228 
Sarat Chandra Das —Contributions on Tibet. 
[No. 3, 
Rakshita, Jina Sena, Ratnendra Slla, Jaya-Rakshita, Kawapal-tseg (Ka- 
varfpal &tsegs), Chodo*gyal-tshan (Chogro rGyal-wtshan) and others, revised 
the anciently translated books, translated fresh manuscripts, finished those 
that were left unfinished, and simplified the abstruse and intricate portions 
of the Scriptures. 
Ralpachan introduced standard weights and measures similar to those 
used in China, and thereby prevented fraudulent practices in com¬ 
mercial dealings. He enforced the canonical regulation of India for 
the discipline and guidance of the clergy, and commanded his lay people 
to follow the statutes as promulgated by his illustrious predecessors. 
Thinking that the propagation of religion depended much upon the pre¬ 
dominance of the clergy, he organized many classes of priesthood. To each 
monk he assigned a small revenue derived from five tenants. His devotion 
to the priestly congregation was so great that he offered his own Ralpa or 
flowing locks to be turned into carpet-seats for the use of the Lamas. During 
the reign of this great monarch, there arose a dispute between Tibet and 
China. Ralpachan sent a powerful army to invade China. Province after 
province of the celestial empire fell before his victorious arms and was 
annexed to Tibet. When the generals and champions of the contending 
nations had been slain in great numbers, the Hwashan 42 and Lopan 43 
interceded to put a stop to further bloodshed between the two monarchs, 
who were related to each other by ties of blood as uncle and nephew. 
A treaty was agreed upon. At a place called Gungu-Meru the boundary 
of the two kingdoms was fixed, and stone obelisks and pillars were 
erected as boundary pillars, on which the terms of treaty between the 
belligerents were inscribed. It was agreed that the armies of neither 
kingdom should ever cross the boundaries marked, nor on any pretext 
encroach on each others territories. All differences being settled, the 
nephew and the uncle became friends. They also solemnly promised 
not to violate the conditions of the treaty. As living testimonies to 
their engagements, inscriptions were written on Dorin, or high stone 
obelisks, erected at Lhasa, at the palace of Gya-Gyal and at Gun¬ 
gu-Meru. From this time, perfect amity existed between the two nations, 
China and Tibet, on earth, says Debther-nonpo, as between the sun and 
moon in heaven. King Ralpachan’s reign was celebrated also for the good 
administration of justice. He punished the wicked and rewarded the good. 
He suppressed the powerful and protected the weak. But by attempting to 
enforce the strict observance of the clerical and the kingly laws, he 
gave umbrage to the corrupt and sinful ministers. When, unfortunately 
for the king, their power increased by the death of a few pious Buddhist 
42 The Buddhist monks of the first class in China are called Hwashan. 
43 The Lochavas and Pandits of Tibet are by abbreviation called Lo-pan. 
