The Hor States (; ), also known as the Horpa States, were a group of principalities located in the Tibetan region of Kham that existed from the 14th century to the mid-1900s.
Today, the historical territory of the Hor States comprises Garzê County, Luhuo County, and part of Dawu County.
Etymology
The name "Hor" is usually considered to be Turkic or Mongolic; because the Hor states were Tibetic in culture, their population is thought to be Mongols that were influenced by Tibetic culture.
Geography
The Hor States located in the region traditionally called Tré or Tréshö () in northern Kham on the upper portion of the Yalong River. Under the rule of the Hor States, the region also gained the names of Tréhor and Horkhok ().
The traditional five states were:
Name of state Tusi title Capital Now part of Disbanded Last ruler Mazurma zur 霍爾麻書安撫司Anfusi of Huo'er Mashu Mazur (present Kandze Town, Garzê County) Garzê County 1951 Kunga Gyaltsen貢嘎降澤(fl. 1950) Khangsarkhang gsar 霍爾孔薩安撫司Anfusi of Huo'er Kongsa Khangsar (present Kandze Town, Garzê County) Garzê County 1951 益西多吉/孔薩益多(1916 – 2010) Trehortre hor 霍爾朱倭安撫司Anfusi of Huo'er Zhuwo Trehor (present Zhêhor Town, Luhuo County) Luhuo County 1933 Jamyang Khyenrab Wangchuk降央欽饒旺徐(d. 1933) Draggobrag mgo 霍爾章谷安撫司Anfusi of Huo'er Zhanggu Draggo (present Xindu Town, Luhuo County) Luhuo County 1899 Tashi Wanggyal札喜旺甲(d. 1899) Beribe ri 霍爾白利安撫司Anfusi of Huo'er Baili Beri (present Sêrkar Township, Garzê County) Garzê County 1951 Beri Wangdü白利旺堆(1925–1973)
The Chinese also included two other states as Hor States, but they were not included in the Tibetan list:Oliver R. Coales, “Narrative of a Journey from Tachienlu to Ch'amdo and Back via Batang,” in Alex McKay, editor, The History of Tibet (Routledge 2003), 221 Name of state Tusi title Capital Now part of Disbanded Last ruler Dzakhokrdza khog 霍爾咱安撫司Anfusi of Huo'er Zan Dzakhok (present Zakog Township, Garzê County) Garzê County 19th century Tongkorstong vkhor 霍爾東科長官司Zhangguansi of Huo'er Dongke Tongkor (present Sitangda Township, Garzê County) Garzê County 1951 Tsering Döndrub赐儒登子(fl. 1950)
History
Early history
According to the rGya bod yig tshang, at the time of Trisong Detsen (755–797), there was an ancient kingdom in the lands of lDan, sGa and Tre bo, whose descendants founded the house of Sharkhapa in Gyantse. It may be identified as the Kingdom of Khrom of King Gesar.Caumanns, Volker, and Marta Sernesi. “Fifteenth Century Tibet: Cultural Blossoming and Political Unrest [Intro].” Fifteenth Century Tibet: Cultural Blossoming and Political Unrest, 2017. Another tradition claimed that in the same period, Tréshö was ruled by the clan of Achak Dru (), centered in Draku () within the modern Luhuo County (). In the 8th century, the Achak Dru ruler Trewo () patronized the great translator Cogro Lü Gyaltsen () to establish the first monastery in the region called Cogro Monastery (). It was later converted to Gelug and renamed as Cogri Monastery ().
During the era of fragmentation, the area was notable as the birthplace of several religious figures, including the 1st Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa (1110–1193), founder of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.
In the early 13th century, a member of the Achak Dru family, Trewo Alu () travelled westwards to the area of Surmang. His son later founded the Kingdom of Nangchen.
Yuan and Ming Dynasties (13th–17th centuries)
In the 1260s, when Phagpa passed through the region, he visited the Cogri Monastery and was welcomed by Nyé ganden (), descendant of Trewo. Kublai Khan decided to send his son Horsé Gyalpo () ("Mongol Prince") and the lama Ga Anyen Dampa () to establish a monastery in this region, called the Dé Gönpo (), later known as the "Chinese Chapel" (, ().Debreczeny, Karl. “‘Imperial Interest Made Manifest: SGa A Gnyan Dam Pa’s Mahākāla Protector Chapel of the Tre Shod Maṇḍala Plain.’” Roberto Vitali, Ed. Trails of the Tibetan Tradition: Papers for Elliot Sperling. Dharamshala: Amnye Machen Institute, 2014, Pp. 129-66., 2014.
