King Gesar
of Tibet
The Legend from ling
King Gesar (about 1038-1119 AD) was a legendary Tibetan hero who was born in Dege County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Later generations called him King Gesar of Ling. According to legend, King Gesar is also the incarnation of the Guru Rinpoche and his wisdom, compassion and power.
Chapter 14:
Chao Tong’s Fury and Dansa’s Silent Resolve
The people of the Ling tribe settled peacefully in the fertile Yellow River valley. The land was lush with grass and grain, and the livestock grew strong and healthy. It was indeed a wonderful place. Seeing the people living in peace and prosperity, Joru felt like he had completed an important mission.
However, Joru wanted to venture to Mamey Yulong Songduo, a wild and dangerous land full of demons and evil spirits, to transform it into a new and peaceful home. But he feared the people of Ling would not allow him to leave. So, just as he had done when he lived in Ling, he created many disturbances that caused annoyance and hatred among the people. Eventually, Joru and his mother were once again driven out of the Yellow River valley and sent to the perilous land of Mamey Yulong Songduo, where demons roamed freely, and malevolent deities wreaked havoc.
Despite the adversity, Joru’s pure and noble intentions never wavered. During the day, he sang and joked with the people, while at night he played dice games with the gods and gambled with demons. Using his divine powers and miraculous transformations, he subdued the demons and evil spirits one by one. Gradually, Joru turned the once wild and desolate land of Mamey Yulong Songduo into a peaceful and auspicious place.
Time passed quickly, and before he realized it, Joru had turned 12 years old. It was the Tibetan Iron Pig Year. On the 8th day of the first month, just before dawn, as Joru was still fast asleep, the goddess Mandanaze descended to his side. She was surrounded by a host of sky-dancing dakinis and rode on a majestic white lion. Leaning close to Joru’s ear, she sang him a gentle and prophetic song:
“In fields as neat as a chessboard,
The green crops grow tall and strong.
But without heavy fruits to adorn them,
Even the lushest growth becomes mere fodder,
Leaving nothing but empty sorrow.
In the vast blue sky above,
Countless stars twinkle and shine.
But without the bright moon to reflect,
Even the stars lose their brilliance,
Leaving the earth in darkness.
In the beautiful land of Ling,
Joru performs countless wonders.
But if he does not take the throne to rule,
And merely intimidates his uncles,
His miracles will tarnish his name.
A thousand-mile steed from Uddiyana
Roams among the northern wild horses.
Born on the same day, month, and year as you,
If you don’t capture it this year,
Like a rainbow, it will vanish forever.
The gods have chosen your bride—
Sangjang Zumu, the Jewel Maiden of Jara.
If you do not marry her this year,
The Darong family will claim her instead.
Without her help, your great deeds will fail.
At dawn tomorrow,
You must transform into the wrathful Horse-Headed Deity,
And deliver a prophecy to Chao Tong.
Tell him to host a grand banquet for the Ling brothers,
And let the Darong family prepare the feast.
Tell him the throne, treasures, and the Jewel Maiden
Will be wagered in a horse race.
Assure him that his Jade Horse will win,
And the Jewel Maiden will become his family’s.”
Joru, in a half-asleep, half-awake state, heard the goddess Mandanaze continue speaking: “My child, tomorrow at this time, you must transform into the wrathful Horse-Headed Deity and deliver a prophecy to Chao Tong. Tell him that he must immediately organize a grand horse race. The stakes should include the throne, the seven treasures, and the most beautiful girl in Ling—Sangjang Zumu, the Jewel Maiden of the Jara family. Also, tell him that the final victory of the race will surely belong to his Jade Horse.”
Joru woke up suddenly, opening his eyes to the pitch-black darkness around him. The goddess had already disappeared, but her instructions were deeply imprinted in his mind. He thought to himself:
“The goddess is right. For the past twelve years, I have been like a lotus hidden in mud. Aside from my mother, Guomu, no one knows who I truly am. I have done so many good deeds, yet no one understands or recognizes my efforts, and instead, I am often misunderstood. Now the time has come for me to reveal my abilities, follow the goddess’s instructions, participate in the horse race, and claim the throne.”
To take the throne, the first thing Joru needed to do was to get Chao Tong, the leader of Darong, to host the horse race. At that time, Chao Tong was diligently practicing the rituals for the protector deity, the Horse-Headed Deity. This was a divine opportunity.
