Zhangzhung
Zhangzhung ཞང་ཞུང་ | |||||||||||
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| c. 500 BC–625 AD | |||||||||||
General location of Zhangzhung, with contemporary neighbouring polities c. AD 500 | |||||||||||
| Capital | Kyunglung | ||||||||||
| Common languages | Zhang-Zhung language | ||||||||||
| Religion | Bön | ||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||
| Tsenpo | |||||||||||
| Historical era | Iron Age to Classical Antiquity | ||||||||||
• Established | c. 500 BC | ||||||||||
• Conquest of Songtsen Gampo | 625 AD | ||||||||||
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| Today part of | China India Nepal | ||||||||||
Zhangzhung or Shangshung was an ancient kingdom in western and northwestern Tibet, existing from about 500 BC to 625 AD, pre-dating Tibetan Buddhism. The Zhangzhung culture is associated with the Bon religion, which has influenced the philosophies and practices of Tibetan Buddhism. Zhangzhung people are mentioned frequently in ancient Tibetan texts as the original rulers of today's western Tibet. Only in the last two decades have archaeologists been given access to do field work in the areas once ruled by the Zhangzhung.