Song-Tsen Gam-Po

Song-Tsen Gam-Po 

Born 617?; died 649. King of Tibet from 629 to 649.

Song-tsen Gam-po completed the unification of the Tibetan tribes into a single state, a state that endured until the ninth century. While he was king, the Tibetan writing system was created, and he himself is reputed to have compiled a code of laws. During his reign, foreign teachers of Buddhism revived their activities in Tibet. Song-tsen Gam-po subordinated the tribes of the Zhang-zhung in the west and undertook expeditions to the Koko Nor region and northern India; during his reign, Nepal acknowledged itself a vassal of Tibet. Song-tsen Gam-po established friendly relations with China and in 641 married the Chinese princess Wen-Ch’eng.