On the night of the 9th day, Joru transformed into a crow. While Chao Tong was half-asleep during his practice, Joru sang him a prophetic song:
“This is the Darong region of Wiyu,
I am the red-faced Horse-Headed Deity.
Wake up, Chao Tong, and listen to my prophecy!
There’s an old saying:
In fields scattered like stars,
Barley is sown, hoping for timely rain.
If southern clouds don’t bring rain now,
Snowfall in winter will come too late.
Chao Tong, practicing the Horse-Headed Deity’s ritual,
You hope for blessings in great matters.
If the gods do not grant blessings now,
Their help will come too late.
Tomorrow, prepare yourself.
Gather all the brothers of Ling.
Invite everyone, rich and poor alike,
And host the banquet in your home.
The Jewel Maiden of the Jara family,
The seven treasures from the treasury,
And the throne of the Ling Kingdom
Will be wagered in the horse race.
The throne will belong to your family,
The Jewel Maiden’s husband will be from your line.
Among the thirty horses of the brothers,
Your Jade Horse will surely win.”
When Chao Tong opened his eyes, he saw the crow—Joru’s transformation—disappear into the statue of the Horse-Headed Deity that he worshipped. Believing in the prophecy without a doubt, Chao Tong immediately got up, bowed repeatedly to the deity, and told his wife, Dansa, about the Horse-Headed Deity’s prophecy.
Chao Tong immediately explained the situation to his wife, Dansa, and urged her to prepare the feast for the upcoming horse race:
“Dansa Setso, don’t sleep in late.
Lazy sleepers find no peace.
Stones gather dust when they sleep,
Trees rot at the roots when they sleep.
Masters lose discipline when they sleep,
Officials neglect laws when they sleep.
Women ruin households when they sleep,
Warriors lose to enemies when they sleep.
At dawn, the northern deity delivered a prophecy.
He said all six clans must gather.
The Ling brothers must all be invited,
And the banquet must be hosted by our family.
The Jewel Maiden of the Jara family,
The throne and the treasures of Ling,
Will be wagered in the horse race.
He said the Jewel Maiden will be ours,
The golden throne will be ours,
And I will inherit the kingship of Ling.
Noble power and treasures,
Together they shine brighter and brighter.
Dishonorable companions and worn boots,
Together they sink lower and lower,
Until they are thrown out, unwanted.
Remember this:
To take what you want, your hands must be steady.
To win the race, your knees must not tremble.
Great achievements shine like pure banners—
Never let them be stained by dirt.
Celebrations are like polished white copper—
Never let them tarnish with resentment.
Setso, get up quickly!
Prepare the banquet to welcome our guests.
Sweet butter cakes in abundance,
Mountains of fresh and tender meat,
Oceans of fragrant wine.
Prepare the finest teas,
Brewed in auspicious copper pots,
With salt and calf milk.
The tea must be rich and delicious.
Let the banquet be grand and magnificent.
Wealth increases when generously shared,
But hoarded treasures bring no joy.
Give freely to trusted friends!”
Dansa thought for a moment. She had heard rumors in the past that the throne of Ling, the seven treasures, and the Jewel Maiden Sangjang Zumu had already been prophesied to belong to Joru. Knowing Joru’s talent for transformations, she suspected that this prophecy might have been fabricated by him. Feeling it was her duty to clarify things to Chao Tong, she said: “My king, do not believe the cries of a crow in the middle of the night. That is not a deity but an evil spirit; it is not a prophecy but a trick. My king, as the saying goes:
‘Darkness forces people to rest at night;
Deep in the night, one must sleep.
Rising depends on the call of daylight;
The bright day urges people to plow the fields.’
Everyone follows these four natural arrangements, so why is this 'Wrathful Deity' acting against them? Forcing you to wake up in the middle of the night is not a good omen! I urge you to sleep soundly tonight and discuss this matter with others tomorrow. It’s not too late to decide then…”
Before Dansa could finish speaking, Chao Tong recalled the prophecy of the Horse-Headed Deity:
“Superior men dedicate their hearts to the gods;
Their hearts are bright like the sun.
Mediocre men dedicate their hearts to their kings;
They remain free and unconfused.
Inferior men dedicate their hearts to their wives;
And their fates are destined for misfortune.”
Chao Tong thought to himself: “Only inferior men listen to their wives. I, Chao Tong, the leader of Darong, am a superior man. Naturally, I must listen to the prophecy of the gods. Besides, the seven treasures, the throne of Ling, and especially the unforgettable Jewel Maiden Sangjang Zumu—if I can bring her into my home, I would be completely satisfied, even if I gain nothing else!”
