Khri-srong-lde-btsan

king of Tibet

Also known as: Khrisong Detsen

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June 30, 2026

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Khri-srong-lde-brtsan was a significant Tibetan king who reigned from 755 to 797 CE. His rule marked a peak in Tibetan military power, with Tibet even exacting tribute from China and briefly capturing its capital.1

Beyond military achievements, Khri-srong-lde-brtsan is remembered as a champion of Buddhism. After initially prohibiting the religion, he lifted the restriction in 761 CE. He invited Buddhist teachers from India and China and established the great temple of Bsam-yas around 779 CE, where Tibetans were trained as monks. This patronage of Buddhism profoundly influenced Tibetan culture and society.1

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Buddhism
Kings and yogis
…other great “kings of religion”: Khri-srong-lde-btsan (reigned 755–797 ce) and Ral-pa-can, who was assassinated in 838 ce.
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…other great “kings of religion”: Khri-srong-lde-btsan (reigned 755–797 ce) and Ral-pa-can, who was assassinated in 838 ce.
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Bon
…late 8th-century persecution by King Khrisong Detsen, it was never completely destroyed and continues to survive both in the aspects of Tibetan Buddhism that are mentioned above and as a living religion on the northern and eastern frontiers of Tibet.
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…late 8th-century persecution by King Khrisong Detsen, it was never completely destroyed and continues to survive both in the aspects of Tibetan Buddhism that are mentioned above and as a living religion on the northern and eastern frontiers of Tibet.
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Tibet
Early history to the 9th century
The reign of Khri-srong-lde-brtsan (755–797) marked the peak of Tibetan military success, including the exaction of tribute from China and the brief capture of its capital, Chang’an, in 763. But it was as the second religious king and champion of Buddhism that Khri-srong-lde-brtsan was immortalized by posterity. He…
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The reign of Khri-srong-lde-brtsan (755–797) marked the peak of Tibetan military success, including the exaction of tribute from China and the brief capture of its capital, Chang’an, in 763. But it was as the second religious king and champion of Buddhism that Khri-srong-lde-brtsan was immortalized by posterity. He…
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Samye Debate
…of the reigning Tibetan king, Khri-srong-lde-btsan, who declared in favour of the Madhyamika teachings of the Indian representatives. His decision may have been influenced to some degree by the intermittent warfare then going on between Tibet and China. Thereafter, India exerted greater influence than China over Buddhism’s development in Tibet,…
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…of the reigning Tibetan king, Khri-srong-lde-btsan, who declared in favour of the Madhyamika teachings of the Indian representatives. His decision may have been influenced to some degree by the intermittent warfare then going on between Tibet and China. Thereafter, India exerted greater influence than China over Buddhism’s development in Tibet,…
Read More