Diplomacy In Kirat And Lichchhivi Period
Yuba Nath Lamsal
Nepal is one of the oldest countries in South Asia. Nepal remained an independent country even when almost the whole of South Asia had become a British colony. Nepal and Britain had come face to face in their mission of territorial expansion and fought a war in 1814-16, following which the Sugauli Treaty was signed, formally ending the war. The Sugauli Treaty had two shocking consequences for Nepal. First, Nepal lost almost one-third of its territory, and second, Nepal’s territorial expansion came to an end.
Although the Sugauli Treaty is the beginning of Nepal’s modern diplomacy, the tradition of establishing contact with other countries has a long history. We can trace Nepal’s diplomacy as back as 1500 BC, when Nepal’s Kirat kings had relations with several Indian states, including the most powerful Hastinapur. One Kirat King of Nepal, Jitedasti, is believed to have participated in the great Mahabharat war and, according to historian Balchandra Sharma, he helped the Pandavas against the Kauravas in the war.
Emperor Ashoka of Magadha visited Lumbini around 250 BC on his pilgrimage, during which he had a pillar erected at Lumbini as a symbol of respect to the Buddha. Later, Emperor Ashoka visited Kathmandu and had his daughter Charumati married to Devpal, a prince of Kathmandu. A new settlement was established after Devpal’s name in Kathmandu, somewhere near the Pashupatinath area, which was known as Devpatan. Another settlement was named Chabhil after Charumati. This gives evidence that Nepal’s diplomatic history existed as early as 250 BC. Kautilya’s Arthasashtra (Economic Theory) mentions about Nepal’s trade with Magadh state. Pataliputra (Patna) was the hub of trade between Nepal and India, with key trading items being woolen materials, kasturi (aromatic musk deer pod), copper utensils and iron.
The bases of international relations and diplomacy have always been the safeguard of boundaries and economic interest. Nepal’s fundamental goal of international relations was also the defence of its boundary, followed by trade and economic interests. Nepal’s diplomacy and foreign relations were, thus, limited to neighbouring states.
Nepal’s history is chequered so is its international relations and diplomacy. Its fluctuating size and influence also had impact on its diplomacy and international relations. When Nepal’s territory was expanded, it had greater diplomatic influence far and wide both in the south and north. Its diplomatic influence shrank when Nepal became fragmented and weak.
Not much is known about Nepal’s authentic diplomatic activities during the Kirat and earlier dynastical rules, except the mention of trade between Nepal and Magadh in Kautilya’s Arthasastra. Similarly, no concrete step was taken at the official level to establish and nurture relations with the northern states during the Kirat period. However, unofficial contact with China at the people’s level had existed from the fifth century. Vijaya Kumar Manandhar, in his book ‘A Comprehensive History of Nepal China Relations Vol 1’, says “although the first recorded official relations between the two countries date from the middle of the seventh century, unofficial contacts between Nepal and China began much earlier through cultural delegations”.
Kirats are Mongoloid and came to Nepal from the north, probably Tibet, China or Mongolia. Kirat Nepal was psychologically closer with the northern states. But other rulers like the Lichchhivis, Mallas, Shahs and Ranas came from the south, and it was natural for them to have closer relations with the states of the south.
During the Lichchhivi period, Nepal was the commercial and intellectual hub between Tibet and the Indian states, which led to active diplomatic engagement with nations in the south and north. Nepal’s diplomatic contacts had reached as far as Afghanistan in the west and Central Asia in the north, the southern-most tip of present India and Myanmar in the east. Leo E Rose, author of the book “Nepal Strategy For Survival” says that “in the seventh century, Tibet emerged as a powerful kingdom which transformed the Kathmandu Valley, an isolated sub-Himalayan backwater, into the commercial and intellectual entrepot between India and Central Asia”.
