When it comes to the princesses in history, everyone will think of Wang Zhaojun of the Han Dynasty. In fact, there was a princess in the Tang Dynasty, and her deeds can be called the most in history. She is Princess Wencheng, who is far away from Tubo.
In fact, Princess Wencheng was a princess of Heqin who was requested by Songzan Gampo "Three Gu Maolu", and in the ninth year of Zhenguan (634 AD), Songzan Gampo made a surprising move after quelling the civil unrest in Tubo: he sent emissaries to Chang'an to propose marriage.
Surprisingly, Tang Taizong rejected Songzan Gampo's marriage proposal. After the emissary returned, Songtsen Gampo was greatly angry, but he thought that his "sincerity" was not enough, so he prepared a large amount of gold and silver jewelry and sent emissaries to propose to Tang Taizong again.
This time, not surprisingly, Tang Taizong once again rejected Songzan Gampo. Songzan Gampo was completely enraged, and in order to give the Tang Dynasty a little color, Songzan Gampo sent 200,000 troops to attack the Tang Dynasty's Songzhou (located in western Sichuan) in 638.
In the face of Tubo's restlessness, Tang Taizong did not choose to stand idly by, but sent 50,000 elite soldiers to "conquest".
In this confrontation, the two sides were deadlocked for more than a month, tubo lian suffered several defeats, but the Tang army also suffered heavy losses, and finally, Songzan Gampo took the initiative to withdraw.
Although the Tang Dynasty won, the tenacious Tubo also proved its strength to the Tang Dynasty. Then, songtsen gampo, who was not discouraged or discouraged, sent emissaries to Chang'an for the third time to ask Emperor Taizong of Tang for marriage.
This time, Emperor Taizong of Tang finally agreed to Songzan Gampo's request, and he selected a woman from the clan, Princess Wencheng, and married her to Songzan Gampo.
Before marrying Songtsen Gampo, Princess Wencheng was only a clan woman, and the history books did not record her real name and family situation.
Of course, many people deduce that Princess Wencheng's father was Li Daozong, the cousin of Tang Gaozu Li Yuan, for two reasons: First, when Princess Wencheng married Tubo, Li Daozong was a "flower protector". Second, after the sending group reached Tubo, Songzan Gampo performed a "son-in-law ceremony" to Li Daozong.
Of course, although Princess Wencheng's family has not yet been conclusive, because of this joint marriage, Princess Wencheng has become a pivotal figure in history.
In the fourteenth year of Zhenguan (640 AD), Princess Wencheng married Songzan Gampo as a princess of Peace. The dazzling abundance of the Tang Dynasty's "dowry" for Princess Wencheng included 5,500 skilled craftsmen, 5,500 kinds of livestock, 3,800 types of plant seeds, and Shakyamuni was 12 years old.
After trekking all the way, Princess Wencheng and her party arrived in Tubo territory. Songtsan Gampo personally led the Janissaries to greet each other many days ago, and Princess Wencheng and Songzan Gampo began a day of love. Princess Wencheng did not like the "ochre noodles" custom of Tubo, Songzan Gampo simply ordered it to stop, and in order to cooperate with Princess Wencheng, Songzan Gampo changed out of felt and put on silk clothes to make herself more like the Central Plains from the inside out.
In order to show his favor for Princess Wencheng, Songtsen Gampo also specially built a castle for her, the Potala Palace.
The skilled craftsmen and plant seeds brought by Princess Wencheng improved the lives of the Tubo people and enabled them to develop politically, economically and culturally by leaps and bounds. The 12-year-old golden body of Shakyamuni Shakyamuni is still enshrined in the Jokhang Temple, which has had a huge impact on the beliefs of Tubo.
It is reported that after Princess Wencheng married Tubo, the atmosphere of Tubo was renewed: "Since your lord and relatives, half of the Hu style is like the Han family." Princess Wencheng thus became the sacred Green Tara Bodhisattva in the hearts of Tibetans.
After that, the relationship between Tubo and Datang also entered a "honeymoon period", it is reported that after Tang Taizong returned from the expedition to Goguryeo, Songzan Gampo personally built a seven-foot-tall golden goose to present to Tang Taizong to celebrate, and when Wang Xuance, a famous general of tang Qingzong, was trapped in the conquest of Tianzhu, Songzan Gampo directly sent Tubo elite soldiers to successfully help Wang Xuance's Tang army to relieve its difficulties.
In 649, Songtsan Gampo was devastated when he heard of the death of Emperor Taizong of Tang and sent emissaries to offer fifteen kinds of gold and silver jewelry to the Zhaoling Tomb. At the same time, he was loyal to Emperor Gaozong of Tang, who had just succeeded to the throne, and said: Never be born with the heart of the same.
However, in the first year of Yonghui (650 AD), Songtsen Gampo, who was only thirty-four years old, died of illness, at this time Princess Wencheng married into Tubo for only 9 years, and princess Wencheng began a widowed life for thirty-one years.
According to Tubo customs, after songtsen gampo died, some ministers asked Princess Wencheng to be buried for her husband. Fortunately, due to the obscenity of the Tang Dynasty, Princess Wencheng was able to "survive", but Princess Wencheng's situation in the local area was very delicate. Emperor Gaozong of Tang did not forget Princess Wencheng either, so he issued an edict to take Princess Wencheng back to Chang'an.
However, unexpectedly, Princess Wencheng refused and resolutely chose to stay in Tubo.
Princess Wencheng stayed for thirty-one years, and until her death in the first year of Yonglong (680 AD), she did not have access to her hometown.
So, why did Princess Wencheng refuse Emperor Gaozong's kindness and refuse to return to chang'an?
There are three main reasons:
First, Tubo has Princess Wencheng to worry about. Princess Wencheng and Songzan Gampo have a very harmonious relationship, and the two love each other. Loving Wu and Wuxia, Princess Wencheng naturally regarded Tubo as her second hometown. Therefore, Princess Wencheng was reluctant to leave Tubo and the burial place of her husband Songtsen Gampo.
Second, Princess Wencheng had concerns in her heart. Princess Wencheng is well known to the world for marrying another country, if she returns to Chang'an, in what capacity should she continue to live? Guizong daughter? If you are a guizong daughter, it is better to continue to be honorable in Tubo.
Third, Princess Wencheng has a responsibility in her heart. Princess Wencheng was well aware that she still had the mission of reconciling Datang and Tubo and forever marrying each other, so she chose to continue to stay in Tubo. Because she knows that her existence is to maintain the bridge and bond between the two countries, naturally she cannot casually return to the Tang Dynasty.
It is precisely because of this that Princess Wencheng spent thirty-one years in Tubo as a widow, and worked hard for the peaceful coexistence of Tubo and Tang.
In the first year of Yonglong (680 AD), Princess Wencheng died of smallpox in Tubo. Tubo held a solemn funeral for her and buried her next to the tomb of Songtsen Gampo. Emperor Gaozong of Tang also sent emissaries to Tubo to offer sacrifices, and Princess Wencheng, who gave up her small family for everyone, was also regarded by the world as a god, and Qingshi left her name in vain.