What is the relationship between Tibetans and Bonism?

Before the 6th century, local Tibetan residents believed in a primitive religion called Bonism. Bonism, commonly known as "black religion", is a witch religion rooted in the primitive society of Tibet. Bonism worships animism, offering sacrifices to animals to pray for disaster relief, divination of good and bad luck and exorcism.

Legend has it that the former king of Tubo was ruled by Bonism. Until the 7th century, the leader of Bonism still maintained a high position in Zambo tribe. At the beginning of the 7th century, Songtsan Gambu established Tubo. In order to promote the civilization and prosperity of Tubo, Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty and Bhrikuti Devi of Nepal were married successively, and Jokhang Temple and Jokhang Temple were also built to support the Buddha statues, classics and Buddhist cultural relics brought by the two princesses.

Songtsan Gambu also sent 16 noble descendants headed by Minister Tommy Sambuza to study in India, imitating Indian Sanskrit to create Tibetan. Songtsan Gambu translated Mahayana Buddhist scriptures brought back by the nobles studying in India in the newly created Tibetan language and began to translate Buddhist scriptures in Tibet.

Songtsan Gampo also made laws according to the Ten Good Laws of Buddhism, and stipulated 16 humanitarian ethics regulations to encourage people to believe in Buddhism.

In the era of Chidezuzan, that is, from 704 to 755, Buddhism gradually spread in Tubo.

During this period, with the widespread spread of Buddhism, the stories of characters, language styles and values in Buddhist classics greatly promoted the prosperity and development of Tibetan literature. Therefore, in the Biography of King Gesar, the story about King Gelsall's life has a strong color of Buddhism and Bonism.