Buddhism became an important thread to bind Nepal and China. The Chinese became more interested to lean on Nepal especially Lumbini—Buddha’s birthplace after Buddhism was popularised in Tibet and China. The visits of Chinese monks to Nepal and Nepalese Buddhist scholars to China contributed in furthering relations between the two countries. Chinese monk Seng-Tsai, Fa-Hsien, Che-Meng and Hsuan-tsang visited Nepal during the Lichchhivi period, and their travel accounts aroused the interest of other Chinese about Nepal, contributing largely to building a deeper relationship between Nepal and China.
The Lichchhivi period was a golden age in terms of foreign relations and diplomacy. The inscription of Changunaryan Temple says that Nepal’s territory had expanded far and wide in all four directions and had maintained relations with neighbouring states. Amsuverma’s period is said to be a milestone in Nepal’s diplomatic relations with the neighbours. Hsuan-tsang’s travel account mentions Nepal’s rich art and prosperity. This shows that Nepal was a country of interest for foreigners, especially its neighbours- Indian states and China. From this, we can well imagine that Nepal’s diplomatic relations were good with its neighbours. Amsuverma was a clever ruler, who knew the dangers and opportunities from across the borders.
During Amsuverma’s time, Tibet under King Srong-btsan-Sgam-po was powerful. The way the Tibetan king was expanding his country, Amsuverma saw danger from the northern neighbour and adopted matrimonial diplomacy with Tibet to prevent the possible threat from the north. Amsuverma’s daughter Bhrikuti was married to Srong-btsan-Sgam-po in 639 AD. After Bhrikuti’s marriage, the matrimonial diplomacy worked well, and Nepal enjoyed warm and cordial relationship with Tibet and established friendly relationship with China through Tibet as the Tibetan king had marital relationship with the Chinese emperor. It was Nepal’s first official diplomatic relationship with any other country. Perceval Landon is right to say that Bhrikuti’s marriage was the beginning of any real intercommunication and mutual knowledge between the “deserts to the north of Mount Everest and the fertile valleys to the south”.
Nepal and China met in Tibet through this historic marital alliance. Vijaya Kumar Manandhar further says, “This triangular marital relationship between Nepal, Tibet and China would prove to be politically, culturally and economically of great significance in the development of Sino-Nepalese relations, for it laid the foundation for formal relations between Nepal and China as well as opening of the Kerung trade route between Nepal and Tibet.
The Kerung route across the Himalayas was opened for travel and trade between Nepal and Tibet. This was later used for trade between Nepal and China and India and China via Nepal. This matrimonial diplomacy not only established and developed Nepal’s friendly relations with Tibet and China but also contributed to enlarge Nepal’s influence in the south. The opening of the Kerung route helped boost Nepal’s trade with Tibet and also with China. Nepal as a transit country benefited politically, economically and diplomatically.
The matrimonial alliance between Nepal and Tibet had an effect on entire Asia. According to Manandhar, besides opening Nepal to the outside world, it facilitated communication between China and India, the two most powerful Asian countries, by allowing Nepal to serve as a crossroad between them as it, within a very short time, became a main link in trans-Himalayan communication, which proved to be of great economic and diplomatic significance for Nepal.
During Narendra Dev’s reign between 643 and 690, an official emissary led by Li I-pao and Wang Hsuan T’se of Chinese Emperor Taizong of T’ang dynasty visited Nepal en route to India to meet emperor Harshvardhan of northern India. King Narendra Dev had warmly received the Chinese mission in Kathmandu and helped for its safe journey to India. Harshvardhan died before the Chinese mission reached India and Arunashwa succeeded him. The new ruler insulted the Chinese emissary. It is said that the Chinese emperor with support from King Narendra Dev of Nepal captured Arunashwa and punished him. This event suggests that Nepal during the Lichchhivi period had accorded more priority to the relations with China more than any other states. The friendly relations with China were given continuity for some decades during which the tradition of exchanging emissaries and valuable gifts started and continued for centuries. During the Lichchhivi period, Nepal had direct relations with Indian states, Tibet and China. But after Narendra Dev’s rule, Nepal’s diplomatic relations markedly shrank. This was revived by the Malla kings.
