104
5 Touching the Sky: The Citadels and Temples of Zhang Zhung 111
Stones of Time 111
The Abodes of the Ancients 116
The Redoubts of Power and Prestige 120
Hermitages and Temples of the Gods 130
6 Penetrating the Earth: The Burial Grounds of Zhang Zhung 139
Territory Marked in Standing Stones 139
Cities of the Dead 144
Underworld Tombs to the Heavens 153
The Looting of the Tombs 165
7 Flesh, Blood, and Bones in Stone: The Artistic Treasures
of Zhang Zhung 167
Inscribing History in Carvings and Paintings 167
Strokes of Time 170
Symbols of Life and Marks of Faith 172
The Ancient Human Figure in All Its Glory 176
Animals as Creatures, Persons, and Gods 186
Shrines Bridging the Gap between Prehistory and History 189
Long-Lost Cultural Links 193
The Allure of Ancient Art in Metals 198
8 Father Sky Eagle and Mother Earth Serpent: The Religion
of Zhang Zhung 203
The Historic Beginnings of Eternal Bon 203
The Mythic Beginnings of Eternal Bon 207
The Secret Teachings of Eternal Bon 211
The Spread of Zhang Zhung Religion to Central Tibet 215
The Zhang Zhung Gods of the Sky and Earth 218
The Riddle of Tönpa Shenrab and the Passage of the Dead 228
9 Horned Heroes and Turquoise Maidens: The Cultural Life
of Zhang Zhung 241
Myths of the Beginning 241
The Awesome Feats of Zhang Zhung’s Greatest Personalities 247
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Contents vii
The Ancient Warriors and Priests of Zhang Zhung and
Central Tibet 253
The Ancient Material Culture of Zhang Zhung and
Central Tibet 261
10 My Ancestors, My Gods: Zhang Zhung Reigns in Contemporary
Upper Tibet 271
The Key to the Past and Present 271
Divine Mountains and Lakes of Sheph erds and Farmers Recall
Ancient Traditions 273
The Search for Well-Being through the Ages 280
Today’s Shaman Successors to the Adepts of Zhang Zhung 285
Conclusion 297
Notes 301
Bibliography 321
Index 337
About the Author 349
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Acknowledgments
I
n a book like this based on many years of research and exploration, the
contributions of virtually everyone who has aided me in my adult life should
be acknowledged. As such a huge roll is not feasible, I will express my appre-
ciation in mostly general terms. I do so with the sincere wish that each and
every individual who has made this work possible through their good words,
deeds, or wishes is honored accordingly.
The writing of this book was made possible through a grant from the
Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation (New York City), an organization
that commands my highest regard. In particular, I wish to thank Messrs.
Donald Rubin, Bruce Payne, and Alex Gardner for their time and interest
in my work.
I should continue by thanking the great many residents of Tibet and the
Himalaya who have fed me with food and information over the years. They
have filled my canteen and watered my curiosity a multitude of times. Quite
simply, without the help of the indigenous peoples, I wouldn’t have gotten
anywhere. Traveling for many months at a time without extraneous means of
support meant that I had nowhere else to turn, and rarely was I disappointed
with the reception I received locally.
My friendships with Tibetan monastics have been particularly sustaining
and inspiring. Foremost among these religious figures is His Holiness the
Dalai Lama, who early on took an interest in my research and exploration.
Over the years, his moral and material support has been instrumental in my
success. His Holiness Menri Trizin, the head of the Bon religion, has also
offered his help and encouragement to me countless times. So too has Lopön
Tenzin Namdak, the senior-most scholar of Bon, a man who has unstintingly
shared his vast knowledge with me. I have significantly benefited from the
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