During his stay, the Mongol prince had an affair with a local woman, giving birth to a son called Hor Namgyal (. Hor Namgyal subjugated the neighboring tribes of Khartsé Trung Tsang (), Naro Aru Tsang (), Kalak Kartra Tsang (), and Drongjang Shyangtsé Tsang, laying the foundations of the Hor States ().Khang gsar ye rdo. “Dkar mdzes Khang gsar dpon khyim rgyud kyi lo rgyus mdor bsdus.” Krung go’i bod kyi shes rig 1, 2000: 114– 134.
In the early 8th Rabjung (1447–1506), the male line of the local clan of Achak Dru went into extinct. Namkha Gyaltsen (), descendant of Hor Namgyal, arranged a marriage between his son Ngawang Drakpa and the daughter of the Achak Dru ruler, thus established a kingdom spanning from Dzakhok () (within modern Garzê County) in the west to Draggo and Dawu in the east. After the death of Namkha Gyaltsen, the kingdom was partitioned among his sons, giving rise to the Hor States.
Namkha Gyaltsen had six sons:Tshe ring dbang rgyal. Mdo khams tre hor rong pa tsha ba'i lo rgyus sngon med legs bshad dung gi sgra dbyangs. Mi rigs dpe skrun khang, 1955, Pp. 32. Wanglu (): son of the first wife Jamyang Palmo (), founder of Mazur. A branch of his descendants established the principality of Khangsar. Hor Chöjé Ngawang Püntsok (): son of Jamyang Palmo, disciple of the 5th Dalai Lama Ngawang Drakpa (): son of the second wife; also called Uching Noyön (), founder of Trehor Abbot Ngawang Palzang (): son of the second wife Norbu (): son of the third wife, founder of Draggo Unnamed son of the third wife
Beri, despite also included among the five Hor States, was generally not considered to be of Mongolian origin. Some claimed that it was founded by Döndrub Norbu (), a member of the ancient clan of Lhadong Beri (). The clan was best known for the Beri King Dönyö Dorjé, who was defeated and executed by Güshi Khan in 1639.Tshe ring dbang rgyal. Mdo khams tre hor rong pa tsha ba'i lo rgyus sngon med legs bshad dung gi sgra dbyangs. Mi rigs dpe skrun khang, 1955.
Another tradition claimed that all five Hor States were founded by sons of Namkha Gyaltsen. His eldest son died falling off from horse during a pilgrimage, and was venerated as a deity called "Sharchok Dralha" (). The second son stayed with his own mother, and his principality was known as "Mazur" ("beside mother"). The third son established a new house, so his principality was known as "Khangsar" ("new house"). The fourth son founded Trehor, the fifth son founded Draggo, and the sixth son founded Beri.「霍爾章谷土司歷史概況」，郎加，鄧俊康，中國人民政治協商會議四川省甘孜藏族自治州委員會. 甘孜州文史资料 第7辑. 康定. 1988年12月: 第176-177頁.
Qing Dynasty (17th–20th centuries)
In 1639, Güshi Khan conquered the Kingdom of Beri, ensuring the spread of the Gelugpa sect in Kham. Hor Chöjé, disciple of the 5th Dalai Lama, was said to have founded the Thirteen Hor Monasteries () in the region, including the Dargye Monastery; this connected them to the Ganden Podrang elite and amplified the region's prosperity.
In 1728, a few years after the Qing expedition to Tibet, the Hor states were formally bestowed titles of "Pacification Commissioners" (Anfusi, 安撫司).