Nepal is one of the oldest countries in South Asia. Nepal remained an independent country even when almost the whole of South Asia had become a British colony. Nepal and Britain had come face to face in their mission of territorial expansion and fought a war in 1814-16, following which the Sugauli Treaty was signed, formally ending the war. The Sugauli Treaty had two shocking consequences for Nepal. First, Nepal lost almost one-third of its territory, and second, Nepal’s territorial expansion came to an end.
Although the Sugauli Treaty is the beginning of Nepal’s modern diplomacy, the tradition of establishing contact with other countries has a long history. We can trace Nepal’s diplomacy as back as 1500 BC, when Nepal’s Kirat kings had relations with several Indian states, including the most powerful Hastinapur. One Kirat King of Nepal, Jitedasti, is believed to have participated in the great Mahabharat war and, according to historian Balchandra Sharma, he helped the Pandavas against the Kauravas in the war.
Emperor Ashoka of Magadha visited Lumbini around 250 BC on his pilgrimage, during which he had a pillar erected at Lumbini as a symbol of respect to the Buddha. Later, Emperor Ashoka visited Kathmandu and had his daughter Charumati married to Devpal, a prince of Kathmandu. A new settlement was established after Devpal’s name in Kathmandu, somewhere near the Pashupatinath area, which was known as Devpatan. Another settlement was named Chabhil after Charumati. This gives evidence that Nepal’s diplomatic history existed as early as 250 BC. Kautilya’s Arthasashtra (Economic Theory) mentions about Nepal’s trade with Magadh state. Pataliputra (Patna) was the hub of trade between Nepal and India, with key trading items being woolen materials, kasturi (aromatic musk deer pod), copper utensils and iron.
The bases of international relations and diplomacy have always been the safeguard of boundaries and economic interest. Nepal’s fundamental goal of international relations was also the defence of its boundary, followed by trade and economic interests. Nepal’s diplomacy and foreign relations were, thus, limited to neighbouring states.
Nepal’s history is chequered so is its international relations and diplomacy. Its fluctuating size and influence also had impact on its diplomacy and international relations. When Nepal’s territory was expanded, it had greater diplomatic influence far and wide both in the south and north. Its diplomatic influence shrank when Nepal became fragmented and weak.
Not much is known about Nepal’s authentic diplomatic activities during the Kirat and earlier dynastical rules, except the mention of trade between Nepal and Magadh in Kautilya’s Arthasastra. Similarly, no concrete step was taken at the official level to establish and nurture relations with the northern states during the Kirat period. However, unofficial contact with China at the people’s level had existed from the fifth century. Vijaya Kumar Manandhar, in his book ‘A Comprehensive History of Nepal China Relations Vol 1’, says “although the first recorded official relations between the two countries date from the middle of the seventh century, unofficial contacts between Nepal and China began much earlier through cultural delegations”.
Kirats are Mongoloid and came to Nepal from the north, probably Tibet, China or Mongolia. Kirat Nepal was psychologically closer with the northern states. But other rulers like the Lichchhivis, Mallas, Shahs and Ranas came from the south, and it was natural for them to have closer relations with the states of the south.
During the Lichchhivi period, Nepal was the commercial and intellectual hub between Tibet and the Indian states, which led to active diplomatic engagement with nations in the south and north. Nepal’s diplomatic contacts had reached as far as Afghanistan in the west and Central Asia in the north, the southern-most tip of present India and Myanmar in the east. Leo E Rose, author of the book “Nepal Strategy For Survival” says that “in the seventh century, Tibet emerged as a powerful kingdom which transformed the Kathmandu Valley, an isolated sub-Himalayan backwater, into the commercial and intellectual entrepot between India and Central Asia”.
Buddhism became an important thread to bind Nepal and China. The Chinese became more interested to lean on Nepal especially Lumbini—Buddha’s birthplace after Buddhism was popularised in Tibet and China. The visits of Chinese monks to Nepal and Nepalese Buddhist scholars to China contributed in furthering relations between the two countries. Chinese monk Seng-Tsai, Fa-Hsien, Che-Meng and Hsuan-tsang visited Nepal during the Lichchhivi period, and their travel accounts aroused the interest of other Chinese about Nepal, contributing largely to building a deeper relationship between Nepal and China.
The Lichchhivi period was a golden age in terms of foreign relations and diplomacy. The inscription of Changunaryan Temple says that Nepal’s territory had expanded far and wide in all four directions and had maintained relations with neighbouring states. Amsuverma’s period is said to be a milestone in Nepal’s diplomatic relations with the neighbours. Hsuan-tsang’s travel account mentions Nepal’s rich art and prosperity. This shows that Nepal was a country of interest for foreigners, especially its neighbours- Indian states and China. From this, we can well imagine that Nepal’s diplomatic relations were good with its neighbours. Amsuverma was a clever ruler, who knew the dangers and opportunities from across the borders.
During Amsuverma’s time, Tibet under King Srong-btsan-Sgam-po was powerful. The way the Tibetan king was expanding his country, Amsuverma saw danger from the northern neighbour and adopted matrimonial diplomacy with Tibet to prevent the possible threat from the north. Amsuverma’s daughter Bhrikuti was married to Srong-btsan-Sgam-po in 639 AD. After Bhrikuti’s marriage, the matrimonial diplomacy worked well, and Nepal enjoyed warm and cordial relationship with Tibet and established friendly relationship with China through Tibet as the Tibetan king had marital relationship with the Chinese emperor. It was Nepal’s first official diplomatic relationship with any other country. Perceval Landon is right to say that Bhrikuti’s marriage was the beginning of any real intercommunication and mutual knowledge between the “deserts to the north of Mount Everest and the fertile valleys to the south”.
Nepal and China met in Tibet through this historic marital alliance. Vijaya Kumar Manandhar further says, “This triangular marital relationship between Nepal, Tibet and China would prove to be politically, culturally and economically of great significance in the development of Sino-Nepalese relations, for it laid the foundation for formal relations between Nepal and China as well as opening of the Kerung trade route between Nepal and Tibet.
The Kerung route across the Himalayas was opened for travel and trade between Nepal and Tibet. This was later used for trade between Nepal and China and India and China via Nepal. This matrimonial diplomacy not only established and developed Nepal’s friendly relations with Tibet and China but also contributed to enlarge Nepal’s influence in the south. The opening of the Kerung route helped boost Nepal’s trade with Tibet and also with China. Nepal as a transit country benefited politically, economically and diplomatically.
The matrimonial alliance between Nepal and Tibet had an effect on entire Asia. According to Manandhar, besides opening Nepal to the outside world, it facilitated communication between China and India, the two most powerful Asian countries, by allowing Nepal to serve as a crossroad between them as it, within a very short time, became a main link in trans-Himalayan communication, which proved to be of great economic and diplomatic significance for Nepal.
During Narendra Dev’s reign between 643 and 690, an official emissary led by Li I-pao and Wang Hsuan T’se of Chinese Emperor Taizong of T’ang dynasty visited Nepal en route to India to meet emperor Harshvardhan of northern India. King Narendra Dev had warmly received the Chinese mission in Kathmandu and helped for its safe journey to India. Harshvardhan died before the Chinese mission reached India and Arunashwa succeeded him. The new ruler insulted the Chinese emissary. It is said that the Chinese emperor with support from King Narendra Dev of Nepal captured Arunashwa and punished him. This event suggests that Nepal during the Lichchhivi period had accorded more priority to the relations with China more than any other states. The friendly relations with China were given continuity for some decades during which the tradition of exchanging emissaries and valuable gifts started and continued for centuries. During the Lichchhivi period, Nepal had direct relations with Indian states, Tibet and China. But after Narendra Dev’s rule, Nepal’s diplomatic relations markedly shrank. This was revived by the Malla kings.
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