The Treasury of Lives

Pema Wangchuk (pad+ma dbang phyug) was the born in 1929, the earth-snake year of sixteenth sexagenary cycle, into the royal family of Chone (co ne) a semi-independent principality in Amdo (a mdo). As a youth he was trained in both Tibetan and Chinese. His father, Lobzang Tendzin Namgyel Trinle Dorje (blo bzang bstan 'dzin rnam rgyal 'phrin las rdo rje, 1889-1937), aided the Communists during the Long March. As a result, when Pema Wangchuk was eight years old, his father was executed by Lu Dachang (鲁大昌, 1889-1962), Commander of the 14th Division of the National Revolutionary Army in 1937. Pema Wangchuk was enthroned as Sakyong position in that same year. Because he was too young to rule the estate, his mother, Sonam Drolma (bsod nams sgrol ma) acted as regent. Sources note that during his reign, a number of primary schools were established in the Chone area, but were later closed.

In 1944, Pema Wangchuk travelled to Nanjing (南京), where visited Chiang Kai-shek (蒋介石, 1887-1975), the Guomindang leader. He requested to be enrolled in the military academy, from which he graduated at the age of seventeen. Upon completion of his degree he was given the official title of Security Commander of Taouju and Menju (洮岷少将保安司令), and served in the Guomindang government.

In 1949, when Ma Bufang (马步芳, 1903-1975) was promoted to Chief of the Military and Political Affairs of the Northwest by the Guomindang, Pema Wangchuk received three hundred guns and thirty-thousand bullets to protect the local area. However, Ma Bufang later attempted to eliminate the power of the Chone Sakyong, souring relations between the royal family and the Nationalists. Pema Wangchuk eventually joined the Communist Party of China and revolted against Guomindang. His militia changed its name to the People’s Armed Military Group of the Northwest (西北人民武装). He later served as the head of Chone County.

In 1950, Pema Wangchuk married Dajifen (达芰芬), the second daughter of Darijaya (达理扎雅达王, 1904-1968), a prince of Alashan in Inner Mongolia. He later also served in several official positions including Leader of the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Region, and Vice Director of the Northwest University for Nationalities. He retired in 1993.