In the mid 18th century, a war broke out between Khangsar and Mazur. Khangsar was allied with the Kingdom of Derge, the Gyalrong Kingdom of Geshitsa, and Upper and Middle Nyarong, while Mazur was allied with Chuchen and Trokyap.《清實錄乾隆朝實錄》大金川綽斯甲係麻書親戚，革布什咱、德爾格上中瞻對又係孔撒親戚，彼此袒護，各遣頭人幫兵助勢。 On September 26, 1755, forces of Derge captured Mazur, forcing the 12-year-old Mazur ruler Tendzin Wangpo into exile in Nyarong. In response, the Qing general led a force to Kandze and expelled the Derge troops. Song Yuanjun then summoned the chieftains to settle the dispute. The resolution was documented, that 11 Qing soldiers should be stationed at Mazur, and 10 soldiers at Jiaoluosi (角洛寺), a strategic pass between Dartsedo and Chuchen in the Geshitsa region.《清實錄乾隆朝實錄》據宋元俊等稟報：德爾格頭人四朗結於八月二十一日帶兵三百餘名，占踞麻書寨。該員行抵甘孜，將四朗結兵驅押歸巢。麻書土司丹津旺溥年十二，與伊叔喇嘛群贊藏匿，招之始出，安置原寨等語⋯⋯宋元俊，傳集德爾格、孔撒、麻書三土司，將孔、麻控案分斷，給照收領，各具悦服夷結。德爾格送出麻書土民三千九百餘名，交麻書管束；孔撒逃民一千三百餘名，俱招出，仍歸孔撒。麻書土司丹津旺溥年幼，留喇嘛群贊撫之，照前督臣岳鍾琪派兵防護巴旺土司勒兒悟例，派弁兵十一員名，並千總溫欽守護。又革布什咱角洛寺係金綽赴爐要路，酌派把總一員，帶兵十名駐劄。
In 1847, Gonpo Namgyal of Middle Nyarong unified the region of Nyarong and emerged as a new power in Kham. In the fourth month of 1848, forces of Khangsar, Mazur, Trehor, Draggo, Derge, Chakla and Lithang allied against Gonpo Namgyal, but eventually suffered a tough defeat and were forced to retreat. After this victory, Gonpo Namgyal gradually subdued the neighboring states. Gonpo Namgyal first conquered Draggo, then sieged the fortresses of Mazur and Khangsar in 1859. By 1860, Gonpo Namgyal completely occupied the Hor States. After the joint troops of Qing and Ganden Phodrang defeated Gonpo Namgyal in 1865, the Hor States were restored, and a Lhasa-appointed official was stationed in Nyarong.Tsomu, Yudru. (2014). Rise of Gönpo Namgyel in Kham: The Blind Warrior of Nyarong. Pp118-220.
The official in Nyarong provided means for Lhasa to directly intervene in Kham, which led to increasing tension between Lhasa and Qing officials. In 1883, a dispute arise when the Draggo ruler Wangchen Dradul decided to have his son married to the daughter of the Trokyap ruler, instead of Trehor. Trehor allied with Khangsar and Beri to attack Draggo, which had the support of Mazur and the Lhasa official in Nyarong. When Trehor forces besieged the Draggo residence, Qing Chinese troops intervened to stop the conflict.
Wangchen Dradul of Draggo died in 1893. Despite intentions to be succeeded by his younger son, his elder son Tashi Wanggyal seized the throne. Previously, Tashi Wanggyal was adopted by the Mazur family and already gained the throne of Mazur, thus uniting the two crowns. Draggo soon attacked and defeated Trehor. This time, Draggo was supported by Mazur, Chakla, Beri, Khangsar, as well as the Qing Dynasty, while Trehor was supported by the Lhasa official in Nyarong.Tsomu, Yudru. (2014). Rise of Gönpo Namgyel in Kham: The Blind Warrior of Nyarong. Pp221-242.
The Sichuan governor general strongly advocated to expel the Lhasa official in Nyarong, in order to establish direct Chinese rule in Kham. He sent forces to take over Nyarong, Trehor and Draggo in 1896, but he was forced to abort his centralization plans by higher authorities upon the petition of the 13th Dalai Lama.
In the early 1900s, Zhao Erfeng began another series of centralization reforms in Kham. In April 1911, he revoked the Tusi titles and seals of all Hor rulers, but further centralisation reforms were halted due to the breakout of the Xinhai Revolution.
Republic of China (1912-1949)
During the republican era, the former land of the Hor States was governed by Han Chinese officials under the Ganzi, Luhuo and Daofu Counties, but beyond the county seats, four among the five Hor States continued to exist with certain extent of autonomy, except for Draggo, which was disintegrated after the death of Tashi Wanggyal in 1899.
Dekyi Lhatso (c. 1880–1933), consort of the previous ruler of Trehor, continued to share power with her nephew Jamyang Khyenrab Wangchuk (d. 1933). Ngödrub Tendzin Jikme (1887 – 1924), ruler of Khangsar, established a personal union with Mazur and Beri after their rulers died heirless, while securing a marriage alliance with Hor Tongkor. However, he also died without male heir, and was succeeded by his 7-year-old daughter with the Beri princess, Dechen Wangmo. Beri regained independence soon afterwards, enthroning a bastard son of the Beri princess called Wangdü.任乃強.《任乃强藏学文集》，北京：中国藏学出版社，2009年：第50-85頁.