Besides the three tombs for which occupants are known, other tombs' occupants, according to Tibetan chronicles, are Mangsong Mangzan, Jiangca Lamu, Chide Zuzan, Mou Ru and Mou Ni, etc. Of them, Jiangca Lamu and Mou Ru were merely crown princes and their mounds are smaller. Scholars find all the tombs are in a line from east to west and mainly placed in patrilineal order. The eastern group included Songtsen Gambo, Mangsong Mangzan, Dusong Mangbujie, Chisong Dezan and Chizu Dezan; while the eastern are Chide Songzan, Mou Ru, Mou Ni and Jiangca Lamu.
Similar in form and structure, all the tombs were of piled stone and packed earth; the earth was 10-20 centimeters thick, sometimes containing stone slabs and sometimes wood. Its construction is no less formidable than that of Qin and Han tombs.
Once they established their powerful regime, these Tibetan kings gathered mammoth amounts of wealth, and built magnificent palaces, monasteries and large-scale tombs. Most of the surface buildings no longer exist, but, according to historical documents, uncounted precious historical relics and treasures were buried in each tomb. What is more, most of them haven't been looted, leaving a large amount of cultural treasure, which, when located, can assist immeasurably the study of Tibetan history and culture. |