The more Chao Tong thought about it, the happier he became. The prophecy of the Horse-Headed Deity seemed to align perfectly with his desires. He was particularly confident in his Jade Horse, the finest steed in Ling, and was certain it would win the race.
However, one thing worried him: would Sangjang Zumu agree to be a wager in the horse race? If she agreed, there would be no doubt that she would become his wife. But Chao Tong also began to consider the possible conflicts between Zumu and Dansa once Zumu entered the household. He thought to himself:
“How could I let Sangjang Zumu be mistreated? Even if she experienced the slightest unhappiness, I, Chao Tong, would also feel uneasy. This wretched Dansa could cause trouble in the future. It’s better to get rid of her now to avoid future problems.”
Thinking about all of this, Chao Tong turned to Dansa with fury and said:
“Poison-tongued Dansa with lips like a sheep,
Open your ears and listen well.
If the gods did not pity and enlighten you,
Your mind would remain muddled, your thoughts dim.
The Horse-Headed Deity personally delivered the prophecy,
And yet, you claim it brings disaster and misfortune.
Challenging a good omen deserves punishment,
But considering you’ve borne children for me,
I’ll spare you this time out of kindness.
The mistress of Darong Castle,
When Sangjang Zumu arrives, will be her.
The treasure vaults, golden chests, and royal chambers—
All will be entrusted to her hands.
As for you, wretched Dansa,
Your hands will fetch wooden bowls and ladles.
If you wish to stay, then stay;
If not, you are free to leave!
Spring brings warmth to the earth,
Forcing ice to melt away.
Autumn frost urges the harvest,
Forcing ripe crops to be gathered.
Dansa, you are like withering leaves,
Destined to fall and fade from favor.
When Sangjang Zumu rises like the morning sun,
Your owl-like eyes will surely go blind.
Zumu is a radiant, pure flower,
Blooming on the shores of Darong Lake.
All who see her regard her as sacred nectar,
And the Wrathful King is enchanted by her beauty.
You, Dansa, are just an ordinary prairie flower,
Once vibrant in youth, now withered by time.
Now, like an old rug underfoot,
You are trampled and forgotten.
The fate of past lives determines the suffering of this one—
You cannot escape it.
My household is abundant with food and drink,
If you refuse to work, then sit aside.
The princess, Chao Mu Cuo,
Clever and capable, can assist Zumu.
The grand banquet will surely be well-prepared.
After speaking to Dansa, Chao Tong turned to his trusted servant Akui Tabasolang and gave him the following orders:
“Akui Tabasolang!
Waste no time and set out immediately!
At the upper banks of Matiyada,
Beat the ritual drum and blow the conch horn.
Deliver this message to Gyacha and Xiega,
Whisper the news to Siping in secret.
Summon all the heroes of Ling,
And announce this decree publicly:
The beautiful lotus is about to be struck by hail;
The brothers of Ling must act quickly,
Or the stunning Sangjang Zumu
Will be married off to another tribe.
Therefore, a national horse race is to be held.
Sangjang Zumu, along with her servants,
And the seven treasures from the treasury,
Will be the stakes for the horse race.
Our Darong family will host the event,
With a grand banquet to discuss important matters.
Invite all the brothers to the feast.
On the 10th day of the month, decisions will be made,
And on the 15th, the horse race will take place.”
Dansa was so angered by Chao Tong’s words that she trembled. As the saying goes:
“The mountain lord cannot avoid debt collectors,
And an old forehead cannot escape wrinkles.”
Back when she was young and beautiful, like a vibrant flower of the grasslands, Chao Tong had married her into his home. Over the years, she had borne him children and managed the household.
Now that she was old, Chao Tong had grown tired of her. He dismissed her good advice as malicious words and was ready to cast her aside after half a lifetime together.
Dansa wanted to argue back but feared that Chao Tong would say even harsher things, disturbing the family’s harmony. She thought to herself: “The gods are always fair. I shall wait and see what becomes of this petty man.”
With this thought, Dansa said nothing further. She continued to manage the household as she always had, silently and diligently preparing the banquet for Chao Tong.
Notes :
Seven Treasures (七宝): A Buddhist term. In the Lotus Sutra, the Seven Treasures are listed as gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, agate, pearl, and ruby. However, the description of the Seven Treasures varies in different Buddhist scriptures.