| Gungsong Gungtsen | |
| Tsenpo | |
| Succession: | 2nd Emperor of Tibetan Empire (disputed) |
| Reign: | 650 – 655 |
| Predecessor: | Songtsen Gampo |
| Successor: | Mangsong Mangtsen |
| House: | Yarlung Dynasty |
| Father: | Songtsen Gampo |
| Mother: | Mongza Tricham |
| Spouse: | Azhaza Mongjé Trikar (from Tuyuhun) |
| Issue: | Mangsong Mangtsen |
| Native Lang1: | Lönchen |
| Native Lang1 Name1: | Gar Tongtsen Yülsung |
| Birth Date: | 605 or 617 |
| Birth Place: | Trashi Zhelyékhang, Lhasa, Tibet |
| Death Date: | 649 or 655 |
| Death Place: | Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet |
| Place Of Burial: | Gungchen Gungri Mausoleum, Valley of the Kings |
Gungsong Gungtsen (b. 605/617, d. 649/655) was the only known son of Songtsen Gampo (b. 557/569, d. 649/650), the 33rd king of the Tibetan Empire.
Gungtsen was born on 605/617 C.E in Lhasa, Tibet during his grandfather Namri Songtsen's reign.
Songtsen Gampo is said to have had five wives, the Nepalese princess Bhrikuti,[1] and the Chinese Princess Wencheng, both devout Buddhists, are the best known, but he also married daughters of the King of Zhangzhung and the King of the Western Xia, as well as one each from the Ruyong and Mong (or Mang) clans (although other lists exist).[2]
Gungsong Gungtsen was born to Mangza (or Mongsa) Tricham, the noble woman from the Mang or Mong clan of Tölung, a valley to the west of Lhasa.[3] [4] [5]
It seems most unlikely that Songtsen Gampo handed over power to his son after his marriage to Princess Wencheng in 641, as she was married to the ruling monarch and there is no mention of such an event in the Chinese or Tibetan Annals. If Gungsong Gungtsen was married and had a son before 641, he was most probably born sometime before 625.[6]
He is traditionally said to have been born at a nine-storied palace known as the "Celestial Auspicious Mansion of Draglha", built by Bhrikuti to the south of Lhasa.[7] It is said that a shrine and a stupa were then built by his father on a rocky mountain near Yerpa which resembled a seated image of Tara.[8]
Some accounts say that when Gungsong Gungtsen reached the age of thirteen (twelve by Western reckoning), his father, Songtsen Gampo, retired and he then ruled the country for five years (which could have been the period when Songtsen Gampo was working on the constitution). Gungsong Gungtsen also married 'A-zha Mang-mo-rje when he was thirteen and they had a son, Mangsong Mangtsen (r. 650-676 CE). Gungsong Gungtsen is said to have only ruled for five years when he died at eighteen. His father, Songtsen Gampo, took the throne again.[9] He is said to have been buried at Donkhorda, the site of the royal tombs, to the left of the tomb of his grandfather Namri Songtsen (gNam-ri Srong-btsan). The dates for these events are very unclear.[5] [10] [11]
It is unclear whether Gungsong Gungtsen was really enthroned as Emperor during the five years he is said to have reigned, nor is there any mention of his reign in the Chinese or Tibetan Annals. He is, therefore, sometimes not included among the list of Tibetan rulers.