This dissertation offers an in-depth analysis of Tibetan military history, examining the development of military institutions and practices from the Tibetan Imperial period in the 7th century to the Ganden Podrang period in the 17th and 18th centuries. Drawing on a wealth of multilingual sources and employing both quantitative and qualitative research methods, the study investigates the formation of a professional Tibetan army during the period of the Ganden Podrang (1642–1959), the Buddhist government of the Dalai Lamas. This dissertation argues that establishing the Tibetan army necessitated administrative organization and fiscal reform that led to the rise of a modern state. These institutional and military reforms initiated by the Fifth Dalai Lama during the 17th century catalyzed a series of socioeconomic and religious changes that influenced modern state-building and bureaucratization of Tibet and the Chinese Qing Empire (1644–1911).
The research highlights the often-overlooked state-building projects of the Fifth Dalai Lama and the Gelukpa, focusing on the military institutions and logistics of the Ganden Podrang. It also investigates the successful integration of Bhutan into Tibet’s tributary system by the civil king Polhané and the reforms in the Tibetan military system following the Gurkha War (1788–1793) and the increasing interactions between the Qing troops and the Tibetan army. Furthermore, the dissertation explores the potential of Big Data to revolutionize historical research in the context of Tibetan military history.
This comprehensive examination of Tibetan military history aims to provide a deeper understanding of historical events and processes. The findings of this dissertation offer valuable insights into the development and transformation of Tibetan military institutions, governance, and borderlands interactions, as well as the potential applications of Big Data in Tibetan history.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:columbia.edu/oai:academiccommons.columbia.edu:10.7916/mbtf-4v81 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Qian, Qichen |
| Source Sets | Columbia University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Theses |
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