46 SIKHIM LAWS. 



SIKHIM LAWS. 



The following is a short account of the Sikhioi Laws as translated 

 from a manuscript copy obtained from the Khangsar Dewan. The 

 language used in this book is diificult, and thanks are due to the 

 Phodong Lama and Lamas Shorab Gjatsho and Ugin Gyatsho for the 

 help they liave given. 



History. 



The Sikhim laws are founded on those spoken by Raja Me-long- 

 dong,^ who lived in India before the time of Budda (914 B.C.). 

 This Raja is mentioned in the Ka-gyur"^ in the 3 1st chapter. 



They were again written by Kun-ga-gyal-tsan*^ of Sakya-pa, 

 who was born in 1182. He was King of 13 provinces in Tibet, and 

 has called the lawsf Tim-yik-shal-che-chu-sum or Chu-dug,* there 

 being two sets, one containing 13 laws and the other 16.| These are 

 practically the same. The laws were again written by Desisangye 

 Gya-tsho,^ who was born in 1653 and was a Viceroy of Tibet. 

 They were called by him Tang-shel-me-long-nyer-chik-pa.§*' 



The first set of laws deal with offences in general ; the second set 

 forth the duties of Kings and Government servants, and are simply an 

 amplification of some of the laws contained in the former. 



SFMMAEY OF THE SIXTEEN LAWS. 



No. L — Genkkal Rules to be followed in time of War. 



(«) It is written in the Ka-gyur that before going to war the 

 strength of the enemy should be carefully ascertained, and whether 

 any profit will be derived from it or not. It should also be seen 

 if the dispute cannot be settled by diplomacy before going to war. 

 Care should also be taken that by going to war no loss be sustained 

 by your Government. Whatever the cause of dispute, letters and 



^khrims-yig-zhal-lche-bchu-gsum. 



* sde-srid-sangs-rgyas-rgya-mtso. 



* dang-shel-me-long-gnyer-gchig-pa. 



' Me-long-gdong. 

 ^ bkali-hgyur-mdo-sa-pa. 

 ' Kun-dgah-rgyal-mtsan. 



* Full name Sa-skya-penti-ta-kun-Jgah-rgyal-mtsan. 

 t The law of 13 cases. 



j The book containing the 16 laws is supposed to have been amplified from the 13 laws 

 by De-si-sangya Gya-tsho. 



§ The 21 laws as clear as crystal. 



