Tibet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tibet - Essay Example â€Å"Five hundred years before Buddha Sakyamuni came into this world i.e., circa 1063 B.C., a semi-legendary figure known as Lord Shenrab Miwo reformed the primitive animism of the Shen race and founded the Tibetan Bon religion. According to Bonpo sources there were eighteen Shangshung Kings who ruled Tibet before King Nyatri Tsenpo† (Brief History of Tibet) After the empire of Shangshung exhausted another kingdom known as â€Å"Bod† came into exist and the present name of Tibet has been used during this era. The Tibetan has been ruled by many kings of different empires in the following years. â€Å"During the first decade of the 16th century, Tseten Dorje, a servant of the Rinpung family, with the help of some local tribes and Mongols, managed to gain control of Shigatse and the surrounding regions of Tsang province. From 1566 to 1642 Tseten Dorje and his two successors ruled Tibet with the title of Depa Tsangpa.† (Brief History of Tibet) Sonam Gyatso, one of the prominent figures of Tibetan history was born in 1543. He was a person of immense wisdom in spiritual activities and his visions and missions were soon made him the unquestionable leader of the Tibetan community. He converted Altan Khan to Buddhism and the latter conferred on him the title Dalai Lama meaning "Ocean of Wisdom" in 1578. In 1642, the Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lozang Gyatso, assumed both spiritual and temporal authority over Tibet and established the present system of the Tibetan Government. (Brief History of Tibet) The Ming emperor who was ruling China at that time had a wide respect towards Dalai Lama and they were never questioned the sovereignty of Tibet under the leadership of Dalai Lama. In 1786 Ghurkhas invaded Tibet because of the Tibetan help to Sikkim people when they were attacked by the Ghurkha led Nepal. In order to escape from the attack of Ghurkhas, the eighth Dalai Lama, the ruler of Tibet at that time sought help