Songtsen Gampo Embraces Buddhism

In 641 CE, Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo married Chinese Princess Wencheng, who brought Buddhist scriptures and a Buddha statue to Tibet. This followed his earlier marriage to Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti, who had also introduced Buddhist elements. Songtsen Gampo constructed the Jokhang and Ramoche temples in Lhasa to house the sacred Buddhist statues. Evidence suggests he maintained pre-Buddhist traditions alongside his political support for Buddhism through temple construction and diplomatic marriages. These actions established a foundation for Tibet's adoption of Buddhism in later